Gunster, one of Florida’s oldest and largest full-service business law firms, today announced the addition of Florida Third District Court of Appeal Judge Angel A. Cortiñas as a shareholder in its Miami office. Cortinas will focus his practice on white-collar defense, complex litigation, receiverships, appeals and arbitration. The new hire bolsters the firm’s strategic plan to grow its Miami office and its white-collar defense practice.
“As one of South Florida’s most respected lawyers, Judge Cortiñas brings a wealth of experience to Gunster’s litigation team,” said George S. LeMieux, the chairman of the board at the firm and a former U.S. senator for Florida. “A seasoned advocate in complex civil and criminal matters, as well as appeals, Angel enhances our capabilities to serve as Florida’s law firm for business.”
Prior to joining the firm, Cortiñas served for eight years as a judge on Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal. As an appellate judge, he reviewed civil and criminal appeals from trial courts in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties and authored over 500 appellate opinions.
Before becoming a judge, he worked as a federal prosecutor for 13 years in the U.S. Attorney’s office in Miami, eventually becoming the office’s chief of the economic crimes section. He was the lead prosecutor in the office’s investigation and successful prosecution of Columbia HCA and Olsten Corporation, which was the largest fraud case in U.S. history.
In recognition of his work on that case, Cortiñas was awarded the Attorney General’s Exceptional Service Award in 2001, which is the highest award given by the U.S. Department of Justice. As a trial lawyer, Cortiñas tried over 30 jury trials to verdict in federal court and coordinated over 100 complex grand jury investigations.
Cortiñas is the latest in a recent string of high-profile, highly skilled shareholder recruits for Gunster. Others include Simon Ferro, former U.S. ambassador to Panama and an environmental and land use attorney; Amy Brigham Boulris and Juan Muniz, property rights, eminent domain and land use attorneys; and William Hill, a business litigator.
