Akerman Senterfitt today announced that Andrew Smulian, chairman and CEO of Akerman Senterfitt, James Bramnick, chair of Akerman's Labor and Employment Practice Group, and Janis Cheezem, a senior shareholder with the firm's Real Estate Practice Group, have been appointed as global leaders of Lex Mundi, the world's leading network of independent law firms comprised of 160 member firms and more than 21,000 lawyers in over 100 countries.
Smulian was elected to the organization's Board of Directors at Lex Mundi’s recent Annual Meeting in Amsterdam. One of only six directors from the United States, Smulian will help oversee executive operations and assist Lex Mundi in furthering its mission to provide integrated and high quality legal services worldwide.
Cheezem was elevated to chair of Lex Mundi's Global Real Estate Practice Group at Lex Mundi's Amsterdam meeting, and will serve as the Real Estate Practice Group's global leader for a two year term to succeed her prior service as chair-elect. As chair, Cheezem is charged with strengthening global partnerships within the real estate practice, building alliances with real estate organizations, developing and delivering education programs for client needs, and mobilizing multi-jurisdictional legal teams to develop business and meet client requirements. Prior to election to the global chair and chair-elect positions Cheezem served as Lex Mundi's North American Real Estate Practice Group Chair.
Bramnick was elevated from regional vice chair of North America of the Lex Mundi Global Labor and Employment Practice Group to chair-elect of that Practice Group. He will become chair of the group after the current leader's term expires in 2015. As chair-elect, Bramnick is charged with bringing the group together globally and bridging joint business development initiatives.
“Akerman's relationship with Lex Mundi and our colleagues in member firms is of great benefit to our clients," said James Miller, Akerman Litigation Practice Group Chair and longtime Akerman-Lex Mundi liaison. "Like Akerman, Lex Mundi firms have deep political, cultural and professional ties to their home jurisdictions, and Lex Mundi provides Akerman and our clients these resources in virtually every market in the world. I congratulate Andrew, Janis, and Jim on their new Lex Mundi leadership roles."
Member law firms of Lex Mundi are located throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean. Akerman was elected as Lex Mundi's USA-Florida member in 2006 after undergoing the network's rigorous assessment procedure that, among other things, evaluated the firm's quality, responsiveness, management structure, reputation, use of technology, training programs and ethical standards.
About Akerman Senterfitt
Akerman is a leading transactions and trial law firm known for its core strengths in middle market M&A, within the financial services and real estate industries, and for a diverse Latin America practice. With more than 550 lawyers and government affairs professionals and a network of 19 offices, it is ranked among the top 100 law firms in the U.S. by The National Law Journal NLJ 350 (2013). Akerman also is ranked among the top 100 law firms for diversity by MultiCultural Law magazine (2012) and recognized as the Law Firm of the Year for Diversity – South by Benchmark Litigation (2012). More information can be found at akerman.com or twitter.com/akerman_law.
About Lex Mundi
Lex Mundi is the world’s leading network of independent law firms with in-depth experience in more than 100 countries. Lex Mundi member firms offer clients preferred access to more than 21,000 lawyers worldwide – a global resource of unmatched breadth and depth. Each member firm is selected on the basis of its leadership in – and continued commitment to – its local market. The Lex Mundi principle is one independent firm for each jurisdiction. Firms must maintain their level of excellence to retain membership within Lex Mundi.