Akerman LLP announced enhancement of the firm’s financial services sector with the addition of three commercial litigators at its newly established Chicago office. The move increased the headcount of Akerman’s Litigation, Intellectual Property, and Real Estate Practice Groups to 11. The move comes close to a month after Akerman establishing its 20th U.S. office in Chicago.
The three new litigators include partners Kasey Folk and Eric Gribbin, and associate Julia Lassner, all leaving Ulmer & Berne LLP.
Folk focuses her practice in complex commercial litigation in the financial services industry. She was a former clerk for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and has wide experience in banking and regulatory matters, as well as in investigations for financial institutions, hedge funds, sole proprietors, individual shareholders and entrepreneurs. She also represents clients in matters of restrictive covenants, patent licensing, false advertising, insurance coverage, product liability, contract disputes and trade secrets.
Gribbin represents insurance brokers, investment advisors, banks, securities broker-dealers and other financial institutions in complex commercial litigation. He also handles regulatory and compliance matters along with transactional matters involving co-brand, private label, and affinity credit card contracts and service agreements. He has worked as vice president and senior legal counsel for the card and retail services division of one of the world’s largest banks. He focuses on banking and UCC litigation, injunction proceedings, trade secret disputes, restrictive covenant, securities fraud litigation and class action defense.
James Miller, chair of Akerman’s Litigation Practice Group said, “We are pleased to welcome Kasey, Eric, and Julia to our Chicago litigation team … We have assembled a talented group of trial lawyers who share our commitment to the Akerman client experience and broaden our core strengths.” Scott Meyers, office managing partner of the Chicago office of the firm said, “Kasey, Eric, and Julia truly understand and embrace Akerman’s culture and commitment to client service.”