Do You Have Big "Books of Business"?

I do!

They consist of the following:

1.  All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten; and

2.  Mob Rules:  What the Mafia Can Teach the Legitimate Businessman.

Oh yeah, I forgot about this one (you'd be surprised how much business can get done with it).

So if you're like me and you have huge, heavy "books of business," you can apparently get hired by a big firm where nobody will ever try to steal or otherwise claim credit for your personal business books:

Law firms are hiring lawyers who can bring their "book of business," said Matt Gorson, president of Greenberg Traurig, which has offices in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach.

The firm has hired 20 lawyers so far this year, compared with 14 lawyers in 2010.

Other South Florida law firms have been adding to their legal staffs as well.

Holland and Knight has hired 15 lawyers so far in 2011, up from 11 in 2010 at its Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach offices. Morgan Lewis in Miami hired seven lawyers in 2010, and five so far in 2011; that compares with only one lawyer in 2009, said law firm partner Mark Zelek. Bilzin Sumberg in Miami has hired 9 lawyers in the past month alone, according to a spokeswoman.

Even some firms that were hard hit by the recession are adding lawyers. Fort Lauderdale-based Ruden McClosky, which specializes in real estate and land use, has hired seven lawyers in the past four months, according to a spokeswoman for the firm.

Ruden?

Yes, absolutely -- if your books of business are big you should head immediately to Ruden -- just ask Julie Kay!

Happy Tisha B'Av -- Temples Destroyed, But We Got Ourselves a Denny's!

Oh South Florida legal community, why are you so hungry for malicious gossip "news"?

Does it matter, as Julie Kay writes today, that your websites will no longer comply with Bar rules?

(This, of course, assumes that they ever did.)

More importantly, now that the Palm Beach County Bar Association is moving into a former Denny's, should we feel bad for the bar or for Denny's -- all I know is Adam Rabin better make me an omelet if I show up there s@*tfaced at 3 in the morning.

And to the blog visitor who arrived here via a search for "Israel hot girls," I'll have you know that today is Tisha B'Av, only the saddest day on the Jewish calendar (that says a lot, believe me).

Sure we lost two temples, the most treasured of treasured holy sites desecrated twice by invading heathens -- plus a lot of other bad stuff happened on this date, like the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492 and World War I, to name but a few lowlights.

But on the other hand, we have gained a Denny's.

Let me repeat it, slowly, in perfect....Rabbi.....diction -- we have gained a Denny's.

That reminds me -- did I mention everyone is supposed to be fasting today?

Adam, I 'll see you later tonight and I'm gonna be hungry (btw -- ham, mushrooms and cheese, thanks!).

Looks Like Jeremy Alters Has Finally Made It!

And by "made it," I'm not referring to his firm's role in the recent BoA checking overdraft settlement preliminarily approved by Judge King the other day, I'm talking about getting sued for a percentage of the fees that may be recovered down the road:

As an exhibit, the suit includes a copy of a contract between Campos and Alters' former firm, Alters Boldt Brown Rash Culmo. The agreement stipulates Campos agreed to work exclusively for Alters to develop potential cases.

"Campos brokered significant relationships on behalf of … Alters ... in Latin America such as top members of the government, law firms, attorneys and other noteworthy persons who were instrumental in the origination of cases pursued by the Alters law firm as a result of its agreement with Campos," the complaint said.

Hmm, these things don't ordinarily end too well for anyone involved.

This part isn't too good either, if true:

Campos y Asociados also alleges it originated the Bank of America lawsuit pending before U.S. District Judge James Lawrence King and is entitled to a 25 percent origination fee. Alters acknowledged the class action was originated by Campos in an email Aug. 21, 2008, according to the suit.

Alters has hired Andy Hall, who has moved to dismiss the suit claiming these are foreign attorneys unauthorized to practice law in Florida, and thus the contract is illegal or unenforceable?

If so wouldn't that leave a quantum meruit or unjust enrichment-type claim?

Ruden To Save Money By Closing Things!

Ruden McClosky has found a sure-fire way to save money, according to the Intrepid One™:  close offices!

Here's how it works -- when you close offices and fire people, you don't have to pay as much out in monthly overhead.

Why didn't Adorno Yoss figure this out?

(Wait a minute, they did.)

Here's the firm-wide email from chief muckety-muck Michael Krul:

I am pleased to provide you with the following confidential update.

Oh boy, that's a guarantee some angry partner will be emailing it around town.

Although we will continue to make sure that we are operating as efficiently as possible, we believe that our staffing level is now appropriate and do not anticipate that the firm will have any need to seek staff reductions in the near future and, hopefully, not for the long term. The inflow of new work is on the rise and our timekeepers are increasing their recorded time. This is a positive sign for improved revenues down the road.

Honey, I have great news!  My boss says "our staffing level is now appropriate" and they don't anticipate "staff reductions in the near future."

Unlike last year, we're going to make it through Hannukah.  Isn't that fantastic?

"Shut up and get me a drink."

Always Be Nice to Your IT Guy.

It's Monday, a day where there is so much to do and so little interest in doing it.

What to write about?

We have Carlos Loumiet and several others leaving Hunton for DLA Piper.

This is my favorite part of that story:

A Hunton attorney who did not want to be identified said that no announcement had been made by the firm about the departures. The departing attorneys' names and biographies were removed from Hunton's website.

Of course!  Your fellow partners and associates are always the last to know.

Better start checking your firm's bios daily.

But at least macher Marty Steinberg had a quick retort and was fully prepared to address the mighty Julie Kay on the unannounced departures:

Marty Steinberg, Hunton's managing partner in Miami, declined comment on the departures, saying, "you'd have to ask the lawyers themselves."

I would, but their emails are down!

In other news, here is a truly inspiring story about Judge Altonaga returning to her high school to talk about grad night, dating, how to properly apply an iron-on to a tee shirt, and what going to high school in Miami in the late 70s was really like (hint:  it involved lots of Foreigner):

Wait -- David reports that she apparently talked about important topics such as race, discrimination, gender issues, and tolerance.

Kudos Your Honor for paying it forward.

Adorno Yoss Requiem -- Slinging the Animal Poop.

The intrepid one proves once again why she is the best in the business with this devastating post-mortem of the demise of Adorno Yoss:

The final decision apparently was forced on the firm by its bank, Wells Fargo, with which firm leaders were in negotiations the week of March 7. Former partners said the firm owed the bank $8 million. The week ended with a closing announcement, after attempts by Yoss to secure a merger over the last two months failed.

In a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notice filed with the state March 17, Yoss placed its employee count at 91, under the 100 threshold that would trigger severance pay with less than 60 days' notice. Plantation-based DJSP, a foreclosure processing company that recently dissolved, listed 96 employees at the time of dissolution and was hit with a class action suit by employees who claim they weren't given adequate notice or pay under federal law. Five former employees said the Yoss firm does not plan to pay any severance.

Nice way to say goodbye to your long-term employees, huh?

But I wouldn't rush to sue these guys, I'm not too sure they're collectable:

Some of the biggest losers may be former partners who are owed capital contributions of $30,000 to $100,000 each, Genovese and others said.

Linden, now a partner at GrayRobinson, said he has no expectation of getting his capital contribution back.
"If the firm is closing its doors and you are an owner, you're the last one to get paid," he said. "By the time the secured lender is paid, plus the costs of administering the wind-up, I do not anticipate a distribution. I'm not a pie-in-the-sky kind of guy, I'm a realist. I'm moving on. I don't look backwards about stuff like that."

Former West Palm Beach managing partner John Koenig said a group of former partners is considering suing Adorno and Yoss individually for breach of contract.

Former partner Sylvia Krainen already has requested mediation on her claim for her capital contribution, according to former Atlanta managing partner Tracey Blackwell and others. Krainen did not return calls for comment.

Oy veh, what a mess.

Question: how did Hank handle all this strife suffered by his employees and ex-partners?

In 2006, Adorno left Miami for Atlanta, where the firm opened an office in 2004. He bought a $4.2 million house on Tuxedo Lane, sharing the block with the founder of Home Depot and the Atlanta Falcons, and a $2 million Blue Ridge Mountain estate in North Carolina's exclusive Linville Ridge, where Dick Cheney is a neighbor.

Whoa.

If you are forced to live right next to Dick Cheney you are most definitely in one of the nine circles of hell -- although, to be fair, this one has a Robert Trent-designed golf course.

Yoss Restructuring Complete!

Wow, I don't think anyone saw this coming:

In an e-mail sent to employees Friday, managing partner George Yoss notified employees that the firm would be winding down its legal practice and laying off all employees by the end of the month.

“As we are sure you are aware, these have been extremely difficult times for the firm,” stated Yoss in the e-mail. “After meeting with the bank and evaluating the firm’s status and financial position the decision was made to wind down its operation.”

Thanks to a tipster, we have managed to obtain an early draft of the email:

Oh f*&k.  F*&k f*&k f*&. F*&k a duck! Why maintain the ruse any longer?  We're f*&ked.  So f*&k you all and the horses you rode in on.  You think this s*&t's easy?  You try it.  Thank you to our loyal clients who stuck with us through the good times and bad.  That's f*&king sarcasm you dimwits.  Now good luck finding a job in this economy.  Did I mention we're f*&ked?

Yoss out.

Ok, those are pretty strong words, and I apologize for the vulgarities.

I suppose that's why you should never send an email when you're upset or angry.

Actually, here's the final real version they decided to go with:

As we are sure you are aware, these have been extremely difficult times for the firm. Over the past few months we have been dealing with many issues that have had a negative impact on the firm's ability to continue. After meeting with the Bank and evaluating the firm's status and financial position the decision was made to wind down its operations.

Accordingly we are giving to each of our employees the following notice:

It is anticipated that the firm will continue to provide legal services to its clients and will continue to conduct its regular business through March 31, 2011. Effective March 31, 2011, the firm will permanently close most of its facilities and will cease to provide legal services and will begin winding down operations. We hope to accomplish this with the least possible disruption to the lives of our employees, our clients and the community.

With the exception of several employees needed for the wind down period all employees of the firm will be laid off between now and March 31, 2011.

I don't know, the first draft has a kind of raw honesty you don't see much in law firm communications nowadays.....

Yossers, feel free to share your views in comments, our thoughts and prayers are with you and we wish you good luck in finding alternative employment.

Correction: WPB Yoss Office Not "Closed" But Partners and Rent Not Paid -- Much Better!

So was there or was there not a "restructuring" at the WPB Adorno Yoss?

Managing partner George Yoss says yes, but what the hail does he know:

John Koenig, the former Yoss partner in charge in West Palm Beach, said he left Tuesday with associate Mandell Sundarsingh to start the Boynton Beach firm Koenig & Dinkin with lawyer Mitch Dinkin. The new firm specializes in collections, commercial litigation and creditors' rights.

"I left because I was not getting paid," Koenig said. "We were not receiving paychecks for awhile."
He also said the Coral Gables-based firm had not paid rent at the office for three months.

Actually, when you're not paying your partners and the office has not paid its rent in three months, I consider that a "restructuring."

Or a "consolidation," or the "implementation of a strategic plan," or "focusing on your core capabilities," or "redeploying firm assets in a more efficient manner," or.......

Jack Reiter Leaves Yoss for Carlton Fields!

That intrepid person reports on the departure of Jack Reiter, former head of Adorno Yoss' appellate department, to Carlton Fields:

“I’ve been presented with a terrific opportunity to become part of a strong statewide firm and an extremely well-respected practice group,” Reiter said.

Reiter added, "I also was presented with a terrific opportunity to be paid on time, or just to be paid at all, and I found being paid for work that I do to be a significant factor in my future ability to earn any income."

Oh I kid, I kid.

All is well with Yoss, how could it not be?

I remember a time in college when I was flat-broke, and had to sell my blood to get any cash, plus I ate most meals at the food kitchen where you could get rice and bread for free in exchange for helping to clean up after dinner.

This seriously happened to me.

I call that my "restructuring period."

Akerman Thanks Litigation Gods for Chinese Drywall!

It's important to note the litigation requires (at least) two sides, and there has to be something close to a fair fight, or the other side will just find something else to do.

For example, the white-shoe law firms representing former Fannie Mae executives have been feasting at the public trough, billing at least $132 million defending against various shareholder and other lawsuits directed at the bank's allegedly fraudulent business practices.

This is my favorite part of that story:

DeWine cited the deposition of Franklin Raines from April, when the plaintiffs were the only ones asking questions. Although the Fannie Mae defendants had 13 lawyers present, none asked a single question.

DeWine also testified that when the judge has conferences to check on the status of the litigation, Fannie Mae defendants typically bring 35 to 40 attorneys and paralegals, while the plaintiffs normally show up with just three.

Of course!

I'm surprised there were only 13 lawyers at that deposition.

DeWine is obviously not familiar with how I roll when an important client is being deposed -- I have two associates carry my documents, another sets up the laptop, three are passing me post-its during the depo, one is logged into Egotastic, four glare at opposing counsel, and two watch with rapt awe as I utter the only words I will speak during the entire episode:  "object to form."

Ca-ching!

Speaking of greenbacks, Julie Kay and her amazing sources reveal that Akerman is riding the Chinese Drywall train all the way to payday:

“We were pleased with the year, and I think it got progressively better as it went on,” Smulian said.

Litigation work, the firm’s largest single practice area, was up 15 percent. He credited work on consumer finance, Chinese drywall and class action litigation.

Doesn't it suck when one of those big matters goes away?  You always want to be successful, but not too successful.

It's like professional wrestling, but without the overweight men in tights.

(Actually, I take that last part back.)

Adorn the Loss.

To my many friends at Adorno Yoss, it's been fun interesting had it moments it was real.

How Does "Ruden Yoss" Sound?

 Hey, I'm trying to think outside the box:

Financial troubles at Ruden McClosky are deepening, with the Fort Lauderdale-based firm suspending all capital payouts to former equity shareholders.

In a letter to about 50 to 60 former equity shareholders Saturday, co-managing partners Michael Krul and Carl Schuster said the firm was declaring a "moratorium" on all capital account repayments. The three-paragraph letter stated the firm would review the situation "later in the year."

The survival of the firm has been a subject of open debate for months. Sources at two law firms that were approached said Ruden has been shopping for merger partners.

Aren't the repayments a contractual obligation?  How can you declare a "moratorium" on paying back a debt?

Oh well, I don't do transactional work.

Exodus Continues at Yoss.

The slow yet steady drumbeat of departures continues at Adorno & Yoss, according to the ever intrepid Julie Kay:

Neil Linden, head of business litigation at Yoss LLP, is moving to GrayRobinson's Miami office and bringing two lawyers with him.

The nine-year veteran of Yoss, formerly Adorno & Yoss, is leaving with shareholder Phillippe Deve and associate David Levin on an undetermined date.

Linden, national chair of business and commercial litigation department at Yoss, said his departure is due to a conflict that developed over a large institutional client of his and a new client with the firm. The clients were not disclosed.

"We had a conflict we could not resolve," he said.

Hmm, I can't speak to the details of this particular conflict, but I know one conflict that would be difficult for any law firm (in the generic sense of course) to overcome -- I would like to be paid vs. sorry but we really can't pay you right now.

If I were the good folks (folk?) at Yoss, I would consider an entire rebranding overhaul.

For example, it's kinda weird or perhaps even ghoulish that the firm website is still adorno.com.

And the "Yoss" thing feels incomplete and awkward, doesn't it?

It'd be like if Abbott and Costello suddenly just became "Costello!" -- ok Lou, we wish you well, but maybe you need to go in an entirely new direction?

H&K Associates Get Obsolete Mini Computer Designed to Make Them Work More!

Once again the Intrepid One™   breaks news:

Holland & Knight gave its 350 associates a trendy Christmas present this year: a brand-new iPad.

The popular tech tools that retail for $499 were hand-delivered to every associate at the firm Dec. 17 with a memo from firm managing partner Steven Sonberg. On behalf of the partners, he thanked the associates for their “hard work and dedication” in 2010.

“In recognition of your contributions, please accept this iPad as a gift from the firm,” Sonberg said, quickly adding, “The iPad is not in lieu of 2010 performance-based bonuses, which will be determined in due course in the first quarter of 2011.”

Sure it's not Steve!

I don't get the iPad.

It's mildly amusing for about ten minutes, but it's about as powerful as my smartphone, less useful than my laptop, already feels dated, and leaves you hungry for more and thinking how much better it could be.

In other words, it's the tech equivalent of a "slider"!

Change Partners.

Once again the Intrepid One™ breaks news:

Casey, who starts Dec. 31, is bringing along partners Richard Tuschman, Kevin Vance and Hector Chiconi as well as associates Teresa Maestrelli and Mark Beutler, a paralegal and an undetermined number of office staff. All the lawyers practice in labor and employment except Chiconi, who has an immigration practice. The only remaining partner at EGB, Robyn Symons, is in discussions with Duane Morris.

Also joining Duane Morris from EGB will be Eddie Feenane, a longtime recruiting and administrative head who cut his teeth at Steel Hector & Davis. Feenane will coordinate recruiting, marketing and business development efforts for Duane Morris’ Miami and Boca Raton offices.

According to a source close to the firm who did not want to be identified, the group is departing EGB partially due to its lack of a full-service platform and partially due to financial reasons.

"No one wants to refer cases to other firms," the source said. "Additionally, they haven’t kept competitive on salary and bonuses."

Congrats to a fine group of lawyers and we wish them the very best.

Totally unrelated, but I really enjoyed Mike Myers in Austin Powers.  I sure hope he keeps that franchise going.

Ruden Still in Growth Mode!

You know how Ruden indicated to The Intrepid One a few weeks ago that it was in growth mode and looking to hire some new associates, but then turned around and fired a bunch of dedicated staffers just in time for the holidays?

Well it looks like that form of "growth" is continuing:

The West Palm Beach office of Shutts & Bowen law firm has announced an end-of year expansion, bringing five new lawyers to the team. The firm has not yet named a fifth lawyer expected to join the practice at the start of 2011.

Among the arrivals are Ruden McClosky top producers real estate lawyer Steven Parson and business litigator Eric Christu. Both join Shutts as partners.

Call me crazy, but nothing shouts GROWTH louder than losing a top producer to a direct competitor.

This is truly Sun Tzu in action.

Well played, sir!

SFL Friday -- Florida Bar Finally Has Three Way!

 Hey, don't blame me -- that's the exact headline in this Intrepid One exclusive:

Florida Bar has 3-way race for president-elect

Ok, so maybe there's a bit more to the headline, but I got a little fixated on the first part.

Boy is this blog going downhill fast.

What else?

I don't know about you, but I officially attended my 517th holiday party last night, and though I enjoyed them all I must say my friend David Markus really knows how to throw a first-class wing ding in his fancy new island oasis.

Indeed, here's a news report on the soiree, just to give you a taste of what you may have missed:

More than 2,000 guests attended the event on the man-made Palm Jumeirah island in the Persian Gulf. Robert De Niro, Janet Jackson, Denzel Washington and Lindsay Lohan were among them, while the British contingent included the Duchess of York, Sir Richard Branson, Dame Shirley Bassey, retail boss Sir Philip Green, television presenter Trinny Woodall and the singer Lily Allen.

They feasted on lobster and Middle Eastern mezze and the Veuve Clicquot champagne flowed freely.....

 Security at the party was so tight that a two-mile exclusion zone was thrown around the island.

See what I mean -- the good times are definitely back!

Have a great weekend, folks.

More Fun and Lawsuits at Adorno-less Yoss

The Intrepid One™ breaks an amazing story of a botched lawsuit, botched again, then apparently botched again:

The malpractice case sprang roots 23 years ago when Jacobs Wind Electric and principal Paul Jacobs first began pursuing legal action against the Florida Department of Transportation in a patent case.
Jacobs and his father invented a tidal gate that prevented water stagnation and debris accumulation in waterways.

Two years after allegedly discovering DOT was using the system in 1987, the plaintiffs sued the state in federal court for patent infringement. They later brought suit in Hillsborough Circuit Court, hiring Shahady, then with Houston & Shahady in Fort Lauderdale, in 1998. Soon after, Shahady merged his firm with Adorno & Yoss.

According to Paul Jacobs, Shahady and his firm took no action in the state case from 2001 to 2003. As a result, the suit was dismissed for "want of prosecution." According to the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure in effect at the time, lawsuits that lay dormant for more than one year can be dismissed. That rule has since been changed, and courts automatically notify parties before suits are dropped.

The dismissal was affirmed by the 2nd District Court of Appeal in 2004.

In 2005, Paul Jacobs sued Shahady and Adorno & Yoss for legal malpractice.

"Defendants' conduct in allowing the underlying lawsuit to lie dormant for a period of over one year … was a breach of defendants' duty to exercise reasonable care, skill and diligence on plaintiffs' behalf," the complaint stated.

If Shahady had done something during the year, the Jacobses could have recovered more than $1 million, representing the DOT's savings by using the device, they alleged.

Adorno fought the case right up until the trial last summer when the firm conceded liability. After a one-week trial, jurors found for the Jacobses in July, awarding them $300,000 plus $150,000 in attorney fees. Broward Judge John Murphy III added pre-judgment interest for a total verdict $1.5 million.

Even though the law firm admitted liability, it's appealing the verdict because it does not believe the dollar amount is fair, Shahady said.

"It was our fault that the suit got dismissed," Shahady said in an interview. "Mr. Jacobs did not cause this problem. But we felt pretty strongly that there was no basis for the damage award in terms of dollars."

Ok, question for Tom -- if you admittedly blew the deadline and it was "our fault" the case got dismissed for want of prosecution, why fight liability right up until the date of trial?  Why not focus on damages and get the thing quietly settled?

It gets worse:

The circumstances surrounding the garnishment of the firm's Wachovia bank account was another case of Adorno & Yoss dropping the ball. The firm should have posted a bond to cover the judgment pending appeal, but "our attorney was on vacation, and it fell through the cracks," Shahady said.

Just like the underlying case!

It gets worser:

He called the incident "one of those unfortunate things" and said it would not have happened if the Jacobses' case were in Fort Lauderdale rather than Tampa, and if it happened six months later after a change in the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure.

I don't like to be too negative, but what does the court's proximity to your law office have to do with whether or not you allegedly calendared the date a case you are handling could get dismissed for want of prosecution?

Also, why blame the Rules for not informing you of that date?

It gets even worser:

Even though the law firm admitted liability, it's appealing the verdict because it does not believe the dollar amount is fair, Shahady said.

Please don't.

Tom, you're a good lawyer.  These things happen.  Maybe take what has happened so far in this case as a sign that perhaps you all should consider a different approach?

I also don't see why Larry should feel bad about garnishing the firm to protect the judgment:

"Until the garnishment was issued, senior management at the firm would never talk to me," he said. "I wish they had handled things differently from beginning to end."

Kellogg wound up releasing his garnishment the next day, saying he felt bad that employees did not get paid. At that point, the bond was posted.

An outside observer who did not want to be identified said he was shocked that Kellogg would garnish a law firm's bank account, particularly on payday.

But Kellogg said he immediately dropped the garnishment when he found out employees were affected. "I worked tirelessly on it," he said.

What's shocking about this?  Larry is obligated to protect the judgment on behalf of his client, not make sure employees at Yoss get paid from a diminishing set of funds.

And I love how no one allegedly would reach out from Yoss to settle this thing directly with Larry.  Instead you appear to be fighting tooth and nail, contesting liability, forcing the matter to go to trial, losing the trial, then appealing the judgment.

Then Julie finds out about it and you get to relive it all over again in the DBR.

Or is there another side to this story that I'm missing?  Someone help me out here.

More Layoffs at Ruden -- Happy Hannukah!

I can't think of a better time than the holidays to lay off long term, dedicated workers.

And neither can what's left of Ruden McClosky, according to the intrepid one:

In an interview last week, Krul said the firm is poised to grow and is looking to hire associates. He did not mention any impending layoffs.

Ruden, which was dominated by real estate work, was slammed by the recession, plagued with partner defections and the loss of entire offices, pay cuts and layoffs in the past two years. Ruden partners this year were asked to sign letters of guarantee to renew the firm’s banking line of credit.

The layoffs were announced Thursday morning. Employees were allowed to empty their desks before being ushered out. Ruden gave them severance packages including health insurance, a firm spokesman said.

"Some of these people were very, very senior," said a former lawyer who asked not to be identified. "I thought candidly to do this three weeks before Christmas was pretty terrible."

Ahh, a severance package -- makes a really nice gift under any staffer's Christmas tree.

Did I mention they're looking to hire associates?

Just for that, I'm subjecting you all to The Maccabeats.

Alvin Davis To Officially Adopt English Accent!

I understand he's going for a more acerbic Hugh Grant:

After more than two months of talks, London-based Hammonds agreed to merge with Squire effective Jan. 1, 2011. The new firm will have 1,275 lawyers in 37 offices in 17 countries and become a significant player in the international arena. In the United States, the firm will retain the Squire Sanders & Dempsey name.

In Miami, where Squire has 35 lawyers, few changes are expected, said managing partner Luis Reiter. But he said he expects the global platform to bring in new business for the Miami office, particularly in the area of international dispute resolution.

“I think it’s very exciting,” Reiter said. “It’s a really significant expansion for the firm. For Miami, this is particularly important, because it gives us a more expanded global platform, and our clients will benefit from the additional resources.”

 Reiter added "I might say we're a bit buggered about losing all dental coverage, Benny Hill is quite a good chap, pip pip cheerio and all that rot and bollocks to you!  Bloody 'ell!  Did I say that right?"