Christian George, Managing Partner of Akerman’s Jacksonville office, and Ari Gerstin have been recognized in the Daily Business Review’s inaugural Florida Trailblazers list. The publication “spotlights a handful of individuals that are truly agents of change” and have “made significant marks on the practice, policy and technological advancement of their practice.”
George was recognized for using his role as president of the Young Lawyers Division of the Florida Bar to reduce the stigma against mental health in the legal community. Upon being named president, George distributed a mental health poll to the Division's 28,000 members, and helped organize six videos featuring lawyers across Florida discussing addiction or mental illness. In addition, George collaborated with the Florida Board of Bar Examiners to remove any negative connotation from questions on applicants’ mental health history.
Gerstin’s role as part of the Akerman team representing Florigrown in a high-profile case in Florida’s First District Court of Appeals earned him recognition. In July, the court upheld a trial judge’s ruling overturning the state’s medical marijuana legislation, which only allowed licenses for medical marijuana for major businesses that could handle every step of production and distribution.