MIAMI – March 20, 2023 – Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, P.A. and its attorneys were recognized in four categories in the Daily Business Review’s (DBR) 2023 Florida Legal Awards. These annual awards recognize distinguished members of the Florida legal community.
The Greenberg Traurig honorees are:
- Senior Chairman Matthew B. Gorson, whose work over the past five decades has played a key role in the development of South Florida’s skyline, was honored in the “Lifetime Achievement” category.
- Nikki Lewis Simon, chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion officer, was recognized in the “Diversity and Inclusion – Individual” category.
- An attorney team including Jared E. Dwyer, co-chair of the White Collar Defense & Special Investigations Practice, and Jay A. Yagoda, a shareholder in the Appeals & Legal Issues Practice, was recognized in the “Cross-Border Disputes” category for achieving the dismissal of the sole remaining Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violation charge against Roger “Richard” Boncy, a Haitian national and U.S. citizen.
- The firm’s South Florida Real Estate Practice attorneys were recognized in the “Real Estate Transactions” category for their representation of clients in noteworthy deals in Florida and beyond.
The honorees will be celebrated at the DBR’s annual awards event on May 17 at the JW Marriott Marquis in Miami.
“This recognition serves as a testament to the dedication that Matt has to the firm, its values, and its clients, helping to shape our role as the go-to firm for business in Miami,” said Jaret L. Davis and Yosbel A. Ibarra, co-managing shareholders of the firm’s Miami office. “We also congratulate Nikki, Jed, Jay, and the South Florida real estate team for this well-deserved recognition. We are proud of their continued commitment to serving our clients and making a difference in the community.”
Based in Greenberg Traurig’s Miami office, Gorson oversees the day-to-day operations of the firm’s Southeast and California offices and previously served as the firm’s president and chairman. Gorson joined Greenberg Traurig in 1973 as the firm’s 14th lawyer and became one of the most prolific and in-demand real estate attorneys in South Florida. His work has played a key role in revitalizing the urban landscape and changing the skyline of Downtown Miami, Brickell Avenue, Miami Beach and Sunny Isles. As the former chair of the firm's national Real Estate Practice, Gorson was instrumental in developing the firm's reputation as a real estate powerhouse.
Simon is a commercial litigator with more than two decades of experience. In her role as the firm’s Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, she designs and guides strategic initiatives and programs to deepen firmwide diversity and inclusion efforts that further enrich client engagements and community investments.
Dwyer is a trial lawyer who focuses his practice on white collar criminal defense matters, criminal and civil tax litigation, and other complex civil litigation. Yagoda is experienced in handling a wide variety of appellate matters in state courts throughout Florida and in federal courts across the country. Dwyer and Yagoda, along with Boston office Shareholder Mark A. Berthiaume, achieved dismissal of the sole remaining charge against Roger “Richard” Boncy, a Haitian national and U.S. citizen whom the federal government alleged had conspired to funnel bribes from the non-profit National Organization for the Advancement of Haitians to high-level Haitian government officials.
Greenberg Traurig South Florida real estate attorneys are recognized leaders in the sector, representing many of the developers that have transformed the region’s city skylines and urban landscapes. Among the transactions the team handled in 2022 were the $430 million sale of Gables Station, which was the second-largest single-asset, multifamily transaction in South Florida last year; Rockpoint Group’s $287 million sale of 1221 Brickell and $216 million sale of Mary Brickell Village; AIR Communities’ purchase of two apartment developments in Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach for a combined $471 million; and Invesco Advisers’ $537 million acquisition of 39 medical office building sites in 14 states. In addition to transactions, Greenberg Traurig attorneys advised on key land-use and environmental matters involving the new Inter Miami soccer stadium, the redevelopment of Pier Sixty-Six in Fort Lauderdale, and a planned office tower set to rise 1,000 feet at Brickell City Centre in Miami – potentially the tallest commercial building in Florida.
About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has more than 2650 attorneys in 44 locations in the United States, Europe and the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. The firm is a 2022 BTI “Highly Recommended Law Firm” for superior client service and is consistently among the top firms on the Am Law Global 100 and NLJ 250. Greenberg Traurig is Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certified Plus by The Diversity Lab. The firm is recognized for powering its U.S. offices with 100% renewable energy as certified by the Center for Resource Solutions Green-e® Energy program and is a member of the U.S. EPA’s Green Power Partnership Program. The firm is known for its philanthropic giving, innovation, diversity, and pro bono. Web: www.gtlaw.com.