Akerman Continues Expansion of New Chicago Office with Team of Commercial Litigators

CHICAGO, March 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, today announced the accelerated growth of its new Chicago office with a team of three commercial litigators who enhance the firm's core strength in the financial services sector. The team joins a month after Akerman established its Chicago office – the 20^th in the United States – increasing headcount to 11 lawyers within the firm's Litigation, Intellectual Property, and Real Estate Practice Groups.

The new litigators, previously with Ulmer & Berne LLP, include partners Kasey Folk and Eric Gribbin, and associate Julia Lissner.

"We are pleased to welcome Kasey, Eric, and Julia to our Chicago litigation team," said James Miller, chair of Akerman's Litigation Practice Group. "We have assembled a talented group of trial lawyers who share our commitment to the Akerman client experience and broaden our core strengths."

Folk concentrates her practice in complex commercial litigation, with an emphasis on the financial services industry. As a former clerk for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Folk brings experience handling banking and regulatory matters, as well as internal investigations for financial institutions, hedge funds, individual shareholders, sole proprietors, and entrepreneurs. She also represents clients in matters involving restrictive covenants, trade secrets, patent licensing, contract disputes, false advertising, product liability, and insurance coverage.

Gribbin represents banks, insurance brokers, securities broker-dealers, investment advisors, and other financial institutions in complex commercial litigation, regulatory and compliance matters, and transactional matters involving private label, co-brand, and affinity credit card contracts and service agreements. His deep experience in the financial services sector includes past roles as vice president and senior legal counsel for the card and retail services division of one of the world's largest banks. Gribbin's practice includes banking and UCC litigation, injunction proceedings, restrictive covenant and trade secret disputes, securities fraud litigation, and class action defense.

Lissner represents financial institutions, public and private companies, C-level officers, and other individuals in complex commercial litigation matters. She is experienced in bench and jury trials, arbitrations, and mediations; handling appeals; and conducting internal investigations.

"These new litigators, along with the other talented lawyers who helped launch the Chicago office, will play a central role in the continuing success of our clients," said Scott Meyers, office managing partner of Akerman's Chicago office. "Kasey, Eric, and Julia truly understand and embrace Akerman's culture and commitment to client service."

With these additions, Akerman's Chicago office further expands its capabilities to service a wide range of clients in a variety of litigation and transactional matters across the U.S. and throughout the Americas.

The Litigation Practice Group has welcomed other notable additions in recent weeks, including international litigators, Frederick Reif and Debra Tama, in New York; as well as a white collar defense lawyer and the former Associate White House Counsel, Christopher Oprison, who is a co-resident in the Miami and Washington, D.C. offices.

Akerman's Litigation Practice Group is recognized nationally by U.S. News– Best Lawyers in the Commercial Litigation category. The firm's team has vast experience in a wide range of civil and criminal litigation, including actions involving banking, securities, healthcare, insurance, real estate, and construction.

About Akerman LLP
Akerman LLP is a leading transactions and trial law firm known for its core strengths in middle market M&A, within the financial services and real estate industries, and for a diverse Latin America practice. With more than 600 lawyers and government affairs professionals and a network of 20 offices, it is ranked among the top 100 law firms in the United States by The NationalLaw Journal NLJ 350 (2013). Akerman also is ranked among the top 50 law firms for diversity in The American Lawyer's Diversity Scorecard (2013). More information can be found at akerman.com or twitter.com/akerman_law.

SOURCE Akerman LLP