Akerman Combines Powerhouse Practices to Launch National Fraud and Recovery Team

MIAMI, Nov. 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- As companies and investors experience increased vulnerability with the rise in systemic and organized fraud, Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, today announced the launch of a national Fraud & Recovery Practice Group, one of the most comprehensive, multidisciplinary legal teams devoted exclusively to fraud and recovery to be established by a national law firm.

The new team leverages the combined strengths of lawyers from the firm's litigation, healthcare, bankruptcy, and data law practices, including a formidable group of trial and appellate lawyers with substantial experience litigating fraud cases in state and federal courts throughout the United States. Together the group provides comprehensive fraud management services for large insurance companies and self-insured retailers, including detection, investigation, and litigation of complex schemes and unfair and deceptive practices. The team also handles corporate theft, and recovery after data breach, with a focus on financial losses, and has particular experience in all aspects of liquidating Ponzi schemes.

The group is led by co-chairs, David I. Spector, who has reshaped case law in affirmative fraud investigation and litigation, and Michael I. Goldberg, who is qualified as an expert witness on Ponzi schemes and has liquidated some of the largest recoveries in U.S. history.

The formation of the practice group comes at a time of a significant increase in a variety of organized schemes against insurers, financial institutions, self-insured retailers and other businesses targeted by those perpetrating personal injury, health insurance and property and casualty fraud. Awareness and prosecution of investor fraud and Ponzi schemes also have risen in recent years following several high-profile matters, and the firm has significant experience in assisting victims who suffer such losses.

In the insurance and healthcare sectors, the Akerman Fraud & Recovery Practice Group has a deep understanding of the claims process, applicable provider regulatory requirements, and risks facing substantial payers. The team includes board-certified healthcare lawyers to analyze medical protocols and identify patterns of illegitimate activity that point to fraud.

"Driven by growing client demand, our team is dedicated to representing clients under constant threat of increasingly sophisticated and complex schemes," Spector said. "We have integrated our longtime investigatory and litigation capabilities with a deep industry knowledge to aggressively address and neutralize losses for our clients – as well as prevent future losses."

Many of these fraudulent schemes end up in bankruptcy, requiring a sophisticated, multi-pronged approach to investigate the underlying fraud, unwind the business, secure the assets, and recover losses for the victims of the scheme. Akerman's extensive experience in representing trustees and creditors in bankruptcy cases involving Ponzi and other fraudulent schemes enables the firm to represent clients seamlessly when, and if, fraud litigation shifts to the bankruptcy and receivership arena. Through the firm's collaborative efforts, Akerman's clients have been at the forefront of some the nation's largest recoveries and the creation of new laws that help companies reduce future financial losses. The Akerman Fraud & Recovery Practice Group seeks to continue and expand the firm's ongoing efforts to protect its clients.

"In the wake of the financial crisis, investors have become more aware of Ponzi schemes which bilk many investors out of their life savings. Our team has handled more Ponzi scheme liquidations than any other law firm in the United States in the past 25 years," Goldberg said. "This new team formalizes our ongoing collaboration across practices and allows us to tap our collective experience in fraud litigation nationally to meet the unique needs of financial institutions and other victims devastated by fraud."

About Akerman LLP
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. With more than 600 lawyers and government affairs professionals and a network of 20 offices, it is ranked among the top 100 law firms in the United States by The American Lawyer (2015). Akerman also is ranked among the top 50 law firms for diversity in The American Lawyer's Diversity Scorecard (2015).

Akerman's Fraud & Recovery Practice Group provides comprehensive fraud management services to clients throughout the United States with a focus on investigation and litigation of complex fraud schemes and unfair and deceptive practices. The team advises clients in the insurance, healthcare, and retail sectors on strategic prevention, proactive detection and investigation, affirmative litigation, and exhaustive recovery.

More information can be found at akerman.com or twitter.com/akerman_law.

SOURCE Akerman LLP

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