Zachary “Zach” Taylor joined the firm in 2003 after gaining a reputation as an outstanding trial attorney in the courtrooms of Northwest Florida. Zach now specializes in all types of personal injury, auto accidents, hurricane claims, insurance disputes, and wrongful death cases.
Prior to joining the firm, he served Panama City and the surrounding areas of Bay, Gulf, Washington, Calhoun, Holmes, and Jackson counties as an Assistant State Attorney in the 14th Judicial Circuit. As a prosecutor, Zach worked closely with local law enforcement while he handled all levels of misdemeanor, felony and violent crime cases.
Moving to civil litigation, Zach has met the elite certification standards of the Florida Bar and is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer. This designation places him in the very small number of Florida attorneys who have achieved this distinction. This designation assures clients and the public, that Zach has the highest level of legal skill, expertise, professionalism and ethical standards.
Zach continues to seek justice at Manuel & Thompson, working to ensure that his clients receive a positive trial verdict or settlement in wrongful death, injury and insurance dispute cases.
Zach earned his undergraduate degree in Criminology from Florida State University and graduated from the Mississippi College School of Law, where he won the Trial Advocacy Book Award for Outstanding Trial Advocacy Skills. In the community, Zach has been a sought-after adjunct professor, instructor and lecturer at Gulf Coast State College, Florida State University Panama City Campus, and local high schools on various legal topics. Zach also serves on the Florida Bar 14th Circuit Grievance Committee.
Married with four children, Zach enjoys the outdoors, fitness, fishing and coaching youth sports.