InsideTrack

Klock noticeably absent from Steel Hector reunion

When more than 100 former Steel Hector & Davis alumni gathered for the first reunion of lawyers from the defunct firm, one was noticeably absent: Joseph Klock Jr.

Klock, who was blamed by many for the demise of the once venerable Miami law firm, was a no-show. One alum who attended said many of the guests openly wondered to the end of the event if he’d show. Some openly criticized their one-time leader during the get-together held over the weekend at the rooftop Cabana One Lounge & Pool Club at the Mayfair Hotel & Spa in Miami’s Coconut Grove.

Another alumnus who didn’t attend said there was a lot of speculation about whether Klock would show.

"I’m not surprised only because I know when Joe stepped down as managing partner in 2005, there wasn’t a lot of love lost," the alumnus said on condition of anonymity.

Klock was forced to step down as the firm’s finances soured. Many of the firm’s former partners blame international growth driven by Klock for Steel’s reversal of fortunes. The firm was eventually forced into a merger with Squire Sanders & Dempsey in 2005.

Klock left for Epstein Becker & Green in February 2007 and became a name partner this year at Rasco Klock Reininger Perez Ezquenazi Vigil & Nieto in Coral Gables.

Abbe Mald Bunt, who served as Steel Hector’s director of recruitment before becoming president of a Fort Lauderdale-based legal search firm bearing her name, said Klock was a major force within the firm.

"I spent 11 years there. There’s no one who didn’t know he was credited with building the firm," Mald Bunt said. "He brought me down 20 years ago from New York. Many people’s careers started under Joe Klock’s leadership at the firm."

Klock did not return a call for comment.

"I would say his absence was noted," Mald Bunt said. For the rest, she said, "There was so much love, hugging and kissing going around. This was like going to the family reunion you truly look forward to."

Third judicial candidate from Broward PD office files

There must be something in the water at the Broward public defender’s office. Maybe it’s the pay.

Assistant Public Defender Robert Jakovich is the third veteran attorney working for Howard Finkelstein to file to run for the bench in 2010.

Jakovich has worked for the public defender’s office for 25 years since interning there during law school. He has spent the past two years representing convicted, sexually violent predators facing involuntary Jimmy Ryce civil commitments. He previously represented defendants charged with everything from murder to drunken driving and has had more than 200 jury trials.

Jakovich joins Chief Assistant Public Defender Mindy Solomon and Assistant Public Defender Sandra Perlman on the 2010 ballot.

When asked why so many public defenders have filed to run this year, Jakovich responded: "It’s become apparent to most people that unless you’re a Republican, in my opinion, that you’re never going to get appointed through the Judicial Nominating Committee [sic] process, and this is really the only venue open to us."

Jakovich will be running against family law practitioner Rhoda Sokoloff for the seat being vacated by Linda Vitale in his first attempt to become a judge.

"I have the experience, I have the qualifications," Jakovich said. "I have been in this community and this courthouse long enough to really understand the nature and everything that goes on around here."