ORLANDO, Fla.; June 14, 2012 — The Florida-based law firm Broad and Cassel has once again received recognition by prominent legal guide Chambers USA: A Guide to America’s Leading Business Lawyers, the only legal directory to rank law firms and individual attorneys. In total, the 2012 edition highlights 25 Broad and Cassel attorneys as leaders in their respective fields, while the firm is listed as among the best in 10 statewide practice areas and 2 national practice areas.

Leading the way, the firm’s nationally recognized Health Law Practice Group received top honors within the State of Florida, which included the ranking of six individual attorneys in addition to the group’s collective Band One ranking, the highest ranking Chambers USA awards. Notably, the group’s leading attorneys, Gabriel Imperato and Mike Segal, also received national recognition in their respective areas of practice, ranking among the best in the country.

Also among the firm’s leading attorneys are longtime Chambers honorees: Firm Chairman C. David Brown, II, Fort Lauderdale Managing Partner Gabriel L. Imperato, West Palm Beach Managing Partner Patricia Lebow, and Miami Managing Partner Mark F. Raymond.

The following are excerpts of the 2012 Chambers USA commentary:

Banking & Finance: Broad and Cassel is a popular choice among financial institutions. The team's strengths include restructuring existing loans and advising on asset-related issues, and it has also been active in bond financing deals and underwriters’ representation. A recent highlight saw the firm advising BankUnited on a $25 million revolving line of credit for the development of residences in Florida and North Carolina. Sources say: "Their knowledge of the law and their ability to get the job done speaks volumes." Head of the practice Arvin Jaffe is sought out by institutional lenders for special assets and loan restructuring work. Carl Romano wins praise for being "a bright, responsive attorney who is capable of closing complicated deals on a timely basis." Of late, he acted for Regions Bank on loan workout and modification matters at a value of $9.2 million. Singled out for her "excellent client service," Isabel Diaz handles commercial lending and real estate transactions. Joseph Stanton has a highly regarded public finance practice which sees him handling a raft of state and local government financings.

Bankruptcy/Restructuring: This well-regarded local team undertakes a range of bankruptcy work, acting on behalf of clients from the banking, retail and manufacturing sectors. It is held in particularly high regard for its creditors and committee practice. Recently, it has handled bankruptcy and restructuring matters for BB&T Bank, Fifth Third Bank and JPMorgan Chase. Roy Kobert chairs the firm's bankruptcy and creditors' rights practice group. He is singled out as “a strong, smart bankruptcy lawyer.” He has particular expertise in creditor-side representation.

Construction: This group is adept in both delay and damage litigation, with particular experience in defect and water intrusion matters. It is active in representing clients in the preconstruction stages of a project, including contractual and projectmonitoring work. Its client list is drawn from contractors, developers, governmental agencies and owners. Sources say: "They are a very good construction firm: big, multidisciplinary firm with several goodlawyers in construction." Construction group chair Michael Wilson represents general contractors and developer clients on project delay and defect-related claims, as well as payment disputes. He enjoys an excellent reputation in this arena and remains a sound choice for peers on referrals. Robert Alfert's strong background in architecture provides him with an advantage in tackling construction litigation and defect-related matters. Peers particularly single out his proactive approach to matters.

Corporate/M&A: With 20 attorneys in Florida, Broad and Cassel continues to be a major force in the market. The team had a busy year focusing on guiding entrepreneur clients through every stage of development. Recent highlights include handling a complex $206 million concurrent debt and equity securities public offering on behalf of Perry Ellis International. Sources say: "They are excellent – they're responsive to our needs and, even when we were small, they treated us with a highdegree of respect." Orlando partner Doug Starcher is known to be a "strategy expert who is always two moves ahead in every meeting." He completed a number of high-value restructurings in the past year, and also has expertise in municipal finance, governmental and not-for-profit law. Kathleen Deutsch is highly regarded for her work on difficult regulatory issues. She was involved in the Perry Ellis transaction alongside senior counsel Miriam de Oliveira, who also played an important role in American Surgical Holdings' $42.8 million going-private deal.

Environment: This firm has developed expertise in the area of association representations, and routinely advises notable names such as the Florida Home Builders Association, National Association of HomeBuilders and the Florida Farm Bureau. The team provides regulatory counsel and policy for issues affecting these associations, including ESA and wildlife matters. Recent work has seen it advise landowning groups on the impact of the gopher tortoise being designated a listed species. Land use and environmental law practice chair Douglas Rillstone has a practice that focuses on both the contamination and natural resources side of environmental law. He enjoys a fine reputation in the market, particularly in the ESA and wildlife area, which has ensured he is a first choice among landowners for cases involving endangered species.

Healthcare: This impressive practice advises major state healthcare entities such as the Florida HealthCare Association on issues including healthcare reform and new legislation. Members of the team have developed expertise in several focused areas, including white-collar crime, healthcare fraud, compliance and medical group consolidation and formation. The team recently advised on theformation through mergers of Florida Digestive Health Partners, a 25-personmedical group specializing in otolaryngology.

Sources say: "They are extremely capable, hard-working lawyers and have provided us with an outstanding, value-for-money service." Gabriel Imperato's practice includes advising on corporate governance and compliance matters as well as healthcare fraud. He is considered "very smart, an excellent healthcare lawyer." Lester Perling has gained particular expertise in third-party reimbursement and is viewed as "a superb practitioner with a wealth of experience." Group chair Mike Segal is particularly well known for his work with physicians' groups and was the lead attorney in the Florida Digestive Health Partners merger mentioned above. Douglas Mannheimer is highly regarded for his healthcare work, particularly in the regulatory arena, and is also well versed in government relations matters. Stephanie Russo is "first-rate," according to sources, who add: "She's still up and coming but she knows her stuff and she approaches things in just the right way." Russo's practice is wide-ranging and includes healthcare litigation, compliance and transactional work. Stephen Siegel's practice spans corporate, enforcement and regulatory matters. He is applauded by sources as "bright and knowledgeable with a great reputation."

Nationwide: Healthcare: Regulatory & Litigation: Gabriel Imperato is based in Broad and Cassel's Fort Lauderdale office, and is nationally renowned for his regulatory and enforcement expertise. His respected practice draws on significant litigation experience, and clients seek his fraud and abuse and reimbursement capabilities.

Nationwide: Healthcare: Transactional: Miami-based Mike Segal is also based in the firm's Fort Lauderdale office. He focuses his practice on transactional matters and is held in high regard for his work across the nation. He is the healthcare group chair, and is increasingly involved in innovative combinations of organizations and physicians that draw on his wide experience of the arena.

Litigation: Appellate: Beverly Pohl is the appellate practice group chair at Broad and Cassel in Fort Lauderdale. She is "knowledgeable about all aspects of state and federal appellate work, and passionate about representing her clients," say interviewees.

Litigation: General Commercial: This firm has a well-established presence in Florida and has experienced furthergrowth in the past year, now boasting a 70-attorney team across its eight Florida offices. The group is experienced in multiple areas, and handles all types of litigation with ease. It has particular expertise in representing financial industry clients. Notable clients include AA Acquisitions, BankAtlantic, CitiMortgage, Datamaxx and DaVita. Sources say: "We have been very pleased with the talent and expertise of this firm – all of my legal needs can bemet." Miami managing partner Mark Raymond impresses interviewees with his "strong trial skills." He represents clients in complex commercial litigation, real estate litigation and securities litigation. Patricia Lebow is the managing partner in West Palm Beach, and is considered an excellent commercial litigator by clients. One commentator described her as "smart, experienced, practical and connected."

Litigation: White Collar Crime & Governmental Investigations: Miami-based Jon Sale recently joined Broad and Cassel. He comes highly recommended for his strong experience in white-collar criminaldefense, and for his skillful handling of government investigations.

Real Estate & Zoning/Land Use: This thriving firm has a broad real estate practice representing REITs, investors, government entities and developers. The firm has experience in affordable housing and in representing developers on financing, and the acquisition of land for multifamily projects. The firm has also developed a sophisticated land use practice and has received strength from its government relation team to advise clients on entitlement, purchase and sale agreements, and environmental liability. Notable clients include Lake Nona Land Company, Mill Creek Residential Trust and ZOM. Sources say: "They are a very capable firm with many excellent lawyers, who have expertise in many areas of law. They are very capable, client-friendly, and service-oriented." Chairman of the firm's Orlando office, David Brown has a very diverse practice and is also a member of the firm's capital projects, public finance, government relations, land use and environmental law groups. Clients describe him as "a very trusted adviser" and also single out his business acumen. He has advised a major developer in putting together a medical city complex. James Slater has a strong transactional real estate practice. He largely represents developer clients and peers commend his work in this area claiming he is "good, practical and easy to deal with." A notable client of his is ZOM, which he has represented in the sale of a condominium tower and in the negotiation of a mixed-use project. Clifford Hertz has a prominent land use and zoning practice with peers asserting "his deep local contacts" as being among his key strengths. Sources also praise his ability "to think outside of the box and show a strong understanding of business principals." He has successfully defeated attempts by an environmental coalition to place further rock mining restrictions and continues to represent clients on a rock mining building consensus. Barbara Ferrer has a banking and institutional lending and special assets practice, in addition to her much respected real estate practice, and is consequently particularly adept at real estate loan work. Clients appreciate that she is "well versed in all aspects of real estate." She has represented Totalbank on a loan to finance the construction of hotels.

The Chambers USA: A Guide to America’s Leading Business Lawyers, is an independent, objective, research-based legal directory. Attorneys and law firms are selected for inclusion by strong recommendations from the market and according to reputation. Full-time researchers conducted thousands of interviews in order to determine the most exceptional law firms and attorneys. Based in London, Chambers and Partners began as a general book publisher in1969, then launched a legal recruitment consultancy four years later. The Chambers Directory has been published since 1990.