The law firm of Ossi, Butler, Najem & Rosario is located on the Southbank. It was formed in the early 1990s.
HOW MANY ATTORNEYS ARE IN THE FIRM?
The practice is operated by the four partners: founders Michael Ossi and Howard Butler, and partners Lawrence Najem and Mariano Rosario. “Over the years, it has ranged between four and six attorneys,” said Butler.
WHEN DID YOU ADD NAJEM AND ROSARIO TO THE NAME?
“After they had been with us for a number of years and established themselves professionally,” said Butler. “Mariano has been with us 10 years and Lawrence has been here nine years.”
WHERE DID THEY GO
TO SCHOOL?
Najem attended Stetson College of Law and Rosario graduated from Albany Law School in New York.
WHY FORM THE PARTNERSHIP?
“Mike and I were roommates in law school at Stetson University,” said Butler. “I was with an Orlando firm — Meyers, Mooney, Butler, Schott and Meyers — for about six years. I began doing a lot of business in Jacksonville, primarily with Mike Ossi and his firm. That blossomed into he and I starting our own firm.”
WHERE ELSE HAVE YOU WORKED?
“I was, out of law school, working in the Blackstone Building at Penland, Penland, Pafford and Jones before going to Orlando,” said Butler. “After college, Mike went to work for Searcy and Facciolo. Lawrence started at the Howell, Liles & Milton law firm, a large defense firm that split up. He later worked with W.C. Gentry before eventually coming to practice with us. Mariano was active in the legislature and politics before coming to work with us as a young associate.”
WHY DID HE LEAVE THE
POLITICAL CIRCLE?
“Poverty,” said Rosario. “When I worked at Capitol Hill I was sleeping on a friend’s floor. I was doing telephone solicitation political surveys. I knew that was a dead end. My congressman was a Democrat in a Republican district. The likelihood of him being there 20 or 30 years was not good. My parents lived here and were kind enough to let me come back. By way of a mutual friend, Charles Mussallem [of Mussallem Oriental Rugs], who introduced me to Ossi.”
DO YOU HAVE ANY INTEREST IN GOING BACK INTO POLITICS?
“Yes and no,” said Rosario. “I spent a number of years in Washington, D.C. I came out of West Point then got my master’s degree. Before, I had always worked in the public sector. I understand the nature of money. Politics is really driven by money and special interests. Here in Florida, it would be very difficult to crack that cycle. I’m very dubious about going back into it but I do have a very strong kinship with politics.”
WHAT IS THE SPECIALTY
OF THE FIRM?
Personal injury, product liability, workers compensation and entertainment law.
HOW INVOLVED IS THE FIRM IN ENTERTAINMENT LAW?
“We have devoted resources and manpower, especially in the television and movie segments, to cover issues from pre- to post-production and everything in between,” said Butler. “Jacksonville is an up-and-coming market for that industry. Historically, the city occupied an important role. Jacksonville was the Hollywood of the silent movie era and, after a long hiatus, appears to be attracting that kind of industry again.”
HOW DID YOU GET INTO
THIS FIELD?
“It all started when John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson wanted to play golf at Pablo Creek Country Club, where I’m a member,” said Ossi. “Because I was a member, they called me. It was chance. Todd Roobin [of the City’s film and television office] made the introduction and I worked my way in. I met the producer of ‘Basic’ [a film that was shot locally]. From there I met a lot of different executives. It’s a different business. There are a number of complicated twists and political maneuvers. But if it’s handled properly, you can save the production house tons of money. I’m not allowed to say who I represent. They require complete trust and total confidentiality. This is something new; mostly I handle automobile accidents. Rosario handles any personal or legal issues on the set.”
WHAT’S THE LONG TERM
GOAL OF THE FIRM?
“To continue to deliver a high level of service in our chosen fields of practice in accordance with equally high ethical standards,” said Butler.
WHY SELECT THESE AREAS?
“Speaking for myself, my father was killed in a car accident,” said Butler. “My sister and I were raised by my mother. My father had enough foresight to have adequate insurance. That’s what allowed us to go to school and become productive members of society. At that time, lawyers were held in high esteem. Our family’s lawyer, who was also a friend of my father, was somewhat of an inspiration. I remember as a young child growing up in Panama City, an attorney that had achieved notoriety came in to speak to our class. He handled Gideon v. Wainwright, which established the right to counsel. It was a landmark decision in criminal law. That’s when I thought law was a noble profession and set my sights on becoming an attorney.”
WHY DID YOU LEAVE THE PANHANDLE?
“This is the part of the state I like,” said Butler. “Plus, my business interests have flourished here.”
WHERE ARE THE OTHER
PARTNERS FROM?
Cousins Ossi and Najem were born in Jacksonville. Rosario grew up on Long Island, N.Y.
WILL YOU ADD ANY
MORE PARTNERS?
“We will consider expansion as necessary, but the general fields we are in are not ones where adding numbers for the sake of adding numbers is important,” said Butler. “However, we’re very busy and always on the lookout for new talent.”
WHAT’S MOST REWARDING
FOR YOU?
“The ability to help people and make a real difference in their lives,” said Butler. “We get our share of success stories. We’ve had heartwarming cases where clients emerge from tragic or near-tragic circumstances to go on to lead productive lives.”
WHAT’S MOST CHALLENGING?
“These days, the challenges are many, including negative perceptions of attorneys in certain circles stemming from a few bad apples,” said Butler. “We spend a lot of time building relationships to separate ourselves from the perceived pack. The legislative environment is always a challenge, too, because it seems there’s always a movement to limit rights and responsibilities between working families and big business. It’s an expensive environment.”
— by Monica Chamness