In January 2023, Venable retained the attorneys from Florida-based Genovese Joblove & Battista, P.A. (GJB), a boutique law firm with a host of nationally recognized lawyers at the top of their game in different fields. Now, as Venable Florida prepares to move into new office space in Miami, Paul Battista and Michael Joblove discuss the impetus behind the combination and how Venable is looking to expand its presence across the state of Florida.
Q. What was the initial spark that got the whole combination under way?
Michael: We had been running our own firm, Genovese, Joblove, & Battista, for over two decades and were evaluating our future path. A lot of national firms were moving into South Florida offering high salaries, so we were having difficulty acquiring new talent. We also wanted to ensure a longer path forward for our existing attorneys as a business organization. So, we started thinking about our options, one of which was to combine with a more prominent national firm. We had been performing some work for Venable locally, but I was unfamiliar with the firm. I decided to look at Venable’s website and saw that Larry Gesner was a co-managing partner. Larry and I were friends in college. So, I reached out to Larry to ask about Venable’s interest in Miami/Florida as a potential market, which sparked discussions that eventually led us to where we are now.
Q. What do you think made Venable the right fit in the end?
Paul: We had a number of candid discussions to ensure that Venable understood the nature of our work and was comfortable with our approach. The partners at Venable showed a rare openness to our entrepreneurial style, including contingency fee work and litigation against banks, provided there were no direct conflicts. As talks progressed, we found that our firm cultures also aligned, which is a critical component to any successful venture. As a close-knit, long-standing team at GJB, we really wanted to be part of a firm that shared our values. After meeting a number of Venable partners, we were reassured of both our operational freedom and cultural fit. Then from Venable’s standpoint, our established presence and reputation across Florida's legal market were key. A lot of firms that previously tried to enter the Florida market end up failing. But with offices in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Tampa, the combination allowed Venable to swiftly establish a significant footprint in the state. And Florida’s expanding market offered appealing growth prospects across various legal sectors, like trusts and estates, patents, and trademarks. So, it was a good move for both parties.
Q. Why is the legal market in Florida so challenging for national firms?
Paul: The legal market here is challenging primarily because it operates within a middle-market framework and is dominated by provincial dynamics. Unlike major corporate centers, Florida lacks a concentration of large corporate entities. Its economy is driven largely by tourism and local business relationships that have developed over many years. Establishing credibility in this environment takes a long time, which national firms parachuting in often underestimate. Also, a number of national firms struggle to align with Florida's economic realities, where lower rates are necessary for competitiveness in the middle-market economy.
Q. Once you decided to move forward with the combination, how did you sell the idea to both Venable and your partners and clients?
Michael: First off, there was a ton of due diligence—the first 90 days were spent mostly combing through client conflicts and crunching financial numbers. But the real deal was when we all trooped up to Washington to tell our story over and over to different groups from Venable. It was like speed dating in that big boardroom! Then to ensure all GJB partners were on board, we had to lay out a few key points. First, that the move would ensure our firm's longevity, especially with some of us getting older and younger talent still developing their career paths. Second, it would give us a stronger footing from which to compete with other big firms moving into Miami, both in terms of how we compensate our lawyers and in expanding our client base. And third, while we already had a self-sustaining practice, joining Venable would allow us to offer a much broader range of services to our clients.
Q. You mentioned the importance of having strong client relationships. Are those relationships continuing to endure?
Paul: Our client relationships have stood the test of time because of several key factors. First, we’ve nurtured personal and professional ties over many years. And while we can’t win every case, we have consistently delivered good results for clients and have maintained a fair fee structure. The work we handle—especially in bankruptcy, insolvency, franchising, and litigation—is highly complex and high-stakes. When clients entrust us with multi-million-dollar cases, they expect a high level of expertise and a deep understanding of the issues at hand. Not every lawyer can navigate these waters effectively. But our clients know they can rely on us to provide immediate, informed responses and lead the charge in complex situations. We also don’t farm out critical work to associates, so our clients know they will always have seasoned professionals involved in their cases, ensuring top-tier representation that meets their exacting standards.
Q. Overall, has the combination gone as expected, and where do you see opportunities for growth?
Michael: In the first year and a half, we've been getting a feel for Venable's culture and how we fit in. Now, we’re looking to boost the Venable brand here in Florida and deepen synergies with the firm’s other offices and practice groups. In terms of key growth areas, we're really focusing on expanding our trademark and patent practices, along with trusts and estates. We’re also strengthening our capabilities in real estate and corporate transactional work. It's been gratifying to see our old firm, originally just 35 lawyers in Florida, receive national recognition for our work, particularly in areas like bankruptcy and franchising. Looking forward, under the Venable banner, we aspire to be recognized as a top-tier firm with exceptional lawyers delivering outstanding results for clients, while continuing to develop our home-grown ties and contributing to our local community.
Learn more about Venable Florida’s Bankruptcy and Franchising practices.