NEW ORLEANS — Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, continued the national expansion of its Litigation Practice Group with Partner Gerard Wimberly in New Orleans.
"Client needs continue to drive Akerman's growth in Louisiana where we have substantial bench strength in complex commercial litigation within the financial services, insurance, energy and other dynamic sectors. We are pleased to continue that momentum with Gerard," said Lawrence Rochefort, chair of Akerman's Litigation Practice Group.
Rochefort said Wimberly brings experience in multi-state insurance litigation, white collar defense and government investigations, and will add important depth to the firm’s national trial platform and bring valuable capabilities in government contract law.
Wimberly focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, as well as white-collar defense and government investigations. He has been lead or co-lead counsel in numerous cases involving government contracts law, financial fraud and antitrust matters. He is experienced in False Claims Act qui tam cases, having been lead counsel for major companies in recent actions. He also advises corporate and business clients on the rules and regulations governing national and international business transactions. Additionally, Wimberly has substantial in-house corporate experience having previously served as a senior counsel for Motorola Inc., where he was responsible for U.S. and international government contracts matters. He is experienced in all aspects of government contracts law and has successfully handled numerous state and federal bid protests as well as contract claims, firm reps said.
Wimberly joins Akerman from McGlinchey Stafford, where he served as co-chair of the firm's white collar/ government investigations group and the leader of its false claims practice group. He is licensed in Louisiana, the District of Columbia and Arizona.
Akerman adds Wimberly as part of its continuing growth in the region, reps said. Last summer, the firm opened four new offices in Houston, San Antonio, Austin and New Orleans with a group of 30 litigation and trial lawyers. Today, the firm has nearly 60 lawyers in Texas and Louisiana, with a strong concentration in Dallas and Houston.
Akerman LLP is a leading transactions and trial law firm known for its core strengths in middle market M&A, within the financial services and real estate industries, and for a diverse Latin America practice, reps said. With more than 650 lawyers and government affairs professionals and a network of 24 offices, it is ranked among the top 100 law firms in the United States by The American Lawyer (2016). Akerman also is ranked among the top 60 law firms for diversity in The American Lawyer's Diversity Scorecard (2016). The team is recognized nationally by U.S. News – Best Lawyers in several categories including Commercial Litigation and Appellate.
