Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith, PLLC Celebrates Its 85th Anniversary

Law Firm Founded in The Days of Addison Mizner and Charles Lindbergh
Continues to Grow And Benefit The Community

Cake and reminiscing were plentiful at the Law Offices of Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith, PLLC (LLL&S) today as the firm celebrated its historic leadership role in and contributions to the legal, business and philanthropic fields in Palm Beach County and the State of Florida on its 85th anniversary.  The third oldest law firm in Palm Beach County was founded by Joseph Lesser in 1927, the same year that Calvin Coolidge was president, Charles Lindbergh made the first non-stop transatlantic flight from New York City to Paris in the Spirit of St. Louis, and locally, the Breakers celebrated its first anniversary after its rebuild and the first flight of Pan American Airways took off from Key West to Havana, Cuba.

“I can remember my grandfather telling me how he took my grandmother away from her close-knit family  —  especially her sisters  —  in Rome, Georgia to ‘make it’ in the real estate boom here touted by Addison Mizner, only to find that the moment he stepped off the train…the boom went bust,” said LLL&S Managing Partner Gary Lesser, Joseph Lesser’s grandson. “He quickly transitioned his real estate career to the practice of law, hanging his shingle on Narcissus Avenue in West Palm Beach…where the legacy for Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith took root.”

Under Gary’s stewardship, the firm grew from two attorneys and one assistant when he joined his father Shepard Lesser in 1992 at a 2,000-square-foot storefront office location in downtown West Palm Beach, to include new partners (Joseph B. Landy joined in 2001; Michael Smith in 2004), 10 attorneys and 17 staff operating from a 15,000-square-foot free-standing headquarters it owns on Northpoint Parkway in West Palm Beach. In addition, the firm has offices in a 12,000-square-foot office building it owns in Boca Raton, and a 7,000-square-foot office complex it owns in Stuart, Florida.

LLL&S focuses on serious personal injury and wrongful death cases, having delivered significant verdicts and settlements for its clients. All firm attorneys are “AV” rated by Martindale-Hubbell for demonstrating the highest level of legal ability and ethics. Reflecting the respect of their peers in the legal, business and nonprofit communities, firm attorneys have been elected to serve in key leadership positions for The Florida Bar, Palm Beach County and Martin County Bar Associations, Palm Beach County Medical Society, Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, Florida Atlantic University Foundation, Autism Speaks, and the Jewish Federation of the Palm Beach County. Balancing job performance with a strong belief in community service — as inspired by founder Joseph Lesser — continues to serve as the firm’s key cornerstone value.

“Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith has been at the ground floor of Palm Beach County for nearly a century,” noted Florida Bar President Scott Hawkins, himself a West Palm Beach lawyer with the venerable firm of Jones, Foster, Johnston & Stubbs, whose roots go back to 1924. “I first worked with Shepard Lesser in the late 1980’s when I was a young lawyer. He was exceedingly courteous and solution-oriented. Since that time, I have gotten to know Gary Lesser, who displays the same qualities and has become a very important leader in The Florida Bar. I wish the firm continued success.”

When asked what he thinks would make his grandfather proud, Gary Lesser noted three areas: “the firm’s unwavering commitment to excellence in client service, strictest adherence to the Florida Bar’s professionalism and ethics, and the broad, diverse community outreach and public service we impart to enhance the well-being of our community and beyond.”

“What I think my grandfather would be most proud of is the tremendous community ‘giveback’ mission of our firm that has been driven by the three-generation family/firm legacy of community involvement he inspired,” added Gary. Joseph was a regional President of and a volunteer for the Lion’s Club and was involved in the Salvation Army most of his life, at one point serving as regional General Counsel.  He was a founder and the first President of Temple Beth El, Palm Beach County’s first Conservative synagogue, and a founder and one of the first Presidents of the local B’nai B’rith chapter.  Joseph was recognized by a number of organizations for his community involvement and leadership, most notably receiving the 1978 Ben Gurion Award from the State of Israel Bonds, a coveted award given to those who perpetuate the vision of Israel's first prime minister for the future of the country. Elie Wiesel was presented the honor in 1975.

In the past 18 months, the boutique-size firm contributed more than $400,000 in donations and sponsorships to support vital charity and business missions of South Florida, including health, medical research, education, special needs, humanitarian/human rights, veterans, arts and culture, economic development, legal aid organizations, and other causes, and provided more than 2,500+ hours of pro bono legal services and community service. This year LLL&S has given a major gift to the athletics program of Florida Atlantic University that has been commemorated with a concession stand named for the firm in the new FAU Stadium. It has also dedicated a bench at the entrance to the new Palm Beach County Bar Association building.

Shepard Lesser added his father would also be pleased to know that in the past year his grandson Gary was peer-elected to The Florida Bar Board of Governors, and was recognized for the fifth time by Florida Trend Magazine as a Legal Elite and being inducted into its Florida Legal Elite Hall of Fame (only 56 Florida attorneys — out of 93,000+ — named Legal Elite for five years). Gary was born (1967) and raised in West Palm Beach; graduated from Forest Hill High School; earned a B.A. in International Affairs, George Washington University, 1989 and earned J.D., University of Miami School of Law, 1992 (where he was a member of Bar & Gavel Society, and served as Associate Editor of the Yearbook of International Law and Editor-in-Chief of Res Ipsa Loquitur, the law school's newspaper).

For more information on LLL&S services and its offices in West Palm Beach, Stuart and Boca Raton, call (561) 655-2028 or visit the Firm’s website at www.lesserlawfirm.com.

From left (partner today): Mickey Smith, Gary Lesser, Shepard Lesser, Joe Landy

From left: Firm Founder Joseph Lesser and Shepard Lesser

A Young Joseph Lesser-Firm Founder

Three generations of Lesser men: From left: Gary Lesser, Joseph Lesser, Shepard Lesser

 Firm Founder Joseph Lesser working at his desk

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Inaugural “Off The Green” Downtown Boca Golf Cart Parade To Launch Destination Celebration March 17th

Downtown Boca invites families, area neighborhoods, country clubs and golf courses, schools and universities, community organizations, nonprofits and visitors to “rev up” their St. Patrick’s Day celebration on Saturday, March 17th by  lining the streets for its First Annual “Off The Green” Downtown Boca Golf Cart Parade presented by Delray Hyundai-Delray Acura and held in conjunction with Festival of the Arts BOCA St. Patrick Day Extravaganza. Including several solar-powered carts featured by Shamrock GREEN Sponsor: the PGA Tour’s Allianz Championship, the free, family-friendly, open-to-the-public parade will begin at 12 Noon at Mizner Park Amphitheater (590 Plaza Real).

To showcase Downtown Boca’s great shopping, dining, cultural, entertainment and lifestyle offerings, the golf cart parade route will take the decorated carts all throughout Downtown Boca– through Mizner Park, across the pedestrian promenade and Sanborn Square, down Palmetto Park Road and around Royal Palm Place, with carts returning to Mizner Park Amphitheater for judging. Spectators can watch the festivities from Sanborn Square or from the official “watch spots” at Irish pubs and eateries in Downtown Boca, including Black Rose Irish Pub, Dubliner, Flanigan’s, Holloway’s, O’Brian’s, and Wishing Well.

Organizations participating in the parade include Allianz Championship, Biergarten, Boca Raton Bridge Hotel, Boca Raton Travel, Broken Sound Club, Downtown Advisory Committee, Florida Atlantic University, GGP, Juicy Results, Palm Breeze Charters, Salon Monaco, Siemon & Larsen, Sol Children Theatre Troupe, The Spaniard Tapas Bar, and Tucci’s Pizza. A cash prize and “Irish Gift Basket” will be awarded at the conclusion of the parade at the Mizner Park Amphitheater clock tower to the most creatively decorated golf cart, as judged by representatives from local Irish establishments.

“We are proud to be the presenting sponsor of this inaugural event in Downtown Boca and are looking forward to all of the day’s festivities,” said Jim O’Neil, president of Delray Hyundai-Delray Acrua. “We are excited about an entire week of world class entertainment with the Festival of the Arts BOCA, and the culmination being this new parade and the Irish extravaganza in Downtown Boca.  It’s going to be great fun for the community.”

With emphasis on making it an even GREENER St. Patrick’s Day, Allianz Championship tournament director Ryan Dillon notes that “the parade gives us yet another opportunity to advocate for the on-going ambitious GREEN goals we put into swing at our 2012 tournament to achieve a smaller carbon footprint, set precedent for zero waste at other large spectator events and directly benefit and support the ‘greening’ initiatives of the City of Boca Raton, our tournament host for the past six years.”

More Celebration Follows Parade

At 1:30 p.m., free festivities courtesy of Mizner Park, The Dubliner and coordinating sponsor Festival of the Arts Boca will feature children’s activities and bagpipes. The Festival of the Arts BOCA St. Patrick’s Day Extravaganza at the Mizner Park Amphitheater begins at 3:00 p.m. with performances by the Drake Irish Dancers, fiddler James Kelly. Founded by Karl Drake, the Drake School of Irish Dance is one of the strongest schools of Irish Dance in the southeast, producing many regional and national champions as well as World Medal holders. Beginning at 6 p.m., the Festival of the Arts will present a free live concert by Celtic band Seven Nations.

Premier seating is available: $20 for adults and $10 for children over 12 years old.  Limited free general “on-the-lawn” admission is available for those who bring their own chairs or blankets.

“It’s wonderful to see the downtown community coming together to celebrate and start a new tradition in the City,” said Festival of the Arts Chairman Charles Siemon.  “We are very thankful to festival sponsors General Growth Properties, Delray Hyundai Delray Acura and the Dubliner for providing us with the opportunity to bring great talent to the party.”

City of Boca Raton Downtown Manager Ruby Childers agrees. “It is collaborations, business engagement, and sponsor support like this that make Downtown Boca a stronger, more vibrant destination where visitors and residents can come early, stay late …knowing something for everyone awaits.”

For more event information, visit www.downtownboca.org, www.festivaloftheartsboca.org, or www.mizneramphitheater.com.