Legal People on the Move
June 6
Lance A. Harke, managing partner of Harke Clasby & Bushman, has been named president of the Greater Miami Shores Chamber of Commerce.
Anthony V. De Yurre, an associate of Pathman Lewis, has been named Venture Coach at The Launch Pad at the University of Miami.
Jonathan S. Goldstein has joined David B. Haber P.A. in Miami as an associate. He was a partner of Cuevas & Associates.
Leigh-Ann A. Buchanan, an associate of Berger Singerman, has been named to the Friends of New World Symphony Young Leadership Committee.
Hope Calhoun has joined Becker & Poliakoff as a shareholder in the government law and lobbying practice group in Fort Lauderdale and Miramar. She was a shareholder with Greenspoon Marder. Calhoun has law and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Florida.
June 5
Ronald W. Warner has joined Blank Rome as an associate in the firm’s consumer finance litigation group in Boca Raton. He was an associate with Fowler White Burnett. Warner has a law degree from Florida International University and a bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University.
James M. Miller, shareholder and chair of the litigation practice group of Akerman Senterfitt, has been named chairman of the Network of Trial Law Firms.
The Estate Planning Council of Miami named its executive team members:
Patrick J. Lannon of Bilzin Sumberg Beana Price & Axelrod, president
Barry A. Givner of First National Bank of South Miami, president-elect
Charles Bennett Sachs of Private Wealth Counsel, vice president
Adam Schucher of Adam Schucher, secretary
Donald A. Kress of Northern Trust, treasurer
David S. Berezin of Berezin CPA, P.A., immediate past president
June 3
Jose Keichi Fuentes, a government relations consultant of Becker & Poliakoff, has been named to the Government Affairs Group of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.
James R. Gailey of James R. Gailey & Associates in Miami Beach has been recognized by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy with the Robert E. Keeton Award for his outstanding services to the organization.
Jason P. Jones has joined Carlton Fields as an associate in the firm’s Miami office. He was an intern with Southeast Louisiana Legal Services in New Orleans. He has a master’s of law degree in taxation from the University of Florida, a juris doctor from Tulane University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia.
Lance A. Harke, managing partner of Harke Clasby & Bushman, has been named to the Greater Miami Shores Chamber of Commerce.
May 31
Danielle Zilo has joined Kaye Bender Rembaum as an associate. She was an associate with Schecter Law P.A. Zilo has a law degree from Nova Southeastern University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida.
Steven B. Lesser, shareholder of Becker & Poliakoff, has been named chair-elect of the American Bar Association’s Forum on the Construction Industry.
Jennifer Nicole, a shareholder with Gunster in Fort Lauderdale, has been named to the Broward County Housing Authority board of commissioners
Jim Davis, a shareholder with Gunster and leader of the firm’s tax practice in Fort Lauderdale, has been named to the Community Foundation of Broward professional advisors council and the Planned Giving Council of Broward board of directors.
May 29
Carol Thorstad-Forsyth has been named partner at Fox Rothschild in West Palm Beach. She was an associate with the firm. Thorstad-Forsyth has a law degree from New England and a bachelor’s degree from Boston University.
William S. Kramer, a partner of Brinkley Morgan in Fort Lauderdale, has been named to the board of directors of SOS Children’s Villages.
Chad J. Tamaroff, a shareholder with Greenspoon Marder in Fort Lauderdale, has been named to the board of directors of Junior Achievement of South Florida.
Charles J. Duffy III has joined Katz Barron Squitero Faust Friedberg English & Allen in Coral Gables as a partner. He was a solo practitioner and general counsel to Kirk Pharmaceuticals and AndaPharm. Duffy has law and bachelor’s degrees from Duquesne University of Pittsburgh. He also attended the University of Notre Dame’s London Law Program.
May 23
Former Chief Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Joseph Farina has been named chair of the board of the Silver Knight Alumni Legacy Network. Farina is a mediator with JAMS.
William Riley has joined GrayRobinson as a shareholder in the public law and land use practice group. He was land use counsel of Variety Children’s Hospital for the expansion of Miami Children’s Hospital.
Rachel A. Canfield, an associate with Greenberg Traurig, has been named to the Friends of the New World Symphony Executive Committee.
Amanda M. McGovern has joined Weil Quaranta as a partner. She was a partner with Brown & Heller. McGovern has a law degree from the University of Miami and a bachelor’s degree from Brown University. The firm will now be known as Weil Quaranta McGovern.
May 21
Sara M. Paris has joined Damian & Valori as of counsel. She was an associate with McDonald Hopkins. Paris has a law degree from the University of Miami and a bachelor’s degree from State of New York at New Paltz.
Adriana Blanco Maurisset has joined Tenzer Delgado as an associate. She was an associate with Roy L. Weinfeld P.A. Maurisset has a law degree from the University of Miami and a bachelor’s degree from Florida International University.
Susan Catania Odess and Brett von Borke have joined Grossman Roth as associates. Odess was a judicial intern with U.S. District Judge Adalberto Jordan. She has a law degree from the University of Miami and a bachelor’s degree from Catholic University of America. Borke was an associate with Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton. He has law and bachelor’s degrees from Boston College.
Carlos M. Rodriguez has joined Weiss Serota Helfman Pastoriza Cole & Boniske as of counsel. He was of counsel with Boyd & Jenerette. Rodriguez has a law degree from the University of Florida and a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University.
May 20
Mizell Campbell Jr. and Jennifer Chapkin have joined McGlinchey Stafford as associates in the firm’s Fort Lauderdale office. Campbell was an associate with the Law Offices of Elizabeth R. Wellborn P.A. He has a law degree from the University of Miami and a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University. Chapkin was an associate with Shapiro Fishman & Gashe. She has a law degree from Nova Southeastern University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida.
Camielle N. Green has joined Edwards Wildman Palmer in West Palm Beach as an associate in the firm’s business law department. She was an associate with Olshan Frome Woolsky in New York. Green has a law degree from Vanderbilt University and a bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College.
Oren Tasini, a partner of Haile Shaw & Pfaffenberger, has been named president of the National Association of Dealer Counsel.
May 17
Jeffrey S. Respler has been named partner of Hyman & Mars in Miami. He was an associate of the firm. Respler has a law degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University.
The Palm Beach County chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers named its officers:
Allison Lane of Lane & Ducheine, president
Nicole Hessen of Wender Hedler & Hessen, president-elect
Marta Stypulkowski of Richman Greer, treasurer
Rina Clemens of Conroy Simberg & Ganon, secretary
Sia Baker Barnes of Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhardt & Shipley and Adrienne Rabinowitz of the U.S. Department of Justice, programming directors
Dan Zuniga of Zele Huber and Katie Kiziah of the Office of the Attorney General, outreach directors
Ettie Feistmann of the State Attorney’s Office and Julia Wyda-Shapiro of Blasi Wasserman & Gora, sponsorship directors
Lindsay Demmery of Timothy H. Kenney P.A., state chapter representative
Leora Freire of Richman Greer, past president
May 16
Jonathan Cole, partner-in-charge of Edwards Wildman Palmer’s Florida offices, has been named to the board of directors of the Florida Research Consortium.
Ramon A. Rasco has been named partner of Podhurst Orseck in Miami. He was an associate of the firm. Rasco has a law degree from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University.
Diego J. Arredondo has joined Concepción Martinez & Bellido as an associate. He was an assistant district attorney for the Kings County District in Brooklyn, New York. Arredondo has law degree from Fordham University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami.
Carlos Zumpano, co-managing partner of Infante Zumpano, has been recognized by the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce with the Shining Star Award for his entrepreneurship and start of his own business.
Kimberly A. Gessner, an associate with Fowler White Boggs in Fort Lauderdale, has been named to the Construction Law Certification Committee of The Florida Bar.
May 15
Howard M. Gitten, counsel to Edwards Wildman Palmer in West Palm Beach, has been named to the board of directors of Enterprise Development Corp.
Francisco J. Gonzalez, a partner of Gonzalez & Shenkman in Wellington, has been named chairman of the board of directors of the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce.
Howard B. Sirota has joined Roetzel in Fort Lauderdale as of counsel in the firm’s business services group. He was of counsel to Gusrae Kaplan Nusbaum. Sirota has a law degree from Brooklyn Law School and a bachelor’s degree from City University of New York.
Herman J. Russomanno III, a partner of Russomanno & Borrello in Miami, has been named president-elect of the Dade County Bar Association.
Derek León and Scott Cosgrove have opened León Cosgrove in Coral Gables. León was an equity litigation partner of Morgan Lewis & Bockius. He has a law degree from the University of Miami and a bachelor’s from Florida State University. Cosgrove was a partner of Kasowitz Benson Torres & Friedman. He has a law degree from Emory University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida. They will focus their practice on complex commercial litigation, business tort, intellectual property, insurance recovery and real estate litigation. The firm will be located at 255 Alhambra Circle, Coral Gables.
May 14
Brian S. Pantaleo has joined the Edwards Wildman Palmer litigation department in West Palm Beach. He joined the firm’s New Jersey office as an associate in 2008. Pantaleo has a law degree from Loyola Marymount University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College.
Francisco J. Gonzalez has joined Kopelowitz Ostrow in Coral Gables as a partner. He was a partner with Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman and Dicker. Gonzalez has a master’s of comparative laws from The George Washington University, and a juris doctor and doctorate degree from the Universidad Católica Andres Bello in Caracas, Venezuela.
Gregory M. Cesarano, a shareholder of Carlton Fields in Miami and chair of the firm’s products and toxic tort liability practice group, has been named to the Tort Trial and Insurance Practice section of the American Bar Association.
Lazarus Rothstein has joined Legal & Compliance as of counsel. He was executive vice president and general counsel of CD International Enterprises. Rothstein has a law degree from Nova Southeastern University and a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University.
May 13
Brian S. Pantaleo has joined the Edwards Wildman Palmer litigation department in West Palm Beach. He joined the firm’s New Jersey office as an associate in 2008. Pantaleo has a law degree from Loyola Marymount University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College.
Gregory M. Cesarano, a shareholder of Carlton Fields in Miami and chair of the firm’s products and toxic tort liability practice group, has been named to the Tort Trial and Insurance Practice section of the American Bar Association.
May 10
Kerim Fidel has joined Oasis Outsourcing as senior vice president and general counsel. He was general counsel of Strategic Outsourcing. Fidel has a law degree from the University of Illinois, a master’s degree from DePaul University and a bachelor’s degree from Shimer College.
Gil O. Acevedo has joined Fowler White Burnett as an associate in the firm’s real estate practice group in Miami. He was an associate with Robert Allen Law. Acevedo has a master’s of law in real property development from the University of Miami, a juris doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School and a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida.
L.A. Perkins, a former partner of Fox Rothschild, has opened her own firm, the L.A. Perkins Law Firm. She focuses her practice on counseling, litigation and mediation in the areas of trademark and copyright and employment and law. The firm is headquartered at 1800 N. Military Trail, Suite 470, Boca Raton. Perkins has a law degree from Stetson University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami.
Lisa Dasher of Wicker Smith O’Hara McCoy & Ford has been named to the board of directors of the Association of Legal Administrators.
Jany Martinez-Ward has joined The Ward Law Group in Miami. She was a legal intern with the Broward County State Attorney’s Office. Ward has a law degree from Nova Southeastern University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida.
May 9
William G. Smith, an associate of Jones Foster Johnston & Stubbs in West Palm Beach, has been named vice president of the Kiwanis Club of West Palm Beach.
Román Ortega-Cowan has joined Fowler White Burnett as an associate in the firm’s insurance group in Miami. He was a staff attorney with Building Empowering by Stopping Trafficking (BEST). Cowan has a law degree from Florida State University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College.
Sandra P. Greenblatt has joined Lubell | Rosen as a partner. She was a solo practitioner. Greenblatt has a law degree and master’s of business administration from the University of Miami and a bachelor’s degree from Temple University.
Frank Scruggs, a partner of Berger Singerman, has been named to the board of directors of SunTrust Bank.
May 7
Jacob J. Frohman has joined Edwards Wildman in West Palm Beach as counsel in the firm’s business law department. He was a partner of Boyd & Jenerette in Miami. Frohman has a law degree from Boston University and a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University.
Manuel Rodriguez has joined Conrad Scherer as a partner. He was a senior associate with
Concepcion Martinez & Bellido. Rodriguez has a law degree from the University of Miami and a bachelor’s degree from Barry University.
H.T. Smith, a pioneer African- American attorney, has been recognized by Legal Services of Greater Miami with the Equal Justice Leadership Award for his dedication and leadership to equal justice issues in the community.
Jennifer Nicole, shareholder of Gunster, has been named chair of the Broward County Housing Authority Board of Commissioners.
May 6
Richard J. Fidei, a partner of Colodny Fass Talenfeld Karlinksy Abate & Webb, has been named shareholder of the firm. Fidei has a law degree from Duquesne University and a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Michael Anidjar has joined Conrad Scherer as an associate. She was a certified public accountant with Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra. Anidjar has a master’s of law degree from Georgetown University in taxation, a juris doctor from Nova Southeastern University, a master’s degree from the University of Central Florida and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida.
H. William Walker Jr. has joined Alvarez Arrieta & Diaz-Silveira as of counsel. He was of counsel with White & Case. Walker has law and bachelor’s degrees from Washington and Lee University.
Robert H. Friedman of Friedman P.A., has been recognized by the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County with the Civil Litigation Pro Bono Award for his pro bono representing Area Agency on Aging.
May 3
Brandon J. Gibson has joined Conrad Scherer as an associate in the firm’s litigation practice. He was an assistant corporate counsel for the city of Chicago Department of Law. Gibson has a law degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago-Kent College of Law, and a master’s of business administration and a bachelor’s degree from Florida A&M University.
Jayme Cassidy has joined Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Broad Law Center as a staff attorney of the Veteran’s Law Clinic. She was a supervising attorney with Legal Aid Service of Broward County — Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida. Cassidy has law and bachelor’s degrees from Seton Hall University.
Michael Alvarez has joined The Alvarez Law Firm as an associate. He was a law clerk with the firm. Alvarez has a law degree from Florida International University and a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University.
David Podein, an associate of the Law Office of David B. Haber P.A., has been named to the Alumni Advisory Board of First Descents.
Salome Bascunan, an associate with Pathman Lewis, has been named to the Chile-U.S. Chamber of Commerce board of directors.
May 2
J. Rodman Steele, a partner at Duane Morris, has been recognized by the Narcotics Overdose Prevention & Education Task Force with the Spirit of Living Award for providing pro bono legal counsel, leadership and financial support.
Ruben S. Fogel, an associate with Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod in Miami, has been named chair of the JNFuture 2013 board of directors of the Miami-Dade region.
Anne V. Alper has joined Colodny Fass Talenfeld Karlinsky Abate & Webb as an associate in the firm’s children rights and foster care and disabled person damages division of the firm. She was a solo practitioner. Alper has a law degree from the University of Miami, master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida.
Melissa Gomberg has joined Broad and Cassel in Fort Lauderdale as an associate in the firm’s commercial litigation and real estate litigation practice groups. Gomberg was an associate with Welbaum Guernsey in Coral Gables. Gomberg has a law degree from St. Thomas University and a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University.
