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February 9, 2010 |
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| February 07, 2007 |
By: Rebecca Riddick |
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Joseph Klock
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ongtime Steel Hector & Davis managing partner and prominent litigator Joseph P. Klock Jr. is leaving Squire Sanders & Dempsey to join Epstein Becker & Green’s Miami office.
Klock, 57, who argued before the U.S. Supreme Court to stop the Florida vote recount during the 2000 presidential post-election battle, will join Epstein Becker as a partner. At least one other equity partner and five other attorneys also are joining Epstein Becker.
Klock said the move had to do with the timing of the 2005 merger between Steel Hector and Squire Sanders. “One of the requirements of the merge was that I stay,” he said. “They have fine lawyers and I’ve never had a minute’s trouble, but they have a worldwide strategy. I’m more interested in developing Miami as an independent market and as a gateway to Latin America.”
Klock added that he was flattered by Epstein Becker’s attention. The firm waited for two years while Klock tied up loose ends with Steel Hector and Squire Sanders, he said.
Michael W. Casey III, Epstein Becker’s Miami managing partner, declined to identify who the other attorneys are or where they would be coming from. Epstein Becker currently has 11 attorneys in its Miami office.
Klock has represented such high-profile Florida clients as Eastern Air Lines, Southeast Bank, Florida Power & Light, and sugar barons Alfonso and Jose Fanjul of Palm Beach. In an interview, Casey praised Klock’s abilities as an attorney, saying the new partner’s expertise and clients will be a great addition to Epstein Becker.
The New York City-based firm is looking to expand its Miami office, which Casey opened in January 2004. The firm also wants to broaden its practice offerings. Casey said hiring Klock was a good step in that direction.
“I’ve been aware of his plans for several months and wish him the very best at his new firm,” said Alvin Davis, Klock’s longtime partner and managing partner of Squire Sanders’ Miami office.
“I think they’re getting a great lawyer. He’s been a good friend and a partner for 30 years, and I will miss him.”
Klock, who managed Steel Hector for more than 25 years, gained international fame by successfully representing then-Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris in her quest to get the U.S. Supreme Court to stop the vote recount ordered by the state Supreme Court. That was the goal of the Bush-Cheney campaign.
Klock arrives at Epstein Becker with some notoriety, as well. Many observers both inside and outside the firm blamed his management for the venerable Steel Hector’s collapse.
In November 2004, he was forced out as managing partner of the then-80-year-old Florida firm, and was the only partner not re-elected to the board of directors.
In the summer of 2005, Steel Hector merged with Cleveland-based Squire Sanders. Many employees were let go and about 20 attorneys left Steel Hector voluntarily and through layoffs in the weeks leading up to the merger. Klock remained with Squire Sanders.
Casey, who said he has known Klock for more than 30 years, said the controversy over Klock’s management was not a concern. “He was but one person responsible for things at Steel Hector,” he said. “They had a board. They had an executive committee. He was not responsible for the demise.”
Klock brings a wide range of practice areas to Epstein Becker, including corporate litigation, business law, transactions and restructurings in the United States and Latin America, trusts and estates, immigration and criminal law.
Epstein Becker has 380 attorneys in 11 U.S. offices. The firm has five core practice areas — business law, health care and life sciences, labor and employment, litigation and real estate.
Rebecca Riddick can be reached at (561) 820-2065.
Joseph Klock photo by A.M. Holt
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