CORAL GABLES, FL (Feb. 11, 2010) – The Coral Gables-based law firm of Colson Hicks Eidson is pleased to announce that it has opened an office in Washington D.C. headed by Ron Kleinman, former Managing Shareholder of Greenberg Traurig’s Washington D.C. office, and Colson Hicks Eidson Partner, Joe Matthews. Kleinman and Matthews will blend their skills and extensive backgrounds offering sophisticated litigation and arbitration services. 

 

Kleinman served as the Managing Shareholder of Greenberg Traurig’s Washington, D.C. office for the last seven years, heading a full service law practice. He has extensive experience in complex litigation, with particular emphasis on antitrust, environmental, and international litigation and arbitration. He is recognized as an expert on international and treaty law, and has been intensively involved for over a decade with successful efforts to secure substantial compensation for victims of international terrorism. He has also been actively involved in insurance coverage litigation, with particular focus on environmental, director and officer, and aviation coverages.

Kleinman’s public service career included serving as Deputy Assistant Legal Adviser in the U.S. Department of State from 1984-89. He received his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center and his undergraduate degree cum laude from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. He is a two-time recipient of the Secretary of State's Superior Honor Award and Medal.

 

Matthews, a partner at Colson Hicks Eidson since l989, will be splitting his time between D.C. and South Florida. He has been an advocate in trial and appellate courts and before arbitration tribunals for more than 32 years. Prior to joining Colson Hicks Eidson, he served as Special Counsel to U. S. Senator Bob Graham in Washington, D.C. 

 

In addition to his trial practice, Matthews has been selected to serve as a neutral arbitrator in more than 125 cases, either as sole arbitrator or one of three, including more than 25 cases in which he has served as the chair of a three arbitrator panel. 

 

Matthews serves on the Board of Directors of the American Arbitration Association as well as on the Board of Directors of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. He is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. 

 

Matthews received his law degree magna cum laude from the University of Miami, School of Law where he was an editor of the Law Review and recipient of the Wesley Sturges Award, graduating first in his class. 

 

The Law Firm of Colson Hicks Eidson is a trial firm with more than 40 years of experience handling local, national and international litigation. Partners at the firm have also had the distinction of holding the following offices: President of the 60,000-member Association of Trial Lawyers of America; President of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers; President of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers; President of the Dade County Bar Association; Untied States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida and Chairman of the Florida Federal Judicial Nominating Commission. For more information, visit www.colson.com.

 

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