Akerman LLP
 | |
| Headquarters | Downtown, Miami, Florida |
|---|---|
| No. of offices | 20 |
| No. of attorneys | More than 600 |
| Major practice areas | General practice |
| Key people | Andrew M. Smulian, Chairman and CEO [1] |
| Date founded | 1920 |
| Founder | Alexander Akerman and John Moses Cheney |
| Company type | Limited liability partnership |
| Website | |
| Akerman.com | |
Akerman LLP is a law firm based in Miami, Florida that was founded in 1920.[2] Andrew Smulian has been the Chairman and CEO since 2008.[1]
History
Akerman was founded in 1920; it was formerly known as Akerman Senterfitt LLP and changed its name to Akerman LLP in 2013.[2] It was founded by former United States District Court Judges John Moses Cheney and Alexander Akerman as Cheney & Akerman, with offices in Orlando, Florida. By 1925, Alexander Akerman partnered with Hugh Akerman as Akerman & Akerman, after Cheney died. In 1936, Hugh Akerman and Billy Dial, who was instrumental in the founding of what is now known as SunTrust Bank,[3] formed a partnership with William Akerman. These three men were largely responsible for the success of the firm through the 1950s, under the name Akerman, Dial & Akerman. George T. Eidson and American Bankers Association President Donald T. Senterfitt[4] later became name partners and played significant roles in the growth and success of the firm from the 1950s through the 1980s.[5]
Akerman acquired its first office outside of Orlando in May 1958 when the firm merged with Turnbull & Senterfitt. In 1982, a Miami office was opened.
Diversity
Akerman received a perfect 100 percent workplace equality rating on the 2016 Corporate Equality Index. This national benchmarking survey administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation measures the equality of corporate policies and practices for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender lawyers and staff.[6]
Other recognition
The Legal 500: In 2016, Akerman was top-ranked nationally in middle market M&A and recognized nationally for the fifth consecutive year as a leading law firm for real estate, land use, construction, and immigration law.[7]
U.S. News – Best Lawyers: In 2015, Akerman was recognized with 83 "Tier One" national and regional practice rankings; corporate, real estate, and financial litigation practices top-ranked nationally. The firm also achieved significant results with 140 lawyers named to the 2016 list of The Best Lawyers in America.[8]
Benchmark Litigation: In 2016, Akerman's Litigation Practice Group was recognized for its multi-state capabilities and acknowledged for its litigation "stars and achievements."[9]
Chambers Global: In 2015, Akerman's Latin America & the Caribbean Practice was recognized for a third consecutive year as among the best in international arbitration. Chambers Latin America recognized Akerman as having a top Cuba practice, the lone U.S. law firm represented on the Cuba Practice ranking.[10]
References
- 1 2 Executive Profile: Andrew M. Smulian, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Akerman LLP; Bloomberg Business; Feb. 12, 2016.
- 1 2 Bloomberg Business. Akerman LLP Profile Page accessed Feb 17, 2016
- ↑ Michael, Kenneth; "Banker's Career Grew with Orlando: Billy Dial, an Original Architect of the City, Sees it as a Future Hub"; Orlando Sentinel; October 18, 1988
- ↑ Florea, Linda; "Donald Senterfitt left Indelible Mark in Law, Banking"; Orlando Sentinel; August 28, 2008
- ↑ "Akerman Law Firm -- Orlando"; posted at OrlandoMemory -- The Stories of Orlando as Told by its People; February 22, 2010.
- ↑ Corporate Equality Index 2016; Rating American Workplaces on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality; 2016. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
- ↑ The Legal 500 rankings for Akerman LLP Feb. 2016.
- ↑ U.S. News – Akerman Profile and Rankings, Nov. 3, 2015.
- ↑ Benchmark Litigation, Akerman rankings Benchmark Litigation, Retrieved Feb. 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Akerman ranked top law firm in Cuba", by Latin Business Daily Reports; Latin Business Daily; Oct. 26, 2015.