Taft Welcomes Leading Private Client Lawyers Andrew Krause and John Paul Bratcher

Taft, one of the fastest-growing law firms in the nation, today announced the launch of an office in Naples with the addition of partners Andrew Krause and John Paul (J.P.) Bratcher to the Private Client practice. They join as an integral part of the firm’s June 30 merger with the Mrachek Law Firm, a distinguished litigation boutique with offices in West Palm Beach and Stuart, and continue Taft’s growth and momentum in Florida.

The arrival of Krause and Bratcher and expansion into Naples reflect Taft’s strategy in Florida, which will be anchored by West Palm Beach as the state’s commercial litigation corridor and Naples as a major market for private client services. Taft plans to further scale-up the size of its presence in Florida, focusing on practice areas of the highest value to its clients.

“This is another very targeted move for Taft that further strengthens and expands our position among Florida’s most affluent markets—where our clients are doing more business and spending more time each year,” said Taft’s Chairman and Managing Partner, Bob Hicks. “Andy and J.P. are a perfect fit in Naples as we concentrate on building opportunities for our private client and family office practices that complement the needs of corporate leaders in Florida.”

Krause is a seasoned trusts and estates attorney with over 40 years of experience, mostly spent serving families in Naples, where he focuses on advanced estate planning, wealth transfer, and multigenerational strategies. He helps individuals and families develop customized plans that emphasize tax efficiency, asset protection, and long-term goals. Krause has been certified by The Florida Bar as a Specialist in Wills, Trusts, and Estates for more than three decades and has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America^®  in Trusts and Estates Law every year since 2003.

Bratcher advises individuals, families, and family offices on sophisticated estate, tax, and business succession planning with a focus on helping clients navigate the legal and interpersonal complexities that arise during major wealth transitions—from first-generation wealth creation to long-term legacy planning. He frequently assists high net worth and ultra- high net worth clients on how best to structure and implement wealth transfer and estate planning vehicles such as various irrevocable grantor and non-grantor trusts, GRATs, dynasty trusts, and limited liability companies. Bratcher also serves on the Alumni Advisory Board for Ohio Northern University’s Petit College of Law and is currently the President of the Georgetown Club of Naples, the local alumni and affiliate membership organization for Georgetown University.

“We are thrilled to welcome Andy and J.P. to Taft as we launch our Naples office,” said Alan B. Rose, current Managing Shareholder at Mrachek and incoming Taft Florida Chairman and West Palm Beach Partner-in-Charge. “Their deep roots in the Naples community and unmatched experience in private client services will be invaluable as we continue to grow our presence in Florida and deliver exceptional value to our clients.”

“Expanding our capabilities into Florida is a big milestone for Taft’s Private Client practice,” said Alison Midden, Co-Chair of Taft’s Private Client practice. “Andy and J.P’s commitment to client service perfectly aligns with our mission to provide comprehensive, innovative solutions for individuals and families, and we’re excited to continue growing the team in Naples.”

“Joining Taft and launching the Naples office is an exciting new chapter for us,” said Andrew Krause. “The growth of Taft’s national platform and its client-focused approach will allow us to deliver even greater value to our clients in Naples and across Florida, and we look forward to building on our longstanding relationships in the community.”

Through the first half of the year, Taft has continued to grow strategically through both lateral hiring and mergers as the firm continues to build a nationwide presence. With these strategic hires in Naples, Taft has added nearly 30 lateral partners as part of more than 70 lateral attorney hires firmwide, growing at a faster pace than in 2024.

To start 2025, Taft completed its merger with Sherman & Howard, Denver’s oldest and third-largest firm, on Jan. 1. As a result of this merger, Taft expanded its footprint to the Mountain West region and added annual revenues of more than $100 million and approximately 125 lawyers to Taft’s nationwide roster. On June 30, Taft will complete its merger with the Mrachek Law Firm, a litigation boutique based in West Palm Beach and Stuart, welcoming 18 additional lawyers to the firm.

About Taft

Founded in 1885 with a 140-year legacy rooted in the historic Taft family that includes a U.S. President, Senator, and Supreme Court Chief Justice, today Taft is one of the nation’s fastest-growing law firms. As a modern law firm with a non-headquarter operating model and more than 1,050 attorneys, Taft is fully committed to delivering the highest level of service to today’s organizations and individuals. The legal performance of Taft attorneys is recognized nationally, with inclusion in the Am Law 100, Chambers USA, Best Lawyers®, Super Lawyers, and more.