Major Broward Law/Lobbying Firm To Merge?

BY BUDDY NEVINS

 

Just days after founding partner Don McClosky died, his firm is in merger talks with Greenspoon Marder, according to the South Florida Business Journal.

The report says a merger is imminent.

Ruden McClosky is one of Broward’s biggest law firms with an active lobbying practice.

A merger would mean such familiar government legal fixtures  as former Sen. Steve Geller, who is largely a commercial litigator, and land use maven Dennis Mele would work in the same office.

Greenspoon grew from a small local firm specializing in time shares founded by Gerald Greespoon and Michael Marder 30 years ago.  Through mergers and hiring, the firm grew.  For instance in 2004, the firm merged with the politically-potent firm of Abrams Anton, whose founder was former Hollywood Mayor Maynard Abrams.

It is now roughly the size of Ruden with 90 lawyers specializing in 30 areas of law.

McClosky died in early September.  Browardbeat.com’s post is here.

The Ruden firm has been widely reported to be hurt by the economic downturn. It has a large real estate and land use practice, perhaps the most renowned in Broward.

Ruden’s other “government” specialists include former Weston Mayor Harry Rosen,  Michael Krul, Hope Calhoun, Susan Motley and Browardbeat.com’s very own Sam Fields, who is primarily a criminal defense lawyer.

Greenspoon also has an active government practice in its Fort Lauderdale office, including Geller’s brother, former Miami-Dade County Democratic Chair Joe Geller .

Stay tuned.



3 Responses to “Major Broward Law/Lobbying Firm To Merge?”

  1. Tiny Bubbles says:

    I guess that Gunzberger was right about Geller and he remains a lobbyist.

  2. Mister Courthouse says:

    Now Sam Fields will have to get a real job.

  3. Las Olas Lawyer says:

    Don is turning over in his grave.