Coral Gables, FL (October 26, 2006) - The University of Miami School of Law has received a generous $1.25 Million gift from the members of the international law firm Greenberg Traurig to establish the Larry J. Hoffman Greenberg Traurig Distinguished Professorship in the Business of Law. This endowed gift will support a series of visiting professors, lectures or a permanent faculty member to teach the business of law.

"I am pleased to see an international firm like Greenberg Traurig interested in educating the attorneys of tomorrow," said UM School of Law Dean Dennis O. Lynch. "This gift will help establish the law school as a leader in the business of law education. In addition, naming the professorship after UM School of Law alumnus Larry Hoffman, a true business lawyer leader, is very indicative of the firm's commitment."

Greenberg Traurig is the seventh largest law firm in the U.S., based on number of lawyers among The National Law Journal's NLJ 250 listing. The firm has 1,600 lawyers in 29 offices in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Its growth over the last 10 years has been due in part to the leadership and vision of one of the founding partners and Chairman of the Board of the firm, Larry J. Hoffman, an alumnus of UM School of Law.

When Mr. Hoffman was approached about the firm's idea to honor him, he chose the School of Law to be the beneficiary since he considers his a "UM Family." His wife, Deborah, and son, Kenneth, both are alumni of UM's law school, who in fact, graduated together. Mr. Hoffman's daughter-in-law teaches at UM and his grandson is currently an undergraduate student.

"My attendance at the University of Miami law school was a life-changing event," said Mr. Hoffman. "I attended law school as a background for business with no intention to practice law, but my interest was sparked in the law, and the business of law. Young lawyers are not always prepared to understand the business of law and the law firm environment, but it is my hope that this gift will help establish the UM law school as a leader in this area of legal education."

"We wanted to honor Larry and when I asked what he would like to have done and at what organization, he mentioned that he was interested in helping the University of Miami Law School," said Cesar L. Alvarez, President and CEO of Greenberg Traurig. "We wanted to make sure we honored Larry while he is still very active in our firm."

More than 240 of the firm's shareholders contributed to the gift. "I think it clearly means that he is very much loved by everyone at the firm and appreciated. His contributions to our firm are so clear and unique that the shareholders wanted, in their own way, to say thanks to Larry," Mr. Alvarez said.

"Larry is a true visionary in the legal community. He was the leader that created transformational change at Greenberg Traurig by taking us from a local firm to an international firm that now ranks at the very top of the legal marketplace. He did this by recognizing that law firms are a 'business' of professionals. Nothing could be more appropriate to represent Larry's contribution to the legal community than to fund the first professorship for the business of law in the United States and to provide another part of 'his family', the University of Miami School of Law, with the initial resources to become a leader in this area."

"This gift honors Larry's legacy to Miami and to the legal industry on a global scale," said Hilarie Bass, Chair of the firm's Litigation Department and a member of the Executive Committee of the University of Miami Board of Trustees, and Chair of The University of Miami Law School's Momentum Campaign. "This is a tremendous opportunity to have students commence their career with a solid understanding of the business aspects of the profession."

The University of Miami School of Law is fast emerging as one of the top law schools in the country. Its geographic location in one of the most multicultural cities in the country has made its students among the most diverse and sought-after. For several decades, the school has attracted numerous international students, many of them multicultural and multilingual. Its brilliant faculty is diverse, well-known for its prolific scholarship, eclectic range of expertise and influential in their leadership. For more information on the UM School of Law, visit them at www.law.miami.edu.

# # #

Momentum: The Campaign for the University of Miami seeks to accelerate progress; empower learning and discovery; and intensify the University’s impact on people in the city, across the country and around the world.

The University of Miami’s mission is to educate and nurture students, to create knowledge, and to provide service to our community and beyond. Committed to excellence and proud of our diversity of our University family, we strive to develop future leaders of our nation and the world. www.miami.edu

Media Contact:
Margot Winick
mwinick@miami.edu
305-284-5500