GrayRobinson's South Florida offices grew through another three lateral hires across practice areas last month, as the firm moves forward on its stated plan to grow in lawyer head count in 2017.
Former Sedgwick partner Moises Melendez and Stuart & Walker founding partner Frank Walker joined GrayRobinson's Fort Lauderdale office as shareholders.
In Miami, the firm also added Jonathan Kurry, former general counsel to Turnberry Associates, the holding company for the Soffer family, which developed Aventura Mall, Turnberry Isle and other well-known properties.
Kurry, who was a Miami partner with Stroock & Stroock & Lavan before joining Turnberry in 2009, said he was ready to rebuild his book of business. He said he will represent all aspects of real estate development, financing and operation, with an emphasis on shopping center and hospitality-related assets, as well as financial institutions, family offices and foundations.
He plans to offer clients the option of hiring him as in-house counsel for a flat fee, which will allow families and businesses the opportunity to have counsel that really knows their needs, even if they don't need a full-time in-house lawyer. He said GrayRobinson's deep bench would allow him to provide broader services to those clients when needed, while the firm also has an attractive entrepreneurial attitude toward growing his business.
"GrayRobinson allows me the flexibility to grow my practice the way I see fit, in the way that makes the most sense for me and my clients," said Kurry, who started as a shareholder at GrayRobinson on June 29. "They'll consider and approve anything that makes sense."
Melendez, a litigator and certified public accountant, focuses his practice on complex business litigation involving franchising, unfair/deceptive trade practices, trademark, and securities and bankruptcy issues.
Walker concentrates his practice on commercial, probate and real estate litigation, as well as family law, personal injury and wrongful death matters. Prior to joining GrayRobinson, he founded the Law Offices of Stuart & Walker. Co-founding partner Paul Stuart died last year, leaving Walker a solo practitioner.
GrayRobinson managing partner Mayanne Downs said in February that the firm would grow in lawyers, revenue and compensation in 2017.
The firm's Fort Lauderdale office added two other Sedgwick trial lawyers, Eric Lundt and Robert Weill, in May, after they tired of a commute to Miami following the closure of Sedgwick's Fort Lauderdale office. GrayRobinson has more than 300 attorneys in 13 Florida offices.