JD Journal » florida law firms

Colson Hicks Picks up Greeberg Traurig Managing Partner in DC

joshua — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 21:28:12 +0000

The managing partner of Greenberg Traurig‘s Washington DC office, Ronald Kleinman, is leaving to open a DC office for Florida’s Colson Hicks Eidson. Colson Hicks and Greenberg Traurig have a long standing collaborative relationship and Colson Hicks is subleasing space from Greenberg for the new office. The new office will focus on commercial litigation and international arbitration, and according to Colson Hicks Eidson partner Joseph Matthews, it will offer contingency and alternative billing arrangements to its clients. Matthews will split his time between South Florida and the new office in DC.

Laura Klaus and Sanford Saunders will take over management responsibilities in DC for Greenberg Traurig.

More Details in Rothstein Story – UPDATED

joshua — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:21:49 +0000

For our original article on the story, click here. Scott Rothstein, founding partner of the Florida firm Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler, remains incommunicado after taking off last week. He is believed to be in Morocco, and his attorney has said he would return today. The firm has hired a former US attorney to investigate allegations that Rothstein did something improper with an investment vehicle, and has asked the Florida court to dissolve the firm, putting its assets in the hands of a receiver.

Now we have more details on the alleged misconduct of Rothstein. Rothstein is reported to have set up a side business selling shares in settlements. Investors would buy out structured settlements from clients at a discount and in turn receive payments as the structured settlements resolved over time. The problem is that Rothstein may have been selling shares in fictitious settlements and is alleged to have disappeared with anywhere from $200 to $300 million.

Rothstein has been a major contributor to Republican politics in Florida. Ellyn Bogdanoff, a member of the state legislature who was the biggest benefactor of Rothstein’s donations, said today that she would be returning any political donations from Rothstein.

The firm’s website, rra-law.com is currently blank, and the pages linking to Rothstein are now inactive.

UPDATE:

Rothstein is back in Miami and police have surrounded his firm.

Something Amiss at Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler

joshua — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:45:54 +0000

When a prominent law firm hires an ex US attorney to investigate one of its own partners, something has gone terribly awry. That’s the situation in Florida where founding partner Scott Rothstein, currently believed to be in Morocco, is being investigated by former US Attorney Kendall Coffey at the firm’s request. The allegations involve an investment scheme gone bad.

Rothstein’s lawyer says that Rothstein has not fled the country but has gone away to clear his head and will be back at the end of the week. The firm is open for business today but there is some speculation that it will not survive.

UPDATE: Stuart Rosenfeldt, co founder of the firm, has asked the court to dissolve the firm and and appoint a receiver to handle the firm’s finances.

Carlton Fields Picks up Four Lawyers from Morris, Manning & Martin

joshua — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:02:50 +0000

Three shareholders, Susan Spencer, Terresa Tarpley and James Walker IV and one associate, Shellie Hammock, have made the move from Morris, Manning & Martin to Carlton Fields in Atlanta. The four are corporate lawyers and were attracted by Carlton Fields’ larger size and broader array of practice areas.

Carlton Fields, which is based in Tampa, opened its Atlanta office in 2005. With the addition of these four attorneys, they now have 33 lawyers in Atlanta and plan to expand further, with a target of 50.

Former Senator Mel Martinez Joins DLA Piper

joshua — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:31:34 +0000

Senator Mel Martinez (R) of Florida, who resigned his seat last month, has joined DLA Piper as a partner. Martinez, who is the first Cuban-American elected to the Senate and has also served as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, will be banned from lobbying for two years under federal rules for lobbyists. Two other former senators, George Mitchell (D) and Dick Armey (R) have left DLA Piper recently.

DLA Piper is one of the largest law firms in the world. It is a legal services organization whose members and affiliates are separate and distinct legal entities. The organization boasts more than 3,500 lawyers in 29 countries and 65 offices.