David M. Gersten, Former Third DCA Judge, Joins Bilzin Sumberg's Litigation Group

July 8, 2011 - PRLog -- Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP announced today that David M. Gersten, former Judge in Florida's Third District Court of Appeal, has joined the firm's Litigation Group as a partner, and will chair its Appellate Practice.  Mr. Gersten retired from the bench on July 5, 2011, after more than three decades of service to the judiciary. "David Gersten's wealth of experience and knowledge as a judge will be a tremendous asset to our Litigation Group and will greatly enhance the existing capabilities of our Appellate Practice," said Litigation Practice Group Leader, Mitchell E. Widom.  

National in scope, the Litigation Group focuses on complex commercial matters including antitrust and class action matters.  The Group's attorneys have appeared in federal trial courts in more than a dozen states around the country, as well as in Florida federal, state and appellate courts.  As the firm's second largest practice, the Litigation Group is recognized as a leading litigation practice by publications such as Chambers USA and Benchmark Litigation, and its attorneys consistently rank as top-tier practitioners.  This year, Florida Super Lawyers recognized almost 80% of the partners in the Litigation Group as part of its Super Lawyer listing in its annual review of the state's top attorneys.  

"I was honored when Bilzin Sumberg invited me to join its Litigation Group," said Mr. Gersten. "Bilzin Sumberg is well-known and widely respected in judicial circles for its superb lawyers and for the sophistication and complexity of the matters those attorneys bring before the judiciary.  Equally important to me is the collaborative environment of the firm.  I hope to add my experience, knowledge and unique perspective to the team, as we strive to achieve the business goals of our clients."

Mr. Gersten, a third generation judge, received his Juris Doctor in 1975 from the University of Florida.  He worked as a private practice attorney until 1980, when he was elected as a judge in the Miami-Dade County Court.  Two years later, he was elected as a judge in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida and in 1989 was appointed to Florida's Third District Court of Appeal, a position he retained for more than twenty years.  During his time with the Third District Court of Appeal, Mr. Gersten served a term as the court's Chief Judge from 2007 to 2009.  He is an appellate faculty member of the Florida College of Advanced Judicial Studies, and has served as the appellate division’s Associate Dean. He is admitted to The Florida Bar, United States District Court, Southern District of Florida, and the Colorado Bar, and has previously been a member of the Miami Beach, North Dade, Florida and American Bar Associations, and of the Legislative Committee of District Court of Appeal Judges. Mr. Gersten is an alumnus of The National Judicial College and joined its faculty in 1997.

About Bilzin Sumberg
Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP is a full-service, commercial law firm with extensive experience in the areas of commercial finance, corporate and securities, environmental law, land use and government relations, litigation, real estate, restructuring and bankruptcy, tax and wealth preservation planning.  For more information, please visit www.bilzin.com.

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