WEST PALM BEACH, FL (July 6, 2012) – Palm Beach County Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators presented 3 $1,000 gifts from the Tisha K McNamara Scholarship Award at the Annual Scholarship luncheon held in June. This award is available to the Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast legal industry employees and their dependents.

(left to right): Devin Dempsey, Michael Burdo, Kristina Soubasis, Gloria Hernandez (ALA Chapter President)

The Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) is a global organization of more than 9,000 members, whose professional concern is the effective management of government, corporate and private agencies and departments devoted to the delivery of legal services. Palm Beach County Chapter is but one of nine ALA chapters in the state of Florida.

The Estate Planning Council of Miami has appointed Executive Team members and elected new Board of Directors for the 2012-2013 year. They are the following:

Executive Officers

• David S. Berezin, of Berezin, CPA, P.A., President
• Patrick J. Lannon, of Patrick J. Lannon, PA, President-Elect
• Barry A. Givner, of First National Bank of South Miami, Vice President
• Charles Bennett Sachs, Secretary
• Adam Schucher, of Perlman, Bajandas, Yevoli & Albright, PA, Treasurer
• Daniel Tasciotti, of Tasciotti Financial, Immediate Past President

Directors

• Susan Menendez Cahill, of GenSpring Family Offices, Director
• Sharon Quinn Dixon, of Stearns Weaver Miller Alhadeff & Sitterson, PA, Director
• Philip Herzberg, of Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc., Director
• Mitchell A. Hipsman, of Mitchell A. Hipsman, PA, Director
• Elaine King, of Bessemer Trust, Director
• Donald A. Kress, of Northern Trust, NA, Director
• Paul D. Landrum, of Florida International University, Director
• Howard B. Lucas, of Goldstein Schechter Koch, Director
• Cynthia L. Prichard, of Gibraltar Private Bank & Trust, Director

Join the  Hispanic National Bar Association Florida Region as it hosts the HNBA Latina Commission Leadership Training, taught by former Walmart In-House Counsel Angel Gomez.

When: July 20, 2012 at 8:30 AM - 5:30 PMWhere: FIU Moot Court room, FIU Law School

John C. Sumberg

Miami, FL – Bilzin Sumberg announced that Managing Partner and Real Estate Partner, John C. Sumberg, has been appointed to the Sundari Foundation 2012-2013 Board of Directors. The Foundation is a public charity that created the Lotus House Women's Shelter, a unique resource center and residential facility that serves to empower homeless women in Overtown, Miami, to break the cycle of poverty, addiction, abuse and mental illness.

The Sundari Foundation also formed the Lotus Endowment Fund, which aims to raise $10 million over five years to ensure the shelter's long-term viability and financial stability.

Sumberg has been a member of the Sundari Foundation's Advisory Board since 2008. His appointment to the Board of Directors was made official at the Foundation's May 29th Board meeting.

In addition to maintaining a successful commercial real estate practice, Sumberg is highly involved in civic and charitable organizations throughout Miami. He is a Board member of United Way of Miami-Dade and a Board member and Chair of the Audit Committee of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. He also supports Voices for Children, Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America and Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc.

Sumberg's professional achievements have been recognized locally and nationally. For nearly a decade, he has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America and in Chambers USA, where he received the top ranking in real estate.

About Bilzin Sumberg
Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP is a commercial law firm with extensive experience in the areas of commercial finance, corporate and securities, environmental law, land use and government relations, litigation, real estate, restructuring and bankruptcy, tax and wealth preservation planning. For more information, please visitwww.bilzin.com

Daniel S. Rakofsky

Mr. Daniel S. Rakofsky has joined the firm of Bichler, Kelley, Oliver & Longo, PLLC as Of Counsel and will operate the new Coral Gables and Ft. Lauderdale offices. He is a veteran law enforcement officer of 22 years, retiring as a captain from the Pembroke Pines Police Department in 2011. To date, Mr. Rakofsky continues to serve the public as a reserve law enforcement officer in South Florida and is a member and Legal Advisor to the Broward County Chiefs of Police Association. He is a 2008 graduate of the Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center.

Mr. Rakofsky is well versed and experienced in the policies and practices of public safety organizations and focuses his law practice on the needs of police officers and firefighters, especially in the area of workers compensation and the presumptive legislation of Florida's Heart/Lung Statute. Mr. Rakofsky advocates on behalf of clients throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, and has experienced the perspectives of both management and labor.

The addition of Mr. Rakofsky to the firm gives a permanent presence in South Florida for the Orlando-based firm.

W. Campbell McLean

TAMPA, FL — June 26, 2012 — W. Campbell McLean, an attorney in the Tampa office of GrayRobinson, P.A., has been appointed to the Executive Board of The Gulf Ridge Council, Boy Scouts of America, where he will contribute to the success of several innovative state programs, such as a juvenile pre-trial intervention program and a career introduction program. The Gulf Ridge Council, Boys Scouts of America serves more than 30,000 boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 21. As a Tampa native, McLean was a member of the Gulf Ridge Counsel's Troup 23 and was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout in 1987.

“Serving on the largest and one of the most highly respected youth organizations in our country is a great honor,” said GrayRobinson President Byrd F. “Biff” Marshall, Jr. “I am fully confident that Campbell’s leadership skills, enthusiasm and passion will make him the perfect person for this position.”

McLean’s practice at GrayRobinson focuses on the areas of eminent domain and real property litigation. McLean also has experience in a variety of property related areas including land use, foreclosure, environmental law, probate and real estate law. He is a member of The Florida Bar, the American Bar Association, the Hillsborough County Bar Association and the Association of Eminent Domain Professionals.

McLean earned his juris doctorate and undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, as well as his master’s degree from Emory University. In addition, McLean graduated from Leadership Tampa’s Class of 2002.

Allison Turnbull

Baker Hostetler Orlando Partner Allison Turnbull was recently appointed as a board member to the YMCA Metro Board, for a one-year term

Grace H. Yang

TAMPA, FL — June 25, 2012 — Grace H. Yang, a shareholder in the Tampa office of GrayRobinson, P.A., has been elected to the Hillsborough County Bar Association's (HCBA) Board of Directors where she will work to promote respect for the law and the justice system through service to the legal profession and to the community. The HCBA works with attorneys in public practice in all areas of law and is a non-profit professional association with over 3,700 members.

“The HCBA gives lawyers an opportunity to share their profession and legal education with their peers, colleagues and the community,” said GrayRobinson President Byrd F. “Biff” Marshall, Jr. “We know Grace’s commitment to professionalism and devotion for her community will make her a valuable addition to the association.”

Yang’s practice at GrayRobinson focuses on compliance issues for alcohol beverage and food vendors. The “AV”- rated attorney has handled the purchase, sale and licensure of thousands of retail stores, resort and hotel properties, restaurants and other businesses located throughout the United States. She is a member of The Florida Bar, the Hillsborough County Bar Association, the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers, the Asian Pacific Bar Association of Tampa Bay, and the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.

Yang received her juris doctorate from Cornell Law School and her undergraduate degree from Yale University.

Tampa, FL - The new Brazil Tampa Chamber will have an organization meeting at Boizao Brazilian Restaurant in Tampa on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. Officially called the Florida Gulf Coast Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, its purposes is to promote trade, investment and employment opportunities between communities in the Gulf Coast of Florida and Brazil.

The guest speaker, Frank Ryll, Global Outreach Director of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, will speak on organizational and management issues. According to Florida Gulf Coast Brazilian Chamber organizer Joel Stewart, an attorney with Fowler White Boggs P.A., the Brazil Tampa Chamber will discuss its future plans and select persons to serve on committees at the July 18thmeeting.

The cost of the dinner and meeting will be $40 which includes the full salad bar, “Rodizio” barbecue served by Gauchos, and soft drinks. Wine, cocktails and desserts are available a la carte. The address of Boizao Steakhouse is 4606 W Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa, Florida, 33607.

Persons wishing to attend must make reservations directly with the Chamber at info@braziltampachamber.com. Membership applications will be available at the July 18 meeting.

The Florida Chamber of Commerce supports the promotion of international trade and the integration of the work force to include the talents and skills of local and foreign workers. For more information about the Florida Chamber of Commerce, please visit the Florida Chamber of Commerce website at http://www.flchamber.com

Jeffrey N. Schatzman

Jeffrey N. Schatzman, Managing Shareholder at the Miami law firm of Schatzman & Schatzman, P.A., was elected President-Elect of the Commercial Law League of America (CLLA) at its Annual Meeting on May 5, 2012. He has been passionately involved with the Commercial Law League of America since 1991 and has held numerous positions within the League during that time.Schatzman focuses his practice on the areas of Bankruptcy, Collections and Commercial Litigation. He is a native of Miami, Florida.

Devang Desai

CORAL GABLES -- Devang Desai, a partner with the Coral Gables litigation firm Gaebe, Mullen, Antonelli & DiMatteo, has been elected President of the University of Miami School of Law Alumni Association (LAA) for 2012-13.

In his new role, Mr. Desai’s main goals are to increase awareness of the LAA; encourage graduates to support the law school’s mission; increase engagement for younger alumni, and support current students by creating networking and mentoring opportunities between alumni and students. He also plans to involve the association with the law school’s strategic initiatives to increase job placement by encouraging alumni to hire UM law graduates. Lastly, the LAA will work with the leadership of the University of Miami School of Law Momentum 2 Campaign Committee to raise much-needed funds in order to continue to build the next great American university.

Mr. Desai, 36, a University of Miami undergraduate and law school alumnus, has long been active in the UM community, serving as a legal officer for student discipline since 2003. He also serves on the University of Miami Alumni Association Board as a director. Mr. Desai is active with his fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha, and is its Regional President. Mr. Desai serves on the board of the South Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America, where he is an Eagle Scout and recipient of the Distinguished Service Award.

Mr. Desai concentrates his practice of law in the areas of insurance defense, transactional and commercial litigation, and bad faith consultation and litigation. Mr. Desai is admitted to practice in the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, the District Courts for the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida, and all Florida state courts. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Defense Research Institute, the Coral Gables Bar Association, the Dade County Bar Association, The Florida Bar, and the Florida Defense Lawyers Association, where he has served as chair of the Commercial Law Committee since 2008. Mr. Desai has also been named byFlorida Super Lawyers as a 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 Florida Rising Star.

Before becoming an attorney in 2003, Mr. Desai served as the Interim Ombudsperson and Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Miami. During law school, Mr. Desai interned for the Honorable Paul C. Huck of the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida.

Mr. Desai graduated cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law, where he was President of the Student Bar Association and a Thomas R. Ewald Litigation Skills Scholar. He is also a member of the Iron Arrow Honor Society; Society of Bar and Gavel; Omicron Delta Kappa; Golden Key International Honour Society and Order of Omega.

Robert Peltz

Robert Peltz, attorney at Florida trial law firm Leesfield & Partners, P.A., has been reappointed to Chairman of the Maritime Law Association (MLA)’s Cruise Lines and Passenger Ships Committee. This is Peltz’s third term as Chairman.

CORAL GABLES, FL. – Maximo A. Santiago has been named a partner at the Coral Gables office of the South Florida civil litigation firm Gaebe, Mullen, Antonelli, & DiMatteo, where he has been an associate for the past six years.

Mr. Santiago joins Greg Gaebe, Michael Mullen, Mark Antonelli, Anthony DiMatteo, Christienne Sherouse, Devang Desai and Christopher Moore as a partner in the 16-lawyer firm. Mr. Santiago concentrates his practice in the areas of insurance defense, wrongful death, professional malpractice, negligent security, premises liability, products liability, construction defects liability, disability rights law, general personal injury defense, and the defense of sexual abuse and child abuse cases. Mr. Santiago’s bilingual capabilities allow him to easily work with both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking clients.

Mr. Santiago was born in Cuba and has been a resident of Miami since 1980. After graduating from Miami Senior High School, he attended the University of Florida, where he graduated with honors and earned a bachelor of science in microbiology. In 2003, he graduated cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law. During law school, Mr. Santiago participated in the University of Miami’s respected litigation programs, including the Moot Court competition. He was awarded the Vasquez Scholarship for his excellence in litigation. Mr. Santiago served as a Citations Editor for the University of Miami International and Comparative Law Review. He also interned for United States Magistrate Judge Stephen T. Brown and for the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office.

Mr. Santiago is admitted to practice in all Florida state courts, the United States District Court for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He is a member of the Florida Bar, the Coral Gables Bar Association, the Cuban American Bar Association, the Dade County Bar Association, the Defense Research Institute, and the Dade County Defense Bar Association.

Since 1985, Gaebe, Mullen, Antonelli & DiMatteo has championed corporate, municipal and individual clients’ interests from courtrooms to boardrooms as litigators and business counselors from its two offices in Coral Gables and West Palm Beach. It has a dedicated support staff. For more information about the firm, please visit www.gaebemullen.com