Firm Profile

Akerman LLP

http://www.akerman.com

Firm Details

Akerman LLP is a top 100 U.S. law firm recognized by Financial Times as among the most forward thinking firms in the industry. Its more than 700 lawyers and business professionals collaborate with the world's most successful enterprises and entrepreneurs to navigate change, seize opportunities, and help drive innovation and growth. Akerman is known for its results in middle market M&A and complex disputes, and for helping clients achieve their most important business objectives in the financial services, real estate, and other dynamic sectors across the United States and Latin America.

Corporate, M&A, and Capital Markets: Advise public and private companies, including private equity funds, on M&A, capital markets transactions, financings, and other transactional matters, with a strong focus on the middle market.

Real Estate: Recognized for substantial experience in complex transactions, development and construction projects, economic development incentives, environmental matters, public-private initiatives, and litigation.

Litigation: Trial lawyers in offices throughout the United States recognized for experience in civil, criminal, and general commercial litigation, appellate, and international arbitration matters.

Consumer Financial Services: Represent banks and non-bank consumer debt originators and servicers in the areas of litigation, compliance, regulatory enforcement, and repurchase and recovery litigation, with an emphasis on investigating and prosecuting origination fraud.

Intellectual Property: Represent clients worldwide in all areas of intellectual property law, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and the internet.

Fraud and Recovery: Provide comprehensive fraud management services for clients in the financial services, insurance, healthcare, and retail sectors with a focus on fraud litigation, Ponzi schemes, and corporate theft.

Bankruptcy and Reorganization: Serve as counsel or receiver in large bankruptcy filings. Also represent financial institutions and mortgage holders in workouts, and other secured creditors in Chapter 11 reorganizations.

Healthcare: Recognized for experience in regulatory, risk management, and corporate matters. Represent hospitals and health systems, health insurers and managed care organizations, physician practice groups, pharmacy-related organizations, and other industry stakeholders.

Labor and Employment: Represent employers in every major sector with all aspects of labor relations and employment law compliance and litigation, workplace safety, immigration, and non-compete and trade secret issues.

Tax: Advise domestic and foreign corporations, individuals, and nonprofit institutions on international, federal, state, and local tax issues, including tax planning, audit defense, tax litigation, controversy, and legislation.

Government Affairs and Public Policy: Bi-partisan team of lawyers and public policy advisers experienced in appropriations, transportation, hospitality, healthcare, education, Native American affairs, and local government matters.

Management

Scott A. Meyers
Chairman and CEO

Andrew M. Smulian
Chairman Emeritus

Christopher S. Duke
Office Managing Partner, Palm Beach County

Justin D. Balser
Office Managing Partner, Denver

Brit T. Brown
Office Managing Partner, Houston

Ginny Childs
Office Managing Partner, Orlando

Irene Bassel Frick
Office Managing Partner, Tampa

Christian P. George
Office Managing Partner, Jacksonville

Scott Marrs
Regional Managing Partner - Texas

Meg E. George
Office Managing Partner, Chicago

Neisen O. Kasdin
Office Managing Partner, Miami

Laurence S. Kurth
Office Managing Partner, San Antonio

Carlos E. Méndez-Peñate
Office Managing Partner, New York

Bruce D. Platt
Office Managing Partner, Tallahassee

George W. Powell, Jr.
Office Managing Partner, Naples

Leslie Miller Tomczak
Office Managing Partner, Fort Lauderdale

Robert H. Scott
Office Managing Partner, Salt Lake City

Gerard Wimberly
Office Managing Partner, New Orleans

Scot Patrick O'Brien
Office Managing Partner, Washington D.C.

Ariel E. Stern
Office Managing Partner, Las Vegas

C. Charles Townsend
Office Managing Partner, Dallas

Michael R. Weiss
Office Managing Partner, Los Angeles

Top Listed State Awards

Top Listed in Florida with 29 lawyers
Top Listed in Florida in Health Care Law with 8 lawyers
Top Listed in Florida in International Mergers and Acquisitions with 6 lawyers
Top Listed in Florida in Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law with 5 lawyers
Top Listed in Florida in Litigation - Bankruptcy with 13 lawyers
Top Listed in Florida in Real Estate Law with 6 lawyers
Top Listed in Florida in Venture Capital Law with 4 lawyers

Top Listed City Awards

Top Listed in Miami with 15 lawyers
Top Listed in Jacksonville in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law with 4 lawyers
Top Listed in Miami in Corporate Law with 11 lawyers
Top Listed in Miami in Insurance Law with 5 lawyers
Top Listed in Miami in International Mergers and Acquisitions with 5 lawyers
Top Listed in Miami in Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law with 4 lawyers
Top Listed in Fort Lauderdale in Litigation - Bankruptcy with 4 lawyers
Top Listed in Jacksonville in Litigation - Bankruptcy with 4 lawyers
Top Listed in Miami in Securities / Capital Markets Law with 4 lawyers

Awards

The National Law Journal NLJ 350: Ranked among the top 100 law firms in the U.S.
Benchmark Litigation: Law Firm of the Year for Diversity (South)
Benchmark Litigation: “Highly Recommended” Litigation Firm (Florida)
Benchmark Litigation: Litigation Law Firm of the Year (Florida)
Benchmark Appellate: “Highly Recommended” Eleventh Circuit Litigation Firm (Florida)
Chambers Latin America: Recognized for International Arbitration - Commercial (Latin America-Wide)
The Legal 500: Ranked for Mergers, Acquisitions and Buyouts - M&A: Middle Market (U.S.)
The Legal 500: Ranked for Labor and Employment - Immigration (U.S.)
The Legal 500: Ranked for Construction (U.S.)
Chambers USA: Recognized for Antitrust (Florida)
Chambers USA: Recognized for Banking & Finance (Florida)
Chambers USA: Recognized for Bankruptcy/Restructuring (Florida)
Chambers USA: Recognized for Construction (Florida)
Chambers USA: Recognized for Litigation: General Commercial (Florida)
Chambers USA: Recognized for Real Estate (Florida)
Chambers USA: Recognized for Healthcare (Florida)
Chambers USA: Recognized for Insurance (Florida)
Chambers USA: Recognized for Labor & Employment (Florida)
Chambers USA: Recognized for Tax (Florida)
Chambers USA: Recognized for Corporate/M&A & Private Equity (Florida)
Chambers USA: Recognized for Environment (Florida)
Benchmark Litigation: "Recommended" Litigation Firm (Virginia)
The Legal 500: Ranked for Real Estate (U.S.)
Chambers Global: Recognized for International Arbitration - Commercial (Latin America-Wide)
Chambers USA: Recognized for Construction (Virginia)
Chambers USA: Recognized for Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use (Florida)
The Legal 500: Ranked for Land Use/Zoning (U.S.)
Law360: Ranked among the top 100 law firms in the world
The American Lawyer: Ranked among the top 50 law firms for diversity
Chambers USA: Recognized for Immigration (Florida)
Am Law 200: Ranked 108 among the largest law firms in the U.S.
Florida Trend: Ranked largest law firm in Florida
Law360: Ranked as a Powerhouse Law Firm in Florida
Corporate Equality Index: Ranked among the "Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality" with a 100% rating
MultiCultural Law: Ranked among the top 100 law firms for diversity and women
MultiCultural Law: Ranked among the top 25 law firms for Hispanic Americans
Chambers USA: Construction (U.S.)