In 1923, our founding partner, C. Y. Byrd, a graduate of the Levin College of Law, located at the University of Florida, started the law firm that has continuously operated to this day.  While living in Delray Beach, Mr. Bryd was very active in the community serving as both a city councilman as well as a Palm Beach County commissioner for eighteen years.

Twenty-three years later, in 1946, Rhea Whitley, a graduate of Washington and Lee Law School, joined the firm which became known as Byrd & Whitley.  Mr. Whitley formerly served as a special agent with the FBI spearheading the Bonnie and Clyde case.  Subsequent to his time in the FBI, Mr. Whitley was both the criminal prosecutor of Governor Huey Long and the first special counsel for the United Nations American Activities Committee of the U.S. Congress.

In 1966, Fred B. Devitt, Jr., a graduate of the College of William and Mary, joined the firm.  Previous to practicing law, Mr. Devitt served as a Trust Officer at the First National Bank of Delray Beach.  This later became known as SunTrust Bank which Mr. Devitt served on the Board of Directors for 38 years.  In addition, since 1996, Mr. Devitt continues to serve as a Trustee for Bethesda Healthcare System.

Later, in 1984, J. Jeffrey Thistle joined the firm after graduating from the Shepard Broad College of Law located at Nova University.  In 1986, the firm became known as Devitt & Thistle.  While practicing, Mr. Thistle spent many years as a Director with the Chamber of Commerce and as a Trustee of Gulf Stream School.

A couple years later, in 1988, Fred B. Devitt III a/k/a Fritz joined Devitt & Thistle after graduating from Cumberland School of Law.  While practicing, Fritz became very involved in the community serving as President of the Delray Beach Historical Society.  He also served as a town commissioner for the Town of Gulf Stream for seventeen years.  Seven years later, Fritz became partner and the firm was known as Devitt, Thistle & Devitt.

In 2015, Jose L. Lorenzo merged his practice with Devitt, Thistle & Devitt.  The firm is now known as Devitt, Thistle & Lorenzo.  Prior to law school, Mr. Lorenzo worked in the South Florida banking industry serving a large international and professional clientele base of developers, builders, single family home purchasers, and commercial properties with an emphasis on the luxury and waterfront markets.  Subsequent to this, Mr. Lorenzo attended and graduated from St. Thomas University School of Law.  While practicing, he enjoys presenting seminars for continuing education programs.

Then, in 2018, Cole S. Devitt, a graduate of Cumberland School of Law, joined the firm as an associate.  After being sworn in at the Fourth District Court of Appeals in October of that year, he started practicing, following in both his father and his grandfather’s footsteps.