About Jay R.
Jay R. Thakkar built his legal foundation at the University of Florida. He earned a B.S. in 2007 and a J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010. Those years set the stage for a practice rooted in Florida courts.
After law school he entered private practice and became active in local and state bar organizations. He is admitted to practice in Florida and before the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Over time he took on roles that kept him engaged in the bar community and in issues affecting young lawyers.
Thakkar has served in leadership positions in several professional organizations. He has been on the executive board of the Young Lawyers Division of The Florida Bar since 2012. In Brevard County, he has held the presidency of the Young Lawyers Division since 2013. He is also a member of the Brevard County Bar Association. Beyond the bar, he belongs to local community groups such as the Indian Association of the Space Coast and the Indian American Chamber of Commerce.
His involvement extends into the area of criminal defense practice. Thakkar serves as Treasurer of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. That role places him in the middle of statewide conversations about criminal law practice and procedure. It also provides regular contact with trial attorneys and public defenders across Florida.
In his firm role he is listed as Of Counsel at Cantwell & Goldman, P.A. That position allows him to consult on cases and to take courtroom work when needed. He combines advocacy in individual matters with organizational work in bar groups and professional committees.
Peers describe him as someone who balances courtroom preparation with attention to bar governance. He has spent a decade-plus shaping programming and policy for young lawyers, while continuing to appear in federal and state courts. He maintains a practice that draws on that blend of litigation experience and professional service.
Outside of work he remains involved in the local Indian-American community and in business-oriented civic groups. That civic engagement informs his approach to client relations and community-based legal issues.
His current practice is based at Cantwell & Goldman, P.A., and focuses on criminal defense and related litigation matters.
