FORT LAUDERDALE - Becker & Poliakoff has announced the appointment of a former Republican state senator to its law firm.
Ellyn Bogdanoff joins Becker & Poliakoff as part of its government law and lobbying group and also will be a shareholder with the firm.
“I think I bring a lot to the table and they bring a lot to the table for me," Bogdanoff told the Florida Record. “It’s a good marriage and I’m excited about it.”
Bogdanoff will be based out of the firm’s Fort Lauderdale, Tallahassee and West Palm Beach offices. She will be focusing heavily on the Palm Beach market, as well as serving the clients she has amassed over the years.
“My major focus will be to continue servicing my existing clients and growing the local practice in Palm Beach County in particular,” Bogdanoff said. "That will be my main focus. I also have a number of clients in Tallahassee that I work with and will continue to do that, as well.”
Bogdanoff served as the senator for Broward County from 2010 to 2012. She was the only Republican serving in that Democratic-dominated Florida county. Bogdanoff also served in the Florida House from 2004 to 2010 and served as majority whip under House Speaker Marco Rubio. She also held the positions of chair of both the House and Senate finance and tax committees, chair of the joint administrative procedures committee and chair of the criminal and civil justice appropriations committee.
After leaving the Senate in 2012, Bogdanoff created a consulting firm emphasizing strategic planning, government consulting and advocacy. She will continue to service these clients while she is at Becker & Poliakoff.
With her addition to Becker & Poliakoff, Bogdanoff fills a void in the firm's lobbying group in Palm Beach that was vacated by Neil Schiller.
“They have a void right now in Palm Beach County,” Bogdanoff said. “I represented Palm Beach County for many years. I grew up there. I’ll be able to hopefully grow the practice there. I was born and raised in South Florida, so I’m an addition to the overall team that they have there. They have a great team and synergy that I think allows all of us to kind of grow the practice better.”
Bogdanoff has a reputation as a go-getter who never gives up, which she believes will be an asset for Becker & Poliakoff.
“I’m pretty tenacious,” she said. “I think that was my reputation. I’ve worked on a lot of complex issues. I’ve had the opportunity to build a lot of good business relationships in Palm Beach County over the years, so any client I represent is going to know that they’re going to have someone who's going to be working very hard. I’ve been known to strap a helmet on and hit the wall. I don’t give up.”
Becker & Poliakoff has 18 offices located across the U.S. that are staffed by more than 150 attorneys. The firm was established in 1973.