Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, today announced that its Litigation Practice Group has once again received the "highly recommended" ranking from Benchmark Litigation in the Local Litigation Firms – Florida category. Akerman also received the "recommended" ranking in the Local Litigation Firms – Virginia category. Individually, seven Akerman litigators were recognized as "local litigation stars" by the publication, which identifies leading U.S. trial lawyers and firms.
All seven Akerman lawyers were named local litigation stars in the General Commercial category, including Katherine Giddings, partner in the firm's Tallahassee office; William Heller, chair of the Consumer Finance Litigation & Compliance Practice Group in the Fort Lauderdale office; Stephen Hurlbut, partner in the Tysons Corners, Va., office; Michael Marsh, partner in the Miami office; Brian Miller, chair of the Securities Litigation Practice Group in the Miami office; James Miller, partner in the Miami office; and Lawrence Rochefort, chair of the Litigation Practice Group in the West Palm Beach office. Giddings also was distinguished in the Appellate category after being named among the Top 250 U.S. Women in Litigation earlier this year. In addition, Heller, Marsh and Miller were honored in the Securities category; Hurlbut was recognized in the Construction category.
"I congratulate Akerman's litigators for receiving this well-deserved honor," said Andrew Smulian, Akerman Chairman and CEO. "It is the chemistry with our clients, and the trust they place in our counsel, that has once again resulted in notable recognition of our firm and lawyers."
Focused exclusively on the U.S. litigation markets, the rankings and editorials of Benchmark Litigation are the result of annual independent research that involves extensive interviews with private practice lawyers and in-house counsel. The guide's "local litigation stars," reflect lawyers who are recommended by peers and clients to have established consistent reputations as trial lawyers.
About Akerman LLP
Akerman LLP 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 600 lawyers and government affairs professionals and a network of 20 offices, it is ranked among the top 100 law firms in the United States by The National Law Journal NLJ 350 (2014). Akerman also is ranked among the top 50 law firms for diversity in The American Lawyer's Diversity Scorecard (2014).
More information can be found at akerman.com or twitter.com/akerman_law.