Akerman: United States (National)

Key contacts

Litigation Practice Group Chair: Lawrence Rochefort

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Quick facts

Year of establishment

1920

Number of partners

135

Number of lawyers

224

Key practice areas

Dispute resolution

Firm overview

Founded in 1920, Akerman is recognized as one of the country’s premier law firms, with more than 700 lawyers in 25 offices throughout the United States..

Commercial Litigation: Akerman offers a leading trial team that includes litigators across the United States. We represent a diverse range of clients across numerous sectors, with particular strength in the financial services, private equity, insurance, real estate, construction, health and life sciences, and energy sectors. Akerman lawyers regularly appear before judges and arbitrators in class actions, securities, white-collar, fraud and recovery, product liability, intellectual property, employment, bankruptcy, and general business matters.

Appellate: With a bench that includes many former appellate and trial court judges, Akerman’s appellate practice is a national powerhouse with demonstrated success in handling appeals related to complex commercial litigation. Akerman's appellate team frequently assist trial lawyers during all phases of litigation, preserving errors for appeal, drafting motions and responses, and providing strategic advice on the best approach for seeking relief on appeal. They handle numerous matters before appellate courts nationwide in various commercial cases and class actions. We also have experience in administrative appeals involving high profile issues before state agencies. Additionally, Akerman's appellate lawyers represent industry associations as amicus curiae in appellate proceedings when our clients are not a party to an appeal but have a substantial interest in the outcome.

International Litigation & Arbitration: Akerman has a long record of accomplishment in resolving complex multijurisdictional disputes. Our team represents multinational, foreign, and domestic corporations and individuals before U.S. federal and state courts, as well as in arbitration proceedings before a wide range of international arbitral bodies in multiple jurisdictions. Akerman litigators help clients successfully address conflicts in a broad range of sectors, including general commercial disputes, power and energy, construction and engineering, and banking and finance, among many others. Our highly responsive, multilingual team works in tandem with experienced local counsel to provide seamless resolution to disputes throughout Latin America, as well as in Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East.

Employment Litigation: Akerman’s national, multidisciplinary team helps clients navigate claims brought before state and federal agencies and boards as well as trial and appellate courts throughout the United States. Our lawyers regularly defend employers in all types of employment litigation, including complex class-action discrimination cases and collective action wage and hour matters. We also represent employers in connection with administrative charges and audits, and have successfully negotiated and supervised numerous settlements with the U.S. Department of Labor.

Updated Sep 2024

Address:

98 Southeast Seventh Street, Suite 1100

Miami, FL 33131

Tel:+1 305 374 5600 Fax:+1 305 374 5095 Web Address:http://www.akerman.com

Akerman

Linked Reviews

Dispute Resolution

Akerman

Akerman continues to be recognized globally for its legal excellence. With over 700 lawyers across 25 offices nationwide, the firm has built a reputation for seamlessly blending deep legal expertise with a client-centric approach. This balance has earned Akerman praise from both clients and peers, with many noting that the firm has “upped their game in the last few years.”

Jeremy Williams is one of the firm’s rising talents, known for his “strong communication, strong general knowledge,” and “timeliness in responses.” These qualities have made him a valued member of the teams advising AIG Specialty Insurance Company and other confidential, high-profile insurance clients. Sergio Acosta, a partner in Akerman’s Illinois office, brings a distinctive blend of legal skill and empathy to his practice. He is described as “a well-respected, highly competent attorney who also understands what a client is going through.” Clients have emphasized that he “brings a very human component to the work that he does,” a quality that sets him apart in the often impersonal world of white-collar defense and government investigations. Acosta serves as co-chair of Akerman’s White Collar Crime and Government Investigations practice and has played a pivotal role in several high-profile matters, including representing Vahooman Mirkhaef, in a complex criminal case. In the New York office, Josh Bernstein, co-chair of Akerman’s Hospitality Sector team, is another standout figure within the firm. Known for being “rigorous, thorough, smart,” Bernstein is deeply involved in real estate litigation and has advised a number of prominent clients, including Vanderbilt Atlantic Holdings LLC, Bigstore Hotel Partners LLC, and HBI Group. Bernstein’s representation of Ace Group International LLC and Ace Group Bowery LLC—affiliates of the boutique hospitality brand Ace Hotels, underscores his expertise in international arbitration. In a dispute involving a Manhattan property developed and managed by Ace as the inaugural hotel under its new Sister City brand, the tribunal ultimately awarded Ace $10.4 million in damages for breach of a hotel management agreement.

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