The law firm of Camerlengo & Brockwell is a trial practice located in Park Pointe under the umbrella of Intrepid Law Group. The other subsidiary is a corporate and real estate practice, Driver, Johnson & McAfee.
MEET THE FIRM
Partners Joseph Camerlengo, Heath Brockwell and associate Gregg Anderson are the practicing attorneys. They employ two paralegal/secretaries, two law clerks and an office manager.
WHAT TYPE OF LAW DO THEY PRACTICE?
Personal injury, wrongful death, general civil litigation, insurance disputes, longshore and maritime claims, workers compensation claims and sports entertainment law.
WHY FOCUS ON
THESE AREAS?
“That’s our background,” said Brockwell. “Joe and I started practicing together right out of law school at Taylor, Day. They’re an insurance defense firm doing litigation on the defense side, so that was our training. Then Joe went out on his own.”
WHY SPLIT THE FIRM?
“Essentially, we brought in two named shareholders, Heath Brockwell and Matt McAfee,” said Camerlengo. “We formed Intrepid Group. Intrepid owns Camerlengo & Brockwell plus Driver, Johnson & McAfee. We each equally own Intrepid Law Group. We did this, number one, to separate the profit centers. Rarely do you see a boutique corporate real estate practice under the same ownership as a litigation practice. A litigation practice operates much differently than a corporate real estate practice. We have a lot more advanced costs than they have. They have a lot more hourly work. So it’s easier to keep track of the profit centers if they’re separate.”
The new company structure went into effect April 1.
WILL THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE RESULT IN A MOVE?
“We’re looking at building a building where we’ll all be together again,” said Camerlengo. “We’re hoping to build in the LaVilla area near the new courthouse, but the deal hasn’t been finalized.”
“Our goal within the next year is to reconsolidate space with the other limited partnerships for everyone to be under the same roof,” added Brockwell. “We wanted to all be partners and this was the best way to work it.”
WHO DOES WHAT?
“My practice is 100 percent personal injury, representing plaintiffs from the whole spectrum of society,” said Brockwell. “Corporate clients are typically business people, companies. Joe does primarily personal injury, but he also has professionals that he represents in litigation and a little bit of construction litigation. Gregg specializes in longshore and workers compensation claims.”
“Add to that that I am an NFL sports agent,” said Camerlengo.
HOW DID HE GET INTO SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT LAW?
“I started two and a half years ago,” said Camerlengo. “I became a licensed sports agent in the state of Florida and a certified NFL agent, representing NFL players. We have six current clients playing professionally at some level, or who have played professionally, and three new clients for this year’s draft. We’re going to be branching out into other sports. I’m looking to add basketball and baseball as far as team sports. In the development phase is the addition of individual representation of golf and tennis players. We do marketing deals and negotiations for our athletes. For the individuals, it’s more marketing and endorsement contracts.”
WILL THEY ADD MORE PARTNERS SOON?
“We just expanded to five,” said Camerlengo. “I don’t expect to add any more in the near future, but we’re open to increasing the services we perform. Our goal is to be able to provide ‘A’ tier work in whatever practice we’re doing but we’re not just going to add someone to pick up another service area. That decision would be based on sound business principles.”
THEIR LEGAL BACKGROUNDS?
“I left doing defense work at Taylor, Day & Currie to go to Harris, Guidi, Rosner & Mordecai where I received training in plaintiff side personal injury,” said Brockwell. “Then I had the opportunity to work out at the beach at Anderson & Howell doing the same thing. Joe recruited me after that.”
“I did insurance defense for five years at Taylor, Day,” said Camerlengo. “I was at Anderson & Howell doing plaintiff work then went back to Taylor, Day & Currie in 1999 until I started my own firm.”
“I replaced Joe at Anderson when he left,” said Brockwell.
WHAT ABOUT THEIR ASSOCIATE?
“Gregg clerked with me through the transition of the law firm in 2001,” said Camerlengo. “He finished Florida Coastal School of Law in May and we offered him a job. We’ve put together a group of up and comers in their respective fields — the best of the next generation of top lawyers.”
THEIR EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUNDS?
Camerlengo is a graduate from the University of Florida. Brockwell attended the University of Virginia and Cumberland Law School at Sanford University in Birmingham. His undergraduate studies were in Spanish and international relations.
“I actually toyed with the idea of foreign service but I decided the smart thing to do was continue with law school,” said Brockwell.
WHY LAW SCHOOL?
“I’ve always liked to argue,” said Camerlengo. “It’s the Italian in me. People always told me this was something I should do. There’s no greater rush than trying a case to a jury and winning.”
WHAT’S MOST REWARDING?
“Being part of the civil justice system,” said Camerlengo. “I don’t see how our partners sit at their desks all day and draft contracts. With personal injury, there is a lot of interaction with people.”
“Having the ability to truly be an advocate, to take a case before a jury and have them decide,” added Brockwell on why he enjoys his profession. “Many areas of law never involve even going to the courthouse. We want to try cases. A lot of personal injury firms are not interested in trying cases. We’re litigators, so that’s what we do.”
“We’ve already tried two cases this [calendar] year,” said Camerlengo.
IS THAT A LOT?
“In these days of mediation and settlement, two cases by mid-March is a good pace for a trial law firm,” said Camerlengo. “A lot of firms would rather settle than try a case. We want to be known as trial lawyers.”
— by Monica Chamness