Akerman Senterfitt today announced the expansion of its Washington, D.C. office and White Collar Crime and Government Investigations Practice, with noted attorney Ralph Caccia joining the firm as a Shareholder and Practice Co-Chair.  Since entering private practice, Mr. Caccia has defended corporations and business executives in criminal, civil and congressional investigations involving allegations of health care fraud, antitrust violations, government contracts fraud, Foreign Corrupt Practice Act violations and public corruption.  Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Caccia served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, where he prosecuted a wide range of complex financial fraud cases.

Mr. Caccia has successfully represented several high profile individuals in a number of financial fraud and public corruption investigations, including United States Senator Conrad Burns and Congresswoman Enid Waldholtz, as well as numerous corporate clients in congressional and antitrust investigations and defense contractors and healthcare providers in government False Claims Act investigations.  Mr. Caccia has been recognized as one of the top white collar criminal defense attorneys in Washington, D.C., by Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers and by Washingtonian Magazine. 

“Ralph’s track record in white collar criminial defense, congressional and regulatory investigations, as well as his fine reputation as a seasoned trial attorney, is a tremendous addition to our national white collar crime and government investigations practice,” said Andrew Smulian, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Akerman.  “His years of experience in Washington, D.C., provide a most valuable platform for our clients.”

“We have been strategically adding significant strength and depth to our Washington team,” added Richard L. Spees, Akerman’s Office Managing Shareholder in the nation’s capital.  "Ralph brings a wealth of experience and a distinguished skill set to our growing D.C. office and we welcome him aboard."

Akerman has nearly tripled the size of its Washington, D.C., office since the beginning of the year, furthering its strong experience with government agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Justice, Department of Transportation, Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of the Interior, and the Federal Aviation Administration, among others.

The Akerman Senterfitt White Collar Crime and Government Investigations Practice is comprised of former federal prosecutors, a former Chief Counsel and Staff Director of the U.S. Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, a former General Counsel of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as well as former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission officials. Akerman lawyers have defended corporate and individual clients in federal grand jury, congressional, regulatory and internal investigations and have tried hundreds of criminal and civil cases.

About Akerman Senterfitt Akerman is ranked among the top 100 law firms in the United States by The National Law Journal NLJ 250 (2008) in number of lawyers and is the largest firm in Florida. With more than 500 lawyers and governmental affairs professionals, the firm serves clients in major business centers throughout the United States, including Miami, New York, Washington, D.C., Tysons Corner, and Los Angeles. For additional information, please visit the firm's website at www.akerman.com.

For additional information please contact:

Pat Tucker
RF|Binder Partners, Inc.
(212) 994-7561
patrick.tucker@rfbinder.com

Walter Fowler
RF|Binder Partners, Inc.
(212) 994-7512
walter.fowler@rfbinder.com