2013 Mid-Year Report. GRANT FRIDKIN PEARSON, P.A. Naples, Florida

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1 2013 Mid-Year Report GRANT FRIDKIN PEARSON, P.A. Naples, Florida

2 Spring 2013 Dear Clients and Friends: This report is provided for the benefit of clients, friends and professionals w ith w hom w e have a relationship. The firm has been in practice for 18 years, having commenced on January 1, Its founding members,,,, and G. Helen Athan remain w ith the firm. In August of 2012, the firm shortened its name to Grant Fridkin Pearson, P.A. and developed a new logo. Seven of our thirteen attorneys have an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating available. In 2012 and 2013 the firm w as named among Florida s Top Ranked Law Firms by LexisNexis Martindale Hubbell, the authoritative source for information about U.S. law yers since Our practice is active and thrives in the areas that w e practice. Our law yers and many of our staff are active in community activities to make Southw est Florida a better place. We stand committed to serving our clients and the legal needs of our community. Thank you for your support. Sincerely,, President

3 Page 1 PERSONNEL Long time shareholder How ard L. Crow n has moved tow ard eventual retirement by relocating to North Florida. He continues w ith us as of counsel, w ith some limited responsibilities, and is regularly in our office and in daily communication. Long time shareholder, and one of our founders, Helen Athan, briefly left the firm in the Summer of 2012 to become involved w ith a prominent local real estate brokerage firm. How ever, she decided that she missed the practice and rejoined the firm as a shareholder. Law yers in our firm: Florida Bar Board Certified in Real Estate Florida Bar Board Certified in Civil Trial and Business Litigation Florida Bar Board Certified in Wills, Trusts & Estates G. Helen Athan Florida Bar Board Certified in Real Estate D. Keith Wickenden Litigation & Dispute Resolution Practice Group Cheryl L. Hastings Real Estate & Business Practice Group David G. Budd Real Estate & Business Practice Group Michael T. Traficante Litigation & Dispute Resolution Practice Group Jacqueline B. Denton Trusts & Estates Practice Group Christina S. Woods Real Estate & Business Practice Group Kevin W. Pendley Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Education Law Practice Groups Charles C. Whittington Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Real Estate & Business Practice Groups How ard L. Crow n Of Counsel, Trusts & Estates Practice Group

4 Page 2 CIVIC & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS Southw est Florida Land Preservation Trust, Inc., Director One of three Collier County Members of Regional Economic Development Initiative Leadership Collier Foundation, Chairman American Cancer Society: Nationw ide Gift Planning Advisor Council, Chairman Florida Division, Board Member Collier County Unit, Board Member and Past Chairman Eckerd College Parent Council, Chair G. Helen Athan Education Foundation of Collier County, Director Cheryl L. Hastings Leadership Collier, Class , Member Michael T. Traficante Collier County Bar Association, Young Law yers Section, President Collier County Bar Association, Trial Law yers Section, Member Jacqueline B. Denton Collier County Bar Association, Trusts and Estates Section, Member Youth Haven Foundation, Director Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology Foundation, Director Planned Giving Committee, Shelter for Abused Women & Children of Naples, Member Kevin W. Pendley Chairman English Speaking Union (Naples, FL Branch), Director, Past-President Leadership Collier, Class of 2012 Leadership Collier Foundation, Alumni Advisory Council Special Olympics of Collier County, Advisory Committee Charles C. Whittington Grow ing Associates in Naples (GAIN), Class of 2013

5 Page 3 PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES Member, Real Estate Certification Committee, The Florida Bar Emeritus Member, Florida Board of Bar Examiners Member, Florida Bar Grievance Committee for the Tw entieth Judicial Circuit Chair, Wills, Trusts & Estates Certification Committee, The Florida Bar D. Keith Wickenden Circuit Representative, Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section, The Florida Bar Kevin W. Pendley Member, Education Law Committee, The Florida Bar ACCOMPLISHMENTS & RECOGNITIONS Best Law yers in America G. Helen Athan Fort Myers Area Best Real Estate Law yer D. Keith Wickenden Super Law yers Martindale-Hubbell AV Rating G. Helen Athan David G. Budd Kevin W. Pendley D. Keith Wickenden Collier County Bar Association Medal of Honor 2012 Florida s Top Ranked Law Firms The firm w as recognized in 2012 and again in 2013 by Martindale-Hubbell as one of Florida s Top Ranked Law Firms, w ith over 50% of its attorneys holding an AV Rating. There are only 193 law firms in Florida so listed. Only three Naples based law firms are included in this list. Only one Lee County based firm and one Charlotte County based firm are included.

6 Page 4 PRACTICE GROUPS LITIGATION & DISPUTE RESOLUTION There are six law yers w ho practice in this area, and one w ho practices in it and in the transactional area. During 2012 and in early 2013 w e have actively handled a variety of cases in courts in Collier County, Lee County, Hendry County, Palm Beach County, Polk County, and in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Our cases involve some of the follow ing subjects: contract disputes, land use entitlements; internal corporate and partnership disputes; legal access issues; real estate disputes; contractual disputes; and claims in estates and trusts. REAL ESTATE Despite the dow nturn in the economy to the real estate market as a w hole, in Florida and in Southw est Florida, since 2007 our real estate practice has remained active. We have five law yers w ho practice in this group. In 2012 and into 2013 the level and volume of transactions has increased. We regularly and actively represent clients w ho ow n commercial properties. Although many such properties are performing satisfactorily, financing and refinancing of those properties, is difficult, if not impossible because of declines in value. Representation of clients in these challenging circumstances is a significant part of our practice. We have often been successful helping clients to achieve a satisfactory restructuring, or the w ork out of a transaction that minimizes and mitigates losses. Creative thinking, planning, and strategizing are required. BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS & ORGANIZATIONS Our practice represents clients that ow n and operate a variety of substantial businesses as w ell as some investors w ho acquire businesses. Seven law yers actively practice in this group, one of w hom is experienced in business taxation and has an LL.M. in Taxation. In 2012 and 2013 w e have served a client involved in the sale of a substantial business. We advised and guided others in various organizational and planning activities. TRUSTS AND ESTATE PLANNING & ADMINISTRATION There are three law yers in this group. Our attorneys actively assist and guide clients to develop and structure estate plans to serve their objective and needs. This includes estate, gift and generation skipping transfer tax planning, as w ell as advising and guiding clients w ho are fiduciaries administering substantial estates and trusts, and representing beneficiaries. The Trusts & Estates group currently represents over 75 trusts and estates w ith assets under administration that exceed $200,000,000 in value. We also have an active practice engaged in trusts and estates litigation that involve the representation of fiduciaries as w ell as beneficiaries in complex and complicated fact scenarios. The Trusts &

7 Page 5 Estates group regularly w orks closely w ith law yers in the other practice groups of the firm to address the various needs of clients. EDUCATION LAW One law yer dedicates substantial time to representing public school districts and educational agencies throughout South Florida. The practice provides administrative law and civil litigation representation to clients in matters concerning employment discrimination, disabilities, and contracts. In addition, w e regularly consult as independent counsel regarding Florida public records and open meetings law s, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, the Individuals w ith Disabilities Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and related federal and state regulations. During 2012, this practice group successfully concluded a variety of employment discrimination claims in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida at significant savings in time and costs to our clients.