Akerman Senterfitt LLP has announced that the firm has been recognized as the national legal community's Top Law Firm for Hispanic Americans by Multicultural Law magazine. The honor is bestowed on the firm that has received the highest ranking in the publication's 2005 diversity survey.
The firm received the award at a January 12 reception in Washington, DC.
The national survey results also rank Akerman Senterfitt among the Top 100 Law Firms for Diversity, among the Top 25 Law Firms for Disabled Americans, and number four among the Top 50 Law Firms for Partners.
"Throughout the history of the firm, we have promoted diversity and are proud of this prestigious recognition," said Akerman Senterfitt Chairman and CEO Tom Cardwell. "As a Florida firm, we have always had a natural connection with Latin American and Hispanic cultures and our attorneys reflect the community in which we live andwork."
Akerman Senterfitt's bilingual Hispanic professionals include 59 shareholders, of counsel, associates and consultants, as well as 131 bilingual Hispanic support staff including paralegals, consultants, closers and administrative staff. Among the firm's Hispanic professionals are Stephen Roddenberry, the firm's senior corporate shareholder and outside general counsel to several publicly traded companies; Albert Tellechea, a prominent commercial litigator and former regional president and general counsel of The Hispanic National Bar Association; Carmen Johnson, a Florida Bar board certified employment lawyer listed in Best Lawyers in America ; Tony Cuva, a Florida Bar board certified admiralty lawyer, who was ranked number one in Florida for shipping/ maritime law by Chambers USA ; Paolo Miranda, an international lawyer who is the current president of the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce of Florida; Frank Cordero, a tax lawyer and CPA listed in Best Lawyers in America ; Marlene Quintana, a Florida Bar board certified employment lawyer who was recently elected vice president of the Board of Directors of the Cuban-American Bar Association; Joe Negron, who was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2000, 2002 and 2004 and who is currently a candidate for Florida attorney general, and Robert Fernandez, past regional president of the Hispanic National Bar Association and a current candidate for Florida state representative.
Akerman Senterfitt maintains an active Diversity Committee chaired by Joseph W. Hatchett, former chief judge of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, who was recently inductedinto the National Bar Association'sHall of Fame. Mr. Hatchett's achievements include being the first African American appointed to the highest court of a state since Reconstruction, the first African American elected to the highest court of a state and the first African American elected to any public office in a statewide election in the South.
An Akerman Senterfitt spokesperson says the firm's workforce throughout each of its offices in Florida, New York and Washington, DC reflects the firm's strong commitment to creating an environment where a broad range of diverse perspectives is not only encouraged but cultivated.
Published February 1, 2006.