James Ballerano (Lifetime Achievement), Manuel Garcia-Linares (Cross-Border Disputes), and Georgia Thompson (On the Rise)

Day Pitney is proud to announce that three of the firm's South Florida-based partners have been recognized for the Florida Legal Awards from the Daily Business Review. Day Pitney is the only firm to be named with honorees across Lifetime Achievement, Cross-Border Disputes, and On the Rise (Small/Midsize Firm) categories. According to the publication, these awards recognize exceptional professionals across various legal domains.

"This recognition not only highlights the exceptional talent within the firm's Florida offices but also underscores the significant success and growth that the firm is experiencing in South Florida," commented Gregory Hayes, Managing Partner of Day Pitney.

Day Pitney opened the firm's first office in Florida in 2016 when seven attorneys from Boca Raton-based Chapin, Ballerano & Cheslack joined the firm. Since then, the firm has added two additional offices in Miami and West Palm Beach and has more than quadrupled the number of firm attorneys in the state, with the notable additions of attorneys from Florida firms Richman Greer P.A., Diaz Leyva Group PLLC, and most recently, Wernick & Co.

Individuals recognized by the Daily Business Review are:

• James "Jim" A. Ballerano, Jr. (Boca Raton Office), Trusts and Estates Partner, Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree. Ballerano represents business owners, executives, entrepreneurs, retirees, and families in estate planning and wealth preservation. He works with clients to preserve and efficiently transfer their wealth, including advising and assisting clients in estate planning and the administration of estates and trusts. Ballerano is the Past President and Director Emeritus of the Greater Boca Raton Estate Planning Council. The award was presented to Ballerano by his longtime colleague, Day Pitney Trusts and Estates Partner Brian E. Thompson.

• Manuel A. Garcia-Linares (Miami Office), Litigation Partner, Chair of the firm's Litigation department, and Florida Office Managing Partner, Cross-Border Disputes Category Finalist. Garcia-Linares advises clients in complex commercial and business litigation, officer and director liability, real estate, probate and trust, professional malpractice (legal and accounting), and class action litigation. He also works with fellow team members on family office, corporate, transactional, and estate planning matters. Garcia-Linares is the Chair of the Litigation Department, served on the firm's Executive Board, and is a Past President of the Cuban American Bar Association and board member of the Cuban American Bar Foundation.

• Georgia A. Thompson (Miami Office), Litigation Partner, On the Rise (Small/Midsize Firm) Honoree. Thompson represents businesses in complex commercial litigation matters in state and federal courts in Florida. Georgia has litigated disputes involving product liability, premises liability, professional malpractice, ADA accessibility, personal injury, negligence, fraud, unfair trade practices, breach of contract, and other business disputes and torts. At Day Pitney, Thompson is the hiring partner for law student recruitment across the firm's Florida offices and serves on the firm's Litigation Technology Committee advising on innovation efforts and technology adoption across the firm. In the community, Thompson is a member and strong supporter of the Junior League of Miami and its advocacy for women and children's issues, as well as of Beaux Arts, a volunteer organization dedicated to bringing arts outreach and education to South Florida.

The awards were presented on April 4 at the JW Marriott Marquis in Miami. To learn more about the awards and their methodology, click here and here.

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