Negron joins law firm that lobbies the Legislature

Six months after resigning from a law firm over his legislative duties, Senate President Joe Negron is joining Akerman LLP in West Palm Beach.

Negron, R-Stuart, left Gunster Law in January to avoid the “perception” of a conflict of interest with his proposal to curb Lake Okeechobee discharges. U.S. Sugar Corp., a Gunster client, at the time opposed the bill, which became law in May.

Negron worked at Akerman from 2005 to 2010. He will practice high-stakes litigation, business law and complex commercial litigation, according to the firm.

Akerman also lobbies the Legislature, which Negron will lead through the end of 2018. Among Akerman’s dozens of lobbying clients are Magic City Casino, the city of Lake Worth, Miami-Dade County and the Florida Bankers Association.

Akerman is one of the largest law firms in the country with more than 650 lawyers across 24 offices in Chicago, Miami and other cities. 

Negron has 30 years of law experience and counsels officers, directors, publicly traded and privately held corporations, and individuals in an array of business disputes, including breach of contract, according to the firm’s news release.

He made $226,000 at Gunster in 2015, his financial disclosure form shows, and he started working there in 2010. After resigning, he dedicated himself to presiding over the Florida Senate and this year’s March-through-May legislative session as well as a special June session.

Negron has a Stetson University bachelor’s degree, a law degree from Emory University and a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University.

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