Daily Record Financial News &
Monday, August 10, 2015
Vol. 102, No. 191 • Two Sections
35¢ www.jaxdailyrecord.com
Should Florida open legal door?
State Bar report causes debate By David Chapman Staff Writer Pass the Florida Bar and you can practice law in the Sunshine State. That’s the way it’s been. Florida doesn’t allow legal reciprocity, which allows attorneys from other states to practice full-time without passing that state or locale’s Bar exam. Florida is among the dozen or so states that don’t offer the service. However, there’s been much talk the past few weeks about changing Florida’s law. Making it so non-Florida attorneys could practice within the state by “admission by motion” — by meeting certain criteria, with passing the Florida Bar exam not among them. The idea hasn’t exactly been met with glowing praise from many within Northeast Florida
legal circles. “What I am hearing from others and my personal opinion is about the same,” said John DeVault III, managing director of The Bedell Firm and a former Florida Bar president. “There’s no real benefit to the citizens of Florida and clients … I don’t see any real benefit.” Well, maybe a couple for attorneys. Large firms with a presence outside Florida could stand to benefit. Even more so, a bulk of attorneys looking to retire to sunny Florida and “hang a shingle,” as he describes it. “California and Florida have always resisted,” said DeVault of offering reciprocity. “People always want to retire here.” Jake Schickel, a partner at Coker, Schickel, Sorenson, Posgay, Camerlengo & Iracki, said most attorneys he knows are against the idea of Attorneys continued on Page A-6
SEES THE BENEFITS
Thinks it is appropriate for The Florida Bar to review, although there have been historical reservations. Not resistant to idea, if there is a way to ensure outside attorneys maintain the same professionalism and competence Florida attorneys practice. Would help natural evolution of the industry. Larger firms with offices in multiple states would benefit. Michael Freed Gunster shareholder
Getting ready to walk the runway
RESISTS THE IDEA
Disagrees with the idea, as do most other local attorneys he knows. Surprised issue has come back up after being so soundly rejected in the past. Influx of outsiders could potentially damage professionalism and ethics of collegial group locally.
Jake Schickel Coker, Schickel, Sorenson, Posgay, Camerlengo & Iracki shareholder
Hunt joins Phillips law firm
Family law attorney leaves partnership
Maureen Belcher, right, gets the models lined up to hit the runway before the Spring Into Life fashion show of Kolor Me Pink Productions at the Prime Osborn Convention Center. The production company produces fashion shows to support people dealing with the effects of cancer, both medical and financial, through the Cancer Treatment Endowment. See more photos on Page A-8.
Photo by Fran Ruchalski
By Marilyn Young Editor
Dewan has an ‘acquisition platform’ General Employment Enterprises Inc. last week announced its first acquisition since Derek Dewan took over as CEO, which was no surprise to Roth Capital Partners analyst Jeff Martin. Martin last week initiated General Employment’s first significant analyst coverage with a “buy” rating, saying the company is looking for big things under Dewan. “General Employment Enterprises Inc. is a contract and placement staffing company that serves as an acquisition platform for former MPS Group Chairman Derek Dewan to emulate his previous M&A success,” Martin said in his report. “Management’s goal is to create a $1 billion staffing company over the course of
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the next seven years. At MPS Group, Mr. Dewan achieved a similar goal inside of four years,” he said. Dewan was CEO of Jacksonville-based Scribe Solutions Inc. before Scribe was acquired by Illinois-based General Employment in April. After the merger, Dewan became CEO of General Employment. Of course, as Martin said, Dewan made
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his mark by building Jacksonville-based MPS into a major staffing and consulting firm before it was acquired by Adecco Group Inc. in 2009. General Employment’s first deal under Dewan was the acquisition of Atlanta-based Agile Dewan Resources Inc., which provides information technology staffing and consulting services. General Employment said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing last week it bought Agile for $1 million in General Employment stock and up to $3 million Basch continued on Page A-7
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It was a chance meeting of two attorneys at a Christmas fundraiser. Matt Hunt and John Phillips were both models in a fashion show for Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry in December. Turns out, they both use the same tailor, so they spent some time together at the show. And that, Phillips said, is the beginning of “how two peas got put in a pod.” Both of those peas were namesakes in Jacksonville law firms. Hunt with Hunt Green & James and Phillips with The Law Offices of John Phillips. After the fashion show, they stayed in touch over Facebook, had a couple of dinners and began a conversation about working together. Both saw similarities in their approaches to the law and their clients. Hunt A week ago today, Hunt started his new job as a partner in the family law division at Phillips’ firm. He’s been practicing exclusively in family law for more than seven years. It’s a new area of practice at the firm, primarily known for Phillips’ high-profile personal injury work. Making the decision to leave the firm where he was managing partner wasn’t easy for Hunt. He and his previous partners had a history, both personally and professionally. They attended Florida Coastal School of Law together, Hunt said, then worked at Leigh, James and Associates. Hunt, Nick James and Paul Green Hunt continued on Page A-2
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