Akerman
continues to be recognized globally for its legal excellence. With over 700 lawyers across 25 offices nationwide, the firm has built a reputation for seamlessly blending deep legal
expertise with a client-centric approach. This balance has earned Akerman praise from both clients and peers, with many noting that the firm has “upped their game in the last few years.”
Jeremy Williams is one of the firm’s rising talents, known for his “strong communication, strong general knowledge,” and “timeliness in responses.” These qualities have made him a valued member of the teams advising AIG Specialty Insurance Company and other confidential, high-profile insurance clients.
Sergio Acosta, a partner in Akerman’s Illinois office, brings a distinctive blend of legal skill and empathy to his practice. He is described as “a well-respected, highly competent attorney who also understands what a client is going through.” Clients have emphasized that he “brings a very human component to the work that he does,” a quality that sets him apart in the
often impersonal world of white-collar defense and government investigations. Acosta serves as
co-chair of Akerman’s White Collar Crime and Government Investigations practice and has played a pivotal role in several high-profile matters,
including
representing
Vahooman
Mirkhaef, in a complex criminal case.
In the New York office,
Josh Bernstein,
co-chair of Akerman’s Hospitality Sector team, is another standout figure within the firm. Known for being “rigorous, thorough, smart,” Bernstein is deeply involved in real estate litigation and has advised
a number of prominent clients, including Vanderbilt Atlantic Holdings LLC,
Bigstore Hotel Partners LLC, and HBI Group.
Bernstein’s representation of Ace Group International LLC and Ace Group Bowery LLC—affiliates of the boutique hospitality brand Ace Hotels, underscores his
expertise in international arbitration. In a dispute involving a Manhattan property developed and managed by Ace as the inaugural hotel under its new Sister City brand, the tribunal
ultimately awarded Ace $10.4 million in damages for breach of a hotel management agreement.
