When you sit across the table from an attorney, you want to feel like you already know the person who will stand up for you in court. That sense of trust starts with understanding who they are, what drives them, & how they see their role in your life. That is exactly what comes through when you listen to equity partner Andrew T. Morgan talk about his path to the courtroom and to St. Augustine.
In his short bio video, Andrew shares why he changed course from banking to law, why he chose to build his career in Northeast Florida, & how he approaches every case as both a problem-solver and a communicator. Before we share more about his background, we invite you to hear from him directly.
From MBA To The Courtroom: A Deliberate Choice
Andrew does not describe his legal career as an accident. While earning his M.B.A. at Winthrop University, he expected to go into banking. His classmates largely worked for banks in and around Charlotte. As he listened to them talk about their careers, he noticed a pattern: many felt unhappy with what they did every day. That realization pushed him to rethink his own path.
In the video, he explains that he decided to look for something that fit his skills and would feel more meaningful. That search led him to law school at Florida Coastal School of Law, where he earned his J.D. in 2005 after completing a business degree at Eckerd College in 2001 and his M.B.A. in 2002. That mix of business and legal education now supports the complex family law cases he handles at Canan Law, especially those involving businesses, high-wage earners, and significant financial questions.
Why St. Augustine Feels Like Home
Andrew’s story also has a strong sense of place. He notes in the video that he grew up in St. Louis, Missouri—punctuating it with a lighthearted “Go, Cardinals!”—but chose St. Augustine as the place to build his life and career. When he talks about the city, he calls it a great place and says he thinks it is the best place to live.
That choice matters to our clients. Andrew served as a prosecuting attorney in the Office of the State Attorney for the 7th Judicial Circuit from 2005 to 2007, handling matters in St. Johns, Putnam, Flagler, & Volusia counties. Since entering private practice, he has continued to work extensively in those counties, along with Duval, on high net-worth family law litigation & complex criminal defense. His deep local experience aligns with Canan Law’s long-standing presence in Northeast Florida and familiarity with area courts, judges, & prosecutors.
How Andrew Describes His Work & Skills
When Andrew talks about what he brings to a case, he focuses on concrete qualities rather than legal jargon. In his words, the skills he excels at include working hard, being creative in approaching a problem, & being a good communicator. He talks about two types of communication that shape his work:
- Listening to clients: He describes taking the time to listen to what clients’ problems are and then building strategies to solve those problems.
- Speaking for clients: He explains that he then takes those issues and communicates them to a judge or jury in a persuasive way.
That approach fits his role at Canan Law. As an equity partner whose practice focuses on family law and criminal law, he handles matters that often feel personal and high-stakes. His family law cases regularly involve valuation and distribution of businesses such as medical practices, restaurants, professional practices, construction companies, & retail stores. He often works on divorces that involve a high-wage earner and questions about alimony. On the criminal side, he has litigated cases as both a former Assistant State Attorney & as a defense attorney, including serious charges such as murder, DUI & DUI manslaughter, sexual battery, robbery, drug trafficking & possession, and aggravated, felony, & domestic battery.
Seeing Law As A Service, Not Just A Case
One of the most telling lines from the video comes when Andrew talks about the relationship between our team and our clients. He explains that it is important that we communicate with clients and that they have an opportunity to communicate with us. Then he adds that in his view, law practice is a customer service business.
That simple statement captures a key value at Canan Law. We believe strong attorney-client relationships grow from open communication, clarity, & respect. Andrew’s focus on listening, explaining options, & crafting clear strategies reflects the way our firm approaches every case, whether it involves a family dispute or a criminal charge.
Courtroom Work & The Canan Law Philosophy
Andrew also talks in the video about how our firm is known for being courtroom lawyers. He mentions personal injury, criminal defense, family law, & business litigation, and then sums it up this way: if you need a lawyer who goes to court and deals with juries or judges to resolve your issues, then we are the right law firm.
That statement lines up with his own background. Early in his career, he prosecuted cases ranging from misdemeanors to offenses punishable by life in prison. After leaving the State Attorney’s Office, he shifted to defense work and has handled many high-profile and complex criminal matters. That experience supports the trial-ready mindset that guides our team and our strategy. We prepare cases with the courtroom in mind and draw on our combined experience—over 250 jury trials as a firm—to help our clients pursue their goals.
A Partner Deeply Involved In The Legal Community
Beyond his individual cases, Andrew invests heavily in the legal and local community. He has served as past president of both the St. Johns County Bar Association and the Putnam County Bar. He is a member of the Florida Bar Family Law Section and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, & a Barrister in both the Florida Family Law American Inn of Court in Jacksonville and the St. Johns County Inn of Court.
His commitments extend even further. He has been a member of the St. Augustine Sunrise Rotary since 2008. He has served as Vice President of the Juvenile Justice Coalition, a member of the 7th Circuit Judicial Nominating Committee as a Governor Scott appointee, & Co-Chair of the Seventh Judicial Circuit Timesharing Guidelines Committee. These roles show a consistent effort to improve the legal system, support youth & families, & strengthen the community where he practices and lives.
Andrew’s work has also drawn recognition from his peers. Florida Super Lawyers named him a Rising Star in Family Law from 2016 through 2018. Combined with his admissions to the Florida Bar and the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, that acknowledgment reflects the respect he has earned within the profession.
Getting To Know Andrew Before You Meet
Credentials matter, and Andrew brings many: equity partner at Canan Law, decades of combined experience in family & criminal law, a background as both prosecutor and defense attorney, & years of leadership in professional groups. But what often puts clients at ease is the person behind the résumé.
In the video, you catch glimpses of that person—the former St. Louis kid who still cheers for the Cardinals, the attorney who chose law because he wanted work that fit his skills and values, the litigator who believes in hard work, creativity, & clear communication. His bio reveals that he is married with two sons, which adds another layer to his understanding of family dynamics and the real-world impact of family law disputes.
When you watch his introduction and then sit down with him, our goal is that you feel a sense of familiarity. You already know how he thinks about your case, how he will talk with you, & how seriously he takes the responsibility of standing up for you in court.
How Andrew Fits Into Your Legal Team
At Canan Law, we take a team-based approach to every case. Andrew brings a strong blend of courtroom experience, financial understanding, & community insight to that team. His focus on high net-worth family law litigation and complex criminal defense adds depth to the services we provide, while his commitment to communication supports the trust we build with our clients.
If you face a family law or criminal law issue in St. Johns, Duval, Flagler, Putnam, or the surrounding counties, learning about Andrew through his video introduction is a natural first step. From there, our team stands ready to sit down with you, listen to your story, & help you understand your options.
To speak with our team or schedule a consultation, contact Canan Law at (904) 849-2266. We look forward to getting to know you, just as you have had a chance to get to know Andrew.