Shutts & Bowen LLP is pleased to announce that Francis E. “Frank” Rodriguez has been elected Chair of the firm’s Executive Committee and that Bowman Brown has been named Chair Emeritus. In addition, Roland A. Gallor and R. Alan Higbee have been elected to the Executive Committee, joining existing members Jennifer Slone Tobin and Jack C. McElroy, who also serves as the Firmwide Managing Partner.
In stepping down from his role on the Executive Committee, Mr. Brown stated, “I very much appreciate having had the opportunity to contribute to the success of Shutts & Bowen in my role as chair of the Executive Committee, but it is time to make room for our talented younger partners. Frank Rodriguez’s prior experience in the management of the firm makes him an ideal choice to succeed me.”
Mr. Brown served as chair of Shutts & Bowen’s Executive Committee for more than 35 years. During his tenure, the firm grew from a single-office Miami firm with 21 lawyers to a full-service law firm employing approximately 270 lawyers.
Mr. Brown will continue to serve as chair of the firm’s Distribution Committee, while focusing on his active financial services industry practice.
Mr. Rodriguez was born and raised in South Florida. He received his undergraduate degrees, cum laude, from Florida International University and his law degree, cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law.
Mr. Rodriguez joined the firm in 2000 and was first elected to the firm’s Executive Committee in 2018. He has served the firm in various capacities, including as the Miami Office Managing Partner from 2015 through 2019. His practice is focused on international tax matters.
“Bowman has spent his entire career as a financial services industry lawyer, working to make Florida an accommodating location for the provision of financial services and related businesses,” Mr. Rodriguez said. “He has played a leading role in the development of South Florida as a major domestic and international financial center. I thank him for his invaluable service to the firm and the community.”
Mr. Rodriguez added, “Shutts & Bowen remains among the preeminent law firms in the United States. We have seen tremendous growth throughout our markets, and we are proud of the fact that we, together with our clients, have played a major role in Florida’s history. As we continue the firm’s second century, we look forward to maintaining Shutts’ growth trajectory. We are confident in our future, as the firm is well positioned to assist clients throughout the state of Florida with their legal matters.”
“We are extremely grateful to Bowman for his years of unwavering leadership — he has helped this firm become what it is today, and for that we will be forever indebted to him,” added Mr. McElroy. “Frank has been an integral part of the firm’s strategic planning for many years, and we are excited about our present and our future.”
About Shutts & Bowen LLP
Shutts & Bowen, established in 1910, is a full-service business law firm with approximately 270 lawyers in offices in Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Tampa, and West Palm Beach. Learn more about Shutts & Bowen at www.shutts.com.
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