Tallahassee, Fla. – LAWFUEL – Press Release Service – Foley & Lardner LLP announced today that Florida Solicitor General Christopher Kise will join the firm as chair of its national Appellate Practice and as a member of the Litigation Department and White Collar Practice. The addition of Kise, who will be based out of the firm’s Tallahassee and Tampa offices, is the latest step in Foley’s strategic plan to recruit high-level industry practitioners and expand the firm’s national litigation practice.
“Our appellate focus is a key element of the litigation process, and Chris’s experience arguing major cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Florida Supreme Court and numerous other state and federal courts will provide tremendous service to the firm’s clients across the country,” said Foley Litigation Department Chair Jon Wilson.
Kise, 41, joins Foley after serving more than three years as Florida’s Solicitor General, the state’s top litigator. He has twice argued before the United States Supreme Court and filed briefs in more than a dozen cases before the high court.
Kise also handled numerous cases before the Florida Supreme Court including successfully defending against constitutional challenges to Florida’s voting precinct requirements and Sexual Predator Registration Act and representation of Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist in the school voucher case.
At the trial level, Kise has led multiple major cases for the state which have resulted in significant favorable settlements. He also defended the recently enacted lobbyist gift ban and compensation disclosure law and Florida’s Parental Notification of Abortion Act, as well as directed Crist’s efforts against the state’s public utilities before the Public Service Commission, the results of which have saved consumers billions of dollars.
“I have been honored by the privilege of serving the people of Florida and working for the best boss in Florida, Attorney General Charlie Crist. While I will certainly miss public service, the time is right for me to return to the challenges and opportunities of private practice with Foley,” said Kise. “I am excited about the national platform Foley offers and the opportunity to take the firm’s Appellate Practice to the next level.”
“Chris is one of Florida’s most sought-after litigators, and we are pleased to have him join the Foley team,” said Tallahassee Managing Partner Thomas Maida. “His experience will add a new dimension to Foley’s ability to assist clients in developing a comprehensive approach to their litigation needs from trial through appeal.”
In addition to his active litigation role, Kise also held the Richard W. Ervin Eminent Scholar Chair at the Florida State University College of Law. As a visiting professor, Kise taught courses in appellate advocacy and white collar crime law. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami and is a Magna Cum Laude, Order of the Coif graduate of the Florida State University College of Law, where he served as Managing Editor and Articles Editor of the Law Review.
News of Kise joining the firm comes on the heels of the announcement that prominent Republican lobbyist Michael Harrell and former Department of Management Services Secretary Robert Hosay joined the firm’s Tallahassee office in early July.
Foley & Lardner LLP provides the full range of corporate legal counsel. Our attorneys understand today’s most complex business issues, including corporate governance, securities enforcement, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property counseling and litigation, outsourcing and information technology, labor and employment, and tax. The firm offers total solutions in the automotive, emerging technologies, energy, entertainment and media, financial services, food, golf and resort services, insurance, health care, life sciences, nanotechnology, and sports industries.
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Editor’s Note: Please contact Jocelyn Brumbaugh at 312.832.4506 or jbrumbaugh@foley.com for a photo of Chris Kise.
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