Miami law firm shuts down; email demands return of office supplies
The Miami law firm Brown and Heller closed on Monday, leaving 23 lawyers and about 50 staffers out of work.
The firm closed after losing its only client, a defendant in a class action lawsuit related to Bernard Madoff’s investment fraud, the Daily Business Review reports. The firm had beefed up its lawyer ranks to handle the litigation, but lost its client when differences emerged with New York co-counsel, sources told the publication.
An email from firm managers had warned that paychecks would not be issued this week until “the office supplies that have been taken have been returned.”
Name partner Lewis Brown told the Daily Business Review that the email was a “silly misunderstanding” and everyone would be paid. Lewis co-founded the law firm 38 years ago.
