Stearns Weaver Miller Alhadeff and Sitterson, P.A. is proud to announce the firm’s 50th anniversary. Since opening its doors in 1976 with a single office and 11 attorneys, the firm has grown to more than 150 attorneys in five offices throughout Florida, with practice groups considered by peers as among the best in the State of Florida. In addition to its attorneys, the firm employs over 200 non-attorney professionals including legal assistants and paralegals, information technology and multimedia personnel, as well as GIS experts and real estate appraisers and planners.
“While in many ways the practice of law is quite different today than it was five decades ago, the fundamental principles we began with all those years ago have endured,” said founding partner Gene Stearns. “Fight hard but fight fair. Care for your clients before you care for yourself. Don’t expect respect from courts, clients or those on the other side of the table — earn it. Approach every day with a mission to do something worthwhile — and achieve as much of that as you can before you go home. Don’t fear technology, understand it and if it works, embrace it. Laugh as much as circumstances allow, which hopefully is often. And life is not just about making money. Contribute the privileges and resources you enjoy as a professional to make the communities in which you live better for everyone. Keeping these simple life lessons in mind most every day has allowed us to be successful for our clients, our communities and our families.”
“I’m extremely proud to have been part of the firm since its beginning,” said founding partner Alison Miller. “We have brought together people with high standards, lofty goals and a shared sense of purpose. We have always valued the contributions of every person at our firm. The fact that so many of our attorneys and staff have been with us for over 25 years and that so many of our clients have been with us since the inception reflects the achievement of the goals we set for ourselves fifty years ago.”
Managing partner, Rick Schatz, who joined the firm out of law school 34 years ago, said that, “to me, the most remarkable thing about the place is the capacity of so many really intelligent people, both attorneys and staff, to be humble, kind and thoughtful while also being tough as nails when that is required.”
“We will spend a few moments reflecting on the last fifty years,” said Schatz, “but, most of the year we will be focused on today’s tasks and those that lie ahead, applying the principles that have helped us reach this point in the firm’s history. From our point of view, we’re just getting started.”
The firm is rolling out a special, year-long digital campaign showcasing photos and videos. These can be found on the firm’s website and on Linkedln.