Akerman Senterfitt Expands South Florida Presence with Key Additions in West Palm Beach and Opening of New Palm Beach and Boca Raton Offices
June 15, 2010
Trusts & Estates, Litigation, and Corporate Lawyers will be Located in West Palm Beach and Boca Raton Offices, and John Raymond, Notable in Estate Planning and Counseling of Closely-Held Businesses, to be Based in Palm Beach
Akerman Senterfitt, the largest law firm in Florida and ranked among the top 100 firms in the U.S., today announced the expansion of the firm in West Palm Beach and the opening of offices in Palm Beach and Boca Raton in response to growing market demand.
The expansion is fueled by the addition of eight attorneys from Butzel Long who will bolster Akerman’s Trusts, Estates & Family Services, Litigation, and Corporate practices, strengthening Akerman’s position as the dominant firm in the region.
"As we continue to strengthen our presence in South Florida, we are delighted to welcome a team of such experienced lawyers who can serve our clients here and throughout the United States," said Andrew Smulian, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We know that the background and knowledge of this exceptional team will be a wonderful asset to the firm and to our clients."
John Raymond joins Akerman in Palm Beach. John maintains an extensive practice concentrating on income tax, estate and gift tax and related tax and wealth planning matters. He has a special focus on counseling entrepreneurs and owners of closely-held businesses with a focus on the franchisee market, on tax, valuation, investment, asset protection, and other planning issues for owners and their families. Mr. Raymond is active in many charitable organizations in South Florida. He is a member of the Florida and Michigan Bars.
"It’s a great opportunity to join the leading Florida firm, but also one that has national reach so that we can enhance the depth and breadth of services we provide our clients,” said Raymond.
Joining Akerman in the Boca Raton office are Ian D. Pesses, Christine M. Robbins, and Ryan S. Ratner. Ian Pesses brings more than 30 years of experience in the representation of closely held businesses as a transactional attorney, with extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, finance, and real estate. He is admitted to practice in Michigan and Florida.
Christine Robbins concentrates her practice in the areas of estate and business planning, probate and trust administration and guardianship matters, as well as estate and trust litigation matters. She also has appellate experience. Ms. Robbins is a member of the state Bar of Florida, and the New York, New Jersey, and North Carolina Bars.
Ryan Ratner concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning, probate and trust estate administration, estate and gift tax planning, guardianship matters, asset protection planning, and commercial and residential real property matters. Mr. Ratner’s practice also incorporates planning for those individuals with “special needs” whether young children or adults. He is admitted to practice in Florida, where he is also a member of the Elder Law section of the Florida Bar.
The West Palm Beach office expansion includes the addition of Lesley S. Hogan to the Trusts, Estates & Family Services practice and three attorneys to the Litigation practice, Christopher B. Hopkins, Allison S. Bernstein, and Guy E. Quattlebaum.
Lesley Hogan’s practice is focused on the areas of estate and business succession planning, trust and estate administration, probate and trust litigation, and tax controversies . She is admitted to practice law in Florida and before the United States Tax Court; the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida; and the United States Supreme Court.
Christopher Hopkins’ practice relates to appellate, arbitration, and litigation matters, including professional malpractice, construction and probate litigation, as well as general civil litigation and appeals. He is a Florida Supreme Court certified civil circuit mediator and qualified arbitrator. He is admitted to practice in all Florida federal and state courts, U.S. Courts of Appeal for the 11th and D.C. Circuits, and before the United States Supreme Court.
Allison Bernstein concentrates her practice in the areas of civil litigation, appeals and arbitration, including professional malpractice, construction, real estate, products liability and personal injury matters. She is admitted to practice in all Florida state and federal courts and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.
Guy Quattlebaum has more than 12 years experience as a business litigator, focusing on complex commercial cases, as well as labor and employment, probate, condominium, and real estate matters. He is admitted to practice in the State of Florida, where he served as chairman of the Florida Bar’s Grievance Committee for the 15th Circuit. He is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Earlier this month Akerman expanded its Intellectual Property practice in West Palm Beach with the addition of David Brafman and Timothy Le Duc.
Akerman's Corporate practice is recognized by The Legal 500 within the National-Middle Market category, and is ranked number one by Chambers USA for Corporate/M&A in Florida. Akerman advises many public and emerging companies, and private equity and investment funds on M&A, public offerings, private equity and venture capital investments, and other transactional matters. Senior members of the firm lead all transactions and remain actively engaged with our clients providing pragmatic solutions and serving as a catalyst for launching, growing, and maintaining successful businesses.
Akerman is ranked as a leading litigation law firm in Florida by Chambers USA and is comprised of more than 200 trial lawyers. Our team is recognized for its vast experience in corporate, banking, real estate, and insurance matters. Akerman assists clients in a wide range of fields including business disputes, commercial foreclosures and receiverships, class action defense, consumer finance litigation, real estate litigation, construction litigation, complex securities litigation and regulatory proceedings, white collar and criminal investigations, bankruptcy, and e-discovery.
Akerman's Trusts, Estates & Family Services practice offers personalized strategies for estate planning, wealth and business preservation, probate, trust and guardianship administration and litigation, employee and retirement benefits, as well as experience with charitable planning, tax-exempt organizations, and family and marital law.
About Akerman Senterfitt
Akerman is ranked among the top 100 law firms in the U.S. by The National Law Journal NLJ 250 (2009) in number of lawyers and is the largest firm in Florida. With 500 lawyers and government affairs professionals, we serve clients from major business centers in Florida, New York, Washington, D.C., California, Virginia, Colorado, Texas, and Nevada. More information can be found at www.akerman.com or www.twitter.com/akerman_law.
Akerman Senterfitt, the largest law firm in Florida and ranked among the top 100 firms in the U.S., today announced the expansion of the firm in West Palm Beach and the opening of offices in Palm Beach and Boca Raton in response to growing market demand.
The expansion is fueled by the addition of eight attorneys from Butzel Long who will bolster Akerman’s Trusts, Estates & Family Services, Litigation, and Corporate practices, strengthening Akerman’s position as the dominant firm in the region.
"As we continue to strengthen our presence in South Florida, we are delighted to welcome a team of such experienced lawyers who can serve our clients here and throughout the United States," said Andrew Smulian, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We know that the background and knowledge of this exceptional team will be a wonderful asset to the firm and to our clients."
John Raymond joins Akerman in Palm Beach. John maintains an extensive practice concentrating on income tax, estate and gift tax and related tax and wealth planning matters. He has a special focus on counseling entrepreneurs and owners of closely-held businesses with a focus on the franchisee market, on tax, valuation, investment, asset protection, and other planning issues for owners and their families. Mr. Raymond is active in many charitable organizations in South Florida. He is a member of the Florida and Michigan Bars.
"It’s a great opportunity to join the leading Florida firm, but also one that has national reach so that we can enhance the depth and breadth of services we provide our clients,” said Raymond.
Joining Akerman in the Boca Raton office are Ian D. Pesses, Christine M. Robbins, and Ryan S. Ratner. Ian Pesses brings more than 30 years of experience in the representation of closely held businesses as a transactional attorney, with extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, finance, and real estate. He is admitted to practice in Michigan and Florida.
Christine Robbins concentrates her practice in the areas of estate and business planning, probate and trust administration and guardianship matters, as well as estate and trust litigation matters. She also has appellate experience. Ms. Robbins is a member of the state Bar of Florida, and the New York, New Jersey, and North Carolina Bars.
Ryan Ratner concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning, probate and trust estate administration, estate and gift tax planning, guardianship matters, asset protection planning, and commercial and residential real property matters. Mr. Ratner’s practice also incorporates planning for those individuals with “special needs” whether young children or adults. He is admitted to practice in Florida, where he is also a member of the Elder Law section of the Florida Bar.
The West Palm Beach office expansion includes the addition of Lesley S. Hogan to the Trusts, Estates & Family Services practice and three attorneys to the Litigation practice, Christopher B. Hopkins, Allison S. Bernstein, and Guy E. Quattlebaum.
Lesley Hogan’s practice is focused on the areas of estate and business succession planning, trust and estate administration, probate and trust litigation, and tax controversies . She is admitted to practice law in Florida and before the United States Tax Court; the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida; and the United States Supreme Court.
Christopher Hopkins’ practice relates to appellate, arbitration, and litigation matters, including professional malpractice, construction and probate litigation, as well as general civil litigation and appeals. He is a Florida Supreme Court certified civil circuit mediator and qualified arbitrator. He is admitted to practice in all Florida federal and state courts, U.S. Courts of Appeal for the 11th and D.C. Circuits, and before the United States Supreme Court.
Allison Bernstein concentrates her practice in the areas of civil litigation, appeals and arbitration, including professional malpractice, construction, real estate, products liability and personal injury matters. She is admitted to practice in all Florida state and federal courts and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.
Guy Quattlebaum has more than 12 years experience as a business litigator, focusing on complex commercial cases, as well as labor and employment, probate, condominium, and real estate matters. He is admitted to practice in the State of Florida, where he served as chairman of the Florida Bar’s Grievance Committee for the 15th Circuit. He is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Earlier this month Akerman expanded its Intellectual Property practice in West Palm Beach with the addition of David Brafman and Timothy Le Duc.
Akerman's Corporate practice is recognized by The Legal 500 within the National-Middle Market category, and is ranked number one by Chambers USA for Corporate/M&A in Florida. Akerman advises many public and emerging companies, and private equity and investment funds on M&A, public offerings, private equity and venture capital investments, and other transactional matters. Senior members of the firm lead all transactions and remain actively engaged with our clients providing pragmatic solutions and serving as a catalyst for launching, growing, and maintaining successful businesses.
Akerman is ranked as a leading litigation law firm in Florida by Chambers USA and is comprised of more than 200 trial lawyers. Our team is recognized for its vast experience in corporate, banking, real estate, and insurance matters. Akerman assists clients in a wide range of fields including business disputes, commercial foreclosures and receiverships, class action defense, consumer finance litigation, real estate litigation, construction litigation, complex securities litigation and regulatory proceedings, white collar and criminal investigations, bankruptcy, and e-discovery.
Akerman's Trusts, Estates & Family Services practice offers personalized strategies for estate planning, wealth and business preservation, probate, trust and guardianship administration and litigation, employee and retirement benefits, as well as experience with charitable planning, tax-exempt organizations, and family and marital law.
About Akerman Senterfitt
Akerman is ranked among the top 100 law firms in the U.S. by The National Law Journal NLJ 250 (2009) in number of lawyers and is the largest firm in Florida. With 500 lawyers and government affairs professionals, we serve clients from major business centers in Florida, New York, Washington, D.C., California, Virginia, Colorado, Texas, and Nevada. More information can be found at www.akerman.com or www.twitter.com/akerman_law.
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©2013 Akerman Senterfitt, Akerman Senterfitt LLP. Attorney Advertising.
©2013 Akerman Senterfitt, Akerman Senterfitt LLP. Attorney Advertising.