- Akerman Senterfitt
Infobox Law Firm
firm_name = Akerman Senterfitt LLP
firm_logo =
headquarters =Miami, Florida
num_offices = 12
num_attorneys = approximately 500
num_employees =
practice_areas = General practice
key_people = Andrew M. Smulian, Chairman [ [http://www.akerman.com/public/attorneys/aBiography.asp?id=463 Smulian's firm bio] ] , Robert Zinn, President [ [http://www.akerman.com/public/attorneys/aBiography.asp?id=268 Zinn's firm bio] ]
revenue =
date_founded = 1920
founder =Alexander Akerman
company_type =Limited liability partnership
homepage = [http://www.akerman.com/public/index.asp Akerman.com]
dissolved =Akerman Senterfitt is a large
law firm based inMiami, Florida . It was founded in 1920 and has grown to become one of the largest in theUnited States . In 2007, theNational Law Journal ranked the firm as 91st largest in the U.S. by number of attorneys, and the second-largest Florida-based firm (behindGreenberg Traurig ).History
The firm was founded in
Orlando, Florida in 1920 by federal judgeAlexander Akerman and his law partner, John Cheney. An early partner in the firm, Billy Dial, was instrumental in the routing ofInterstate 4 through the Orlando area, the procurement of land for Disney World, and the creation ofSunTrust Banks . The firm opened its Miami office in 1982, which then became its new headquarters and the largest law office in the city, and continued to create new office in the 1990s. [ [http://www.akerman.com/public/about/about_history.asp Firm history] ]Recent developments
Departing attorneys
Akerman Senterfitt has recently had difficulties retaining attorneys. Several high-ranking partners had left the firm, including Robert Fernandez, who previously served as deputy general counsel to Florida Governor
Jeb Bush . The firm has brought inexecutive search consultants to recruit new talent. [ [http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1201687554729 Amid Attorney Departures, Akerman Senterfitt Offers Headhunters High Fees as Lure] . Law.com, 31 January 2008.]Merger difficulties
Akerman Senterfitt's management had planned a
merger with the 300+ lawyerPhiladelphia -based law firm ofWolfBlock [ [http://www.wolfblock.com/wbroot/index.asp WolfBlock LLP official website] ] , which would create a single 800-lawyer firm. [ [http://abajournal.com/news/wolfblock_akerman_senterfitt_to_form_800_lawyer_firm/ WolfBlock & Akerman Senterfitt to Form 800-Lawyer Firm] ABA Journal, 21 July 2008.] But on 7 August 2008, the two firms released a joint statement explaining that the merger had been put on hold due to “a client conflict that cannot be discussed publicly”. [ [http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2008/08/04/daily50.html?q=akerman%20senterfittProposed Akerman merger with Philadelphia law firm on hold] Tampa Bay Business Journal, 7 August 2008.]Practice areas
Akerman Senterfitt has the largest corporate,
intellectual property , andlitigation practices in the State of Florida. The firm also has large practices inconstruction law ,real estate , bankruptcy, labor and employment law, andlobbying . [ [http://www.chambersandpartners.com/usa/FirmProfile.aspx?fid=1742&mode=firms&display=1 Chambers USA profile] ] [ [http://www.akerman.com/public/practice/index.asp Full list of practice areas] ]Famous lawyers and alumni
*
Terry Nelson , manager of George W. Bush's 2004 reelection campaign
*Gary C. Matzner ,mayor ofPinecrest, Florida [ [http://www.akerman.com/public/attorneys/aBiography.asp?id=1166 Matzner's firm bio] ]Offices
*
Los Angeles, California
*Fort Lauderdale, Florida
*Jacksonville, Florida
*Miami, Florida
*Orlando, Florida
*Tampa, Florida
*Tallahassee, Florida
*West Palm Beach, Florida
*New York City
*Tyson's Corner, Virginia
*Madison, Wisconsin
*Washington, D.C. References
External links
* [http://www.akerman.com/public/index.asp Homepage]
* [http://www.lawperiscope.com/profiles/017.html LawPeriscope profile]
* [http://www.vault.com/companies/company_main.jsp?co_page=1&product_id=22085&ch_id=242 Vault.com profile]
* [http://www.chambersandpartners.com/usa/FirmProfile.aspx?fid=1742&mode=firms&display=1 Chambers USA profile]
* [http://www.martindale.com/Akerman-Senterfitt/law-firm-648825.htm Profile] fromLexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.