FIU College of Law Receives Gift From Largest Florida Law Firm

MIAMI, FL (March 16, 2001) -Florida International University's College of Law has received a financial gift from one of the nation's most prestigious and Florida's largest law firm. Holland & Knight LLP has committed to give $25,000 over the next five years to the College of Law at FIU. The gift was negotiated by Holland & Knight Managing Partner Bill McBride.

Leonard Stickman, hired recently as the first dean of the new College, is now in the process of hiring faculty and establishing the curriculum for the College.

"Holland & Knight LLP is one of the leading law firms in Florida, indeed in the U.S.," said Dean Strickman. "It's particularly heart-warming to see this fine firm start the ball rolling in the support that the FIU College of Law will need from the legal community in South Florida. We commit ourselves to using their gift wisely."

Holland & Knight LLP is among the largest and fastest growing law firms in the world with more than 1,150 lawyers who practice in more than 100 areas of law. Its U.S. offices are in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Internationally its offices are in Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Tokyo with representative offices in Caracas and Tel Aviv.

The first public law school in South Florida, the FIU College of Law will open its doors in the fall of 2002 and will have a special commitment to transnational and international law. For more information on the College of Law call 305-348-1118 or visit the website www.fiu.edu

Media contacts: Todd Martinez-Padilla Simmons (305) 348-2716 or 2232 David Umansky (202) 357-2627, ext. 106.