The Cole Law Firm Team

Associate Attorney

Lauren Pride is an Associate Attorney at The Cole Law Firm, where she assists individuals and families with estate planning, probate administration, trust administration, and guardianship matters. She also brings valuable experience in real estate law, allowing the firm to better serve clients with a wide range of residential and commercial real estate needs.

Lauren earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Oklahoma College of Law and her bachelor's degree in Sociology, with a minor in Psychology, from the University of Oklahoma. She is admitted to practice law in Florida and before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida.

Before joining The Cole Law Firm, Lauren served as corporate counsel for a property development company in Pensacola, advising on commercial real estate transactions, land development, and corporate regulatory compliance. Earlier in her career, she practiced in private law, focusing on estate planning, probate and trust administration, guardianships, and nonprofit organization formation and compliance.

Lauren's background in both private practice and corporate real estate enables her to assist clients with matters such as real estate contract drafting and negotiation, partition actions, HOA and condominium association representation, developer representation, land use and zoning matters, and easement preparation. She is excited to combine that experience with her passion for estate planning to provide comprehensive legal guidance to clients throughout Northwest Florida.

Outside the office, Lauren enjoys volunteering, becoming involved in her community, and looks forward to serving the families and businesses of Niceville and the surrounding area.

Senior Paralegal 

With over 20 years of legal experience, Michele Flynn brings a deep well of knowledge and precision to every case she supports. Known for her meticulous attention to detail and unwavering dedication, Michele plays a vital role in assisting attorneys and ensuring our clients receive the highest level of service. Her expertise spans multiple areas of law, making her a trusted and invaluable member of our legal team.  In her free time, Michele enjoys spending time with her family.  She likes reading, cooking and pottery.

Front Office

As the first point of contact at our firm, Heather Hill brings warmth, professionalism, and efficiency to every interaction. With a welcoming smile and a dedication to client service, Heather ensures that every visitor and caller feels valued and supported. Her organizational skills and calm demeanor help keep the front office running smoothly, making her an essential part of our team and the trusted face of our firm.

Director of Operations

Elise Whittenburg oversees the firm’s back-office operations with expertise and precision. With a degree in finance and a strong background in administrative management, she ensures that our financial, HR, and operational systems run smoothly and efficiently.

Known for her analytical skills and attention to detail, Elise supports attorneys and staff alike, enabling them to focus fully on serving clients with excellence. She is passionate about creating systems that foster collaboration, transparency, and long-term sustainability for the firm.

Beyond her work at the firm, Elise is continually pursuing professional development in accounting, technology integration, and business leadership. When she’s not streamlining operations, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her family.