Some of Phoenix's Most Respected Attorneys to Establish Local Office
PHOENIX, AZ -- August 25, 1999 -- A group of 30 attorneys announced today they will open the Phoenix office of Greenberg Traurig, an international law firm best known for its full-service business practice. The lawyers, all with the firm formerly known as O'Connor Cavanagh, are some of Phoenix's most highly respected practitioners, and include shareholders Robert Kant, Jeffrey Verbin, Lawrence Rosenfeld, Pamela Overton, Mary Bruno, Michael Cafiso, Karl Freeburg, Jean Harris, Richard Mitchell, Gilbert Rudolph, James Ullman and Jeffrey Wolf.
"The decision to join Greenberg Traurig was an easy one," said Robert Kant, chair of the Corporate and Securities Practice. "While we have been courted by many firms, we all agreed Greenberg Traurig was the perfect complement for our practice given its national position and recognition as one of the nation's premier business firms. Greenberg Traurig is one of the fastest growing, best managed, most successful and technologically advanced firms in the country. Those qualities, combined with the firm's relationships with investment bankers, venture capitalists, financial institutions and private equity fund managers, will enhance our ability to help secure financing for our clients," said Kant.
Jeffrey Verbin, another senior member of the firm and chair of the Business and Financial Services Practice, added, "We are excited about this opportunity. The recent National Law Journal cover story about Greenberg Traurig made it obvious to us how ideal the cultural and business fits would be. The ability to offer our clients the depth of knowledge found in this firm, combined with strategic office locations, gives us a unique platform in which to service our clients on the local, regional and national levels. We believe the business community in Arizona will welcome this type of full-service national practice," said Verbin.
Greenberg Traurig's decision to enter Arizona is the latest example of the firm's continued commitment to expand its core competencies in such areas as corporate and securities, real estate and commercial litigation. "This is an exciting opportunity for Greenberg Traurig," said Cesar Alvarez, president and CEO of the firm. "We are fortunate to have found this group of extremely talented attorneys who closely match our culture and share our entrepreneurial spirit. The attorneys' vast experience in the corporate and securities arena, and their depth in other areas of the law important to our clients such as commercial litigation, employment, financial services, governmental and administrative, municipal finance, franchising, healthcare and the rapidly growing fields of technology and intellectual property, makes this new office the ideal fit for us," said Alvarez. "This legal talent, complemented by the attorneys' deep roots in the local community, is very important to Greenberg Traurig. The attorneys in this office play a leadership role in such important local causes as The Heart Ball, Make a Wish Foundation and the Anti-Defamation League. We look forward to continuing that tradition of giving back to the community, just as we do in each of the locations in which we practice," said Alvarez.
Joining the 12 shareholders are attorneys Lenin Arthanari, Brian Blaney, Steven Bloom, Craig Bolton, John Burton, Jennifer Dubay, Jean Emery, Steven Fishbach, Jere Friedman, Peter Greenfeld, Jerry Holden, Leonardo Loo, Michael Lungaretti, Ken Maxwell, Kurt Merschman, Arik Michaelson, Scott Weiss and Justin Wright. Also joining the firm are 12 paralegals and 34 staff members.