National law firm Akerman LLP today announced Michael Goldberg has been named the Daily Business Review's Attorney of the Year. The award is given to an attorney who made a significant impact in the law or legal community in the past year or did the most to advance the cause of justice.
Goldberg's work in 2022 made a substantial and positive impact in the lives of hundreds of people. He was court-appointed as receiver for the Champlain Towers South Condominium Association, Inc. following the horrific collapse of the building in June 2021.
Working at the center of one of the biggest disasters and class-action cases in Florida history, Goldberg served as a sounding board for survivors and victims, as the go-between for dozens of lawyers in mounting lawsuits, as the “eyes and ears” of Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Michael Hanzman, and as de facto property manager of the two-acre remains of the building. He also helped shepherd the $120 million sale of the oceanfront land and, most significantly, he was responsible for guiding compensation of the victims and homeowners of Surfside, based on a $1.1 billion settlement that came from the developers, engineering consultants, and security companies whose errors may have caused the disaster, as well as their insurers.
Goldberg's extraordinary work as court-appointed receiver has received wide recognition, including from The New York Times, which reported that the Surfside case and the team of people alongside Goldberg who brought it swiftly and sensitively to its close could serve as a model for how the justice system treats and compensates victims in the future. A so-called case of “personalized justice” where each victim’s special circumstance was heavily weighed to calculate the individual damages and appropriate award for their family, those involved in the case said it was handled with great compassion and understanding, and a focus on the victims rather than the money.
Akerman Chairman and CEO Scott Meyers said: “Mike is the consummate lawyer. He exemplifies trust, dedication, and a deep commitment to serve as an ally to clients, colleagues, and the community, which are true hallmarks of our firm. Mike’s knowledge and experience is not only effective in the courtroom and the boardroom but is also essential to bringing long-lasting change and recovery to the community. We can all learn from Mike’s extraordinary example by leveraging our skills as lawyers to be an advocate for those most in need. The Attorney of the Year award is a well-deserved recognition of Mike’s remarkable accomplishments in this very difficult case. We have had the pleasure of working with Mike for more than 25 years, and we are proud to have him as part of our Akerman family.”
A Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy, Goldberg chairs the firm’s Fraud and Recovery Practice, which is focused on unraveling high-profile investor fraud, including Ponzi schemes and EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program wrongdoing. Goldberg has served as court-appointed receiver in many cases over the past two decades, helping victims maximize potential returns by identifying, securing, and monetizing potential assets as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Goldberg was honored during the Daily Business Review's Florida Legal Awards Gala in Miami on May 17.
About Akerman
Akerman LLP is a top 100 U.S. law firm recognized among the most forward-thinking firms in the industry by Financial Times. Its more than 700 lawyers and business professionals collaborate with the world’s most successful enterprises and entrepreneurs to navigate change, seize opportunities, and help drive innovation and growth.