COB Seminar Features Engaging Talk with Gerry Greenspoon, co-founder of Florida-based law firm

By Amber Bonefont | 10/23/2025

Tags: Features | Management
Categories: Academics | Faculty/Staff | Students

Gerry Greenspoon, co- founder of Florida-based law firm Greenspoon Marder, recently addressed an executive forum class in the College of Business for an informative conversation on his journey to success and how to build a multistate business.

The lecture is part of a special topics in leadership class created by Michael Block, adjunct professor and Joseph Patton, D.B.A., senior instructor in the department of management. The series features seminar interactions between business leaders and students, focusing on their leadership experiences, current challenges facing businesses today, and practical lessons for success.

Greenspoon’s talk spanned his decades of experience as a lawyer, a founder of a law firm and an entrepreneur. He launched his firm in 1981 with partner Michael Marder, eventually growing the local practice to a full-service national law firm with over 225 attorneys across the United States.

“Surround yourself with people smarter than you,” said Greenspoon, offering advice to the class. “Recognize that it is okay to make mistakes. Try to anticipate the issues that may happen, make a plan, have a strategy and implement it.”

Greenspoon is best known for his legal and business acumen, and his expertise in the areas of real estate development, resort and time share law, condominium conversions, and finance and transactions. With his entrepreneurial vision, he led the firm’s expansion into emerging markets, such as the legal cannabis industry with the firm being one of the first in the country to offer dedicated legal services to the industry.

Students also participated in a thoughtful question and answer after Greenspoon’s talk, asking questions ranging from advice for students heading into legal and marketing careers, the advent of AI in the workplace, and his experiences with some of his toughest cases.

Past speakers for the semester’s class include Jeff Klink, executive vice president and president of commercial deposits at Valley Bank, and Holly Rush, past president of Luxottica Group and CEO of Costa Sunglasses. Upcoming scheduled speakers include Bruce Sherman, owner and chairman of the Miami Marlins and Leon Cooperman of Omega Advisors and frequent contributor to CNBC.

-FAU-