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Becker & Poliakoff Shareholder Steven B. Lesser Appointed to ABA Commission on the American Jury Project
Ft. Lauderdale-Based Board-Certified Attorney and Chair of Construction Law Practice Appointed to 13-Member National Commission Working Toward Trial and Jury Reform
| Source: Becker & Poliakoff
FT. LAUDERDALE, FL--(Marketwire - October 9, 2008) - Becker & Poliakoff, P.A., a diversified
commercial law firm with more than 125 attorneys in 13 Florida offices, New
York City and affiliated international offices, today announced that firm
shareholder Steven B. Lesser, a Board Certified Construction attorney and
Chair of Becker & Poliakoff's statewide Construction Law Practice Group,
was recently appointed to the American Bar Association's Commission on the
American Jury Project.
As one of just thirteen members nationwide of the ABA Commission, Mr.
Lesser will serve on the commission as a representative of the ABA's Tort,
Trial and Insurance Practice Section. He previously served as Chairman of
the ABA Section's Task Force on the Contingent Fee, having led the task
force's review of the contingent fee system to evaluate the impact of
future changes to this fee structure on attorneys and their clients.
The Commission on the American Jury Project is tasked with advancing
implementation of ABA Principles on Juries and Jury Trials by working with
courts, rulemaking bodies, state legislatures and the organized bar.
Commission membership consists of a chairperson appointed by the ABA
President and three representatives each appointed by the Judicial Division
and Criminal Justice Section, Litigation Section and the Tort, Trial and
Insurance Practice Section.
"I'm honored to have been included among this group of respected colleagues
named to the Commission on the American Jury Project in order to further
the ABA's work in the area of juries and jury trials," Lesser said.
"Working with the courts, legislators and Bar associations around the
country, the Commission seeks to inform and provide guidance to the public,
the media, to government and within our own profession about the importance
of jury service and jury reform in our country."
"Becker & Poliakoff is proud that one of our shareholders and group
practice chairs, Steve Lesser, has been selected to participate in the
ABA's important efforts toward trial and jury reform through this
Commission," said Alan Becker, Managing Shareholder, Becker & Poliakoff.
"Steve brings to the Commission the highest respect and ratings from his
colleagues and organizations within the legal profession. He will be a real
asset as the ABA continues to work toward improving the jury system that is
so critical to the proper functioning of justice in our society."
Rated "AV" by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, the highest professional
rating based on years of experience and endorsement by colleagues in the
areas of professional conduct, ethics and ability, Mr. Lesser is also a
recipient of the prestigious Deborah M. Smoot Memorial Award by the Florida
Bar Journal & News Editorial Board for outstanding contributions to the
Journal as Chair and Board Member.
As Chair of Becker & Poliakoff's Construction Law practice, Mr. Lesser
leads a team of fifteen attorneys dedicated exclusively to Construction Law
that includes nine attorneys who are Board Certified in Construction Law by
the Florida Bar. Florida Trend Magazine designated Mr. Lesser as among its
"Legal Elite" in the area of Construction Law, based upon a poll of Florida
attorneys who selected peers in the top 2% of their respective practice
areas. Lesser is also listed in Chambers USA America's Leading Lawyers for
Business 2005 as one of the top construction lawyers in Florida and is a
member of the International Who's Who of Construction Lawyers, considered
an elite leadership group within the field of Construction Law.
A graduate of Ohio University (BSJ cum laude, 1975) and the
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law (JD 1979), Mr. Lesser was admitted in
1979 to the Bar in Florida and Ohio. He also is admitted to practice before
the United States Supreme Court and the United States District Courts for
the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida. He previously served as
Assistant Attorney General in Ohio.
About Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.
Becker & Poliakoff is a diverse commercial law firm with more than 125
attorneys in 13 Florida offices, New York City and affiliated international
offices. Celebrating its thirty sixth (36th) year of serving clients, the
firm has seven primary areas of practice: Real Estate, Construction,
Community Association, International Trade & Customs, Commercial
Litigation, Corporate, Tax & Securities, and Government Law & Lobbying.