Wood & Wood, P.A.

J. Emory Wood Senior graduated from LaGrange College, LaGrange Georgia in 1976 with a major in Psychology and a minor in Social Work. He graduated from Stetson University College of Law in 1979 Cum Laude where he also was a member of Law Review. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1979 and practiced with Harris, Barrett and Dew doing general legal work until 1981 when he was employed by Butler and Neilson in 1981 doing exclusively personal injury insurance defense. He became a partner of what was Butler, Burnette, Wood and Freeman in 1985. Later that year he left the firm and started his own practice of the Law Office of J. Emory Wood doing exclusively personal injury defense. That firm is now Wood & Wood P.A. Mr. Wood is Board Certified by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and the Florida Bar in Civil Trial Practice. Although not an exact count he estimates that he has tried over 450 Civil Jury trials to verdict involving personal injury cases all over the State of Florida. He previously served on the Judicial Nominated Committee for the 6th Judicial Circuit and the 2ND District Court of Appeals in Florida.

Julian E. Wood, Jr. is a born and raised St. Petersburg, Florida resident. He obtained a Bachelor’s in Arts degree majoring in History from the University of South Florida. Following his undergraduate studies, he continued his education obtaining his Juris Doctorate from St. Thomas University. Mr. Wood became a licensed member of the Florida Bar in 2008 and has been practicing in Civil Litigation since that time. He was honored to join his father’s firm of J. Emory Wood, P.A. and benefited from the tutelage of one of the areas preeminent trial attorneys. Mr. Wood was honored to join as a partner with his father in 2015 which is today known as Wood & Wood, P.A. Mr. Wood has conducted jury trials in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk, Collier, Seminole and Volusia Counties.

Mr. Wood is blessed to be married to Meghan with whom they have a daughter, Scarlett and son Emory III. In his spare time he enjoys doing activities with his family such as playing golf and being out on the local waters. Following the example of his parents he volunteers time and efforts with their home church of St. Petersburg First United Methodist and his children’s schools.

Melissa Miguel Devaux is born and raised in Miami, Florida. She moved to Tallahassee in 1993 to attend Florida State University where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Criminology with a minor in Spanish and a Master of Science in Criminology. In 1999 she relocated to the Pinellas County area and attended Stetson University College of Law where she earned her Juris Doctorate. She was admitted to The Florida Bar in 2003 and has practiced law locally since then. She served as an Assistant Public Defender for approximately six years in the 6th Judicial Circuit. She also practiced law as a solo practitioner in the areas of criminal and family law for approximately ten years. She joined Wood & Wood, P.A. in 2021.

Mrs. Miguel Devaux is born to Cuban parents who immigrated to the United States in the 1960’s. She is fluent in Spanish. She is married and has two sons. She is the most recent addition to the Wood & Wood, P.A. team of attorneys.

Caitlin A. Dreher is a born and raised Floridian. She moved to Gainesville in 2010, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and Spanish at the University of Florida. In 2014 she relocated to Tampa, FL where she worked as a copy editor and public affairs consultant. In 2018 she attended Stetson University College of Law as a part-time student, while working as the Litigation Manager at a local law firm. She was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2022 and joined Wood & Wood, P.A. in 2023.

Mrs. Dreher is happily married to Ryan, with whom she shares two cats, Charlie and Teddy. She enjoys reading and creating art through different mediums. She is the most recent addition to the Wood & Wood, P.A. team of attorneys.

Dustin J. Sjong grew up in southeast Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2015 where he earned his degree in business management with a minor in political science. In 2016, Dustin moved to St. Petersburg, Florida to attend law school at Stetson University College of Law. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2019 and has practiced insurance defense from the outset of his legal career. Dustin joined Wood & Wood, P.A., in March 2024.

In his free time, Dustin enjoys traveling to visit his family and friends up north in the Midwest and spending time in the Florida sun at a pool or beach.