About Us

The firm was started by Michael P. Sullivan. Mr. Sullivan spent the first years of his practice gaining trial skills representing indigent people accused of crimes. Later, he worked in private practice at a firm that concentrated on workers' compensation and Social Security disability claims. He opened his own office in 1995.

Ruth Ann Hepler joined the Jacksonville Public Defender's Office in 1992. She opened her own practice, The Hepler Law Firm, in 1999 and returned to the Public Defender's Office to work part-time in 2003. In 2008, she joined Mr. Sullivan full time in his practice. The firm became known as Sullivan & Hepler in 2009.

Sullivan & Hepler's mission is to provide the highest quality legal services possible to working people and their families. We recognize that the legal interests of working people have been diminished in recent years, in favor of government and big business interests. We represent the working person in disputes with these powerful government bureaucracies and "too big to fail" businesses, and we rarely encounter a level playing field. As a firm, we know this means we have to work a lot harder than the other side. We also recognize that our clients' legal problems usually are life-changing events. Entrusting our firm to help them through their crises is a huge compliment from our clients, and it triggers a serious responsibility on our part. That's why we strive to provide not only first-rate lawyering but also an amazing level of customer service to all of our clients and their families.