Top national law firm Akerman today announced Litigation Partner Adam Massaro, Real Estate Associate Steven Paletz and Litigation Associate Joyce Williams were named Colorado Rising Stars in the 2024 edition of Super Lawyers Magazine, and Consumer Financial Services, Data and Technology (CFS+) Partner Scott Lachman was recognized as the same in Nevada.
Massaro is an intellectual property and corporate litigator, with first-chair trial experience. He handles complex, multi-million dollar matters, including the representation of international clients ranging from South Korea to India. He works with clients on intellectual property matters in a broad range of areas, including software, internet-based technologies, industrial equipment, and sporting goods. Massaro has litigated intellectual property and high technology cases in Colorado, California, Nevada, and Arizona Federal District Court. Massaro has also tried cases in multiple states, including five trials in the past two years alone, including multi-week trials.
Paletz represents local, regional, and national developers throughout the lifecycle of a commercial real estate transaction. His clients represent a diversity of real estate sectors including residential, industrial, retail, office, mixed use, and hospitality projects. His experience includes all aspects of a real estate transaction including agreements, leases, entitlement work, financing and construction agreements. Paletz has also represented lenders in connection with the drafting and negotiation of loan documents. In addition, he previously served as a general counsel for a national homebuilder based in Colorado.
Williams focuses her practice on complex business litigation. She represents individuals and businesses of all sizes in a broad range of matters encompassing breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, trade secrets and tort disputes. Williams has served as lead attorney in several litigations, including contested forcible eviction and detainer possession and damages hearings, and has substantial second chair trial experience in breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and negligence actions.
Lachman represents a wide array of financial services companies in state and federal litigation including class actions and litigation involving homeowners’ association lien priority. He regularly defends financial services providers against individual and class claims brought pursuant to RESPA, TILA, FCRA, FDCPA and TCPA. Additionally, Lachman defends mortgage lenders, servicers and other financial services providers against borrower complaints alleging violations of state statutes, wrongful foreclosures and debt collection statutes.
Super Lawyers, a Thompson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The patented selection process includes independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations.
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.