Nearly 150 people turned out at the kickoff event of the Venezuelan American National Bar Association, far exceeding the expectations of the group’s founders.

“We could not be happier with the results,” said Jorge Guttman, a Gunster lawyer who serves on the board of the new bar association. “There seemed to be great synergy. We’ve identified Venezuelan lawyers in Houston and New York and are signing them up as members. This thing is really taking off.”