MIAMI LAW FIRM RECEIVES LEGAL SERVICES AWARD FROM FLORIDA SUPREME COURT

January 28, 2004

TALLAHASSEE -- The Miami law firm Kozyak, Tropin & Throckmorton, P.A. (KT&T) has been selected to receive the Law Firm Commendation award from Chief Justice Harry Lee Anstead of the Florida Supreme Court. The awards ceremony will be held Thursday, January 29, at the Court.

The purpose of the Law Firm Commendation is to recognize, when appropriate, a law firm which has demonstrated a significant contribution in the delivery of legal services to individuals or groups on a pro bono basis.

KT&T was founded 21 years ago, and since that time has grown from three to eighteen attorneys, all of whom have a long-standing commitment to pro bono legal service, and community involvement. KT&T focuses its litigation practice in the areas of complex commercial contract and tort litigation, class actions, and securities fraud. The firm also represents some of the largest companies and lending institutions in the country when they are involved in litigation, workouts, and bankruptcy matters in Florida.

KT&T has a standing policy that all attorneys receive up to 20 hours a year in credit toward their billing requirement for time spent providing pro bono legal service to the poor. Over the years, KT&T attorneys collectively have spent thousands of hours representing the legal needs of the poor in the South Florida community. KT&T as a firm and its attorneys individually, wholeheartedly recognize the obligation and opportunity to help those who would otherwise be unable to effectively access the courts because of their financial circumstances.

KT&T attorneys also dedicate time to pro bono legal services through bar activities. John Kozyak serves on the American College of Bankruptcy Pro Bono Committee and raises funds for the Put Something Back Program. Laurel Isicoff has served as Chair of the Pro Bono Task Force of the Bankruptcy Bar Association of the Southern District of Florida (BBASF), and helpeddevelop the curriculum for the Bankruptcy Assistance Clinic at St. Thomas University.

Mrs. Isicoff also helped establish and serves as a Director and Vice President of the Bankruptcy Bar Foundation, a 501(c) corporation established by the BBASF, which raises funds from the legal community to support pro bono bankruptcy services in the Southern District of Florida. KT&T was an initial donor to the Foundation, and through its five year pledge, helps underwrite the Foundation’s efforts.

KT&T also provides scholarships to minority law students who excel in the litigation skills program at University of Miami School of Law, partially funded by teaching services donated by Harley Tropin and Ken Hartmann.

Mr. Kozyak and other KT&T lawyers were instrumental in reviving and expanding the mentoring program for minority law school students at UM School of Law. The Law School changed program’s name to the “John W. Kozyak Minority Mentoring Program.” Mr. Kozyak and Ms. Isicoff are also leaders in the Florida Bar Equal Opportunities Law Section (EOLS) and have initiated steps within the EOLS to expand the mentoring program to all other law schools in Florida.

KT&T lawyers also devote hundreds of hours a year to community service. Several serve on the boards of their synagogues and churches, mentor or teach young children in the community, and serve on citizen advisory committees.

While KT&T and its individual attorneys have received public recognition and awards for their service, each continues to devote countless hours, not for that recognition, but because they want to. Service has been, continues to be, and will always be, a significant aspect and a defining purpose of KT&T and its attorneys.

CONTACT: Jennifer Krell-Davis, The Florida Bar
DATE: January 28, 2004
TELEPHONE: 850/561-5669