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February 9, 2010 |
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| January 15, 2009 |
By: Alana Roberts |
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rominent South Florida litigator Joseph Klock Jr. is leaving the Miami office of Epstein Becker & Green after two years to join the Coral Gables firm of Rasco Reininger Perez Esquenazi & Vigil as a name partner today.
The firm’s new name will be Rasco Klock Reininger Perez Esquenazi Vigil & Nieto.
Klock, who was forced out as managing partner of Steel Hector & Davis before its 2005 merger with Squire Sanders & Dempsey, left that firm to join Epstein Becker in February 2007.
He argued before the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of former Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris in her effort to stop the Florida presidential recount in 2000, handing victory to George W. Bush. Klock also has represented a stable of high-profile clients such as Carnival Cruise Lines heiress Shari Arison, FPL and Southeast Bank.
Klock said he left because client conflicts prevented him from pursuing cases at the 400-lawyer Epstein Becker firm, and his experience with the firm was positive.
“They treated me very well,” he said. “A lot of their success has caused me some problems. They represent so many insurance companies, it represents a conflict from my practice point of view.”
When asked if compensation was a factor, Klock said, “Let’s put it this way, I wouldn’t be making a move if I thought I’d be making less money.”
Steve Reininger, co-founder of Rasco Reininger Perez Esquenazi & Vigil, said Klock is bringing three attorneys with him, including Epstein associate Juan Carlos Antorcha and Berger Singerman shareholder Gabriel Nieto, who will join the firm as a partner. Klock said he’s also bringing Epstein Becker associate Rashida Ivy with him as an associate.
Klock’s team will bolster the 16-lawyer firm’s four-lawyer litigation practice group handling plaintiff and defense work, Reininger said. He referred to his firm as a small full-service commercial firm offering litigation and transactional services to companies and high net-worth individuals.
Reininger said the firm courted Klock for three months and recalled Rasco Reininger leaders considered merging with Steel Hector about 10 years ago.
“My partner Ramon [Rasco] and I have known Joe for years,” Reininger said. “One of the things they bring is added depth to our litigation capabilities. Nieto specialized in environmental law. That’s something we get involved in periodically. Klock’s expertise is across the board. He’s a very strong lawyer. The stronger your lawyers are the better your firm is.”
Michael Casey, managing partner of Epstein Becker & Green’s Miami office, said Klock’s departure is amicable.
He said Klock’s new firm offered him a strong compensation package and a name partnership. Casey said he didn’t know compensation details.
“They cut him a great deal,” Casey said. “He’s going to be a name partner in the firm, which is important to Joe and a lot of people, and as far as I know they cut him probably a great deal on the comp issues too.”
Epstein Becker will continue its working relationship with Klock by referring cases to him and accepting referrals from him, Casey said.
“He’s been a friend of mine for over 30 years,” Casey said.
“I wish him all the best, continued success and good health.”
Alana Roberts can be reached at (305) 347-6648.
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