Law firm names three new Sarasota partners, one in Tampa

The law firm Shumaker has promoted six lawyers across four offices to partner roles.

The new partners include three from Sarasota and one in Tampa. They are: 

David Heedy, Sarasota

David Heedy is a partner in the firm’s Corporate, Tax and Transactions and Wealth Strategies Service Lines. Heedy represents both companies and individuals in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, entity selection and formation, corporate governance matters, tax planning, business succession planning and transitions, according to a statement, He also assists a wide range of clients, both high net-worth and lower net-worth, in general estate planning.

Andrew Oppenheim, Tampa

As a member of the firm's Litigation and Disputes Service Line, Andrew Oppenheim practices in the areas of commercial and business litigation and construction law. He regularly advises and represents clients in the manufacturing, construction, building materials, property development and professional services industries, the release states.

Brandon Taaffe, Sarasota

Brandon Taaffe is a member of Shumaker’s Litigation and Disputes Service Line, where he focuses his practice on broker-dealer litigation and arbitration, the firm says. He defends regulatory investigations in the financial industry before state regulators, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Taaffe has successfully obtained more than 20 expungements for financial advisors’ records in wrongful customer complaints. Taaffe’s father, Michael Taaffe, is the Sarasota-based chair of Shumaker’s Financial Services Business Sector, and a well-known attorney in the field nationwide. (Brandon Taaffe’s brother Travis Taaffe is also an attorney with Shunaker; Travis Taaffe is an associate in the litigation and disputes services line, and based in Sarasota.)

Charles Wood Jr., Sarasota

Charles Wood Jr. represents large financial institutions and high net-worth individuals in securities litigation, regulatory investigations, and violations of contractual covenants. He regularly counsels financial advisors through FINRA and other regulatory investigations, the firm states. He also focuses on employment law, restrictive covenants, trade secrets and commercial litigation.

“The elevation of these new partners is well deserved,” says Jennifer Compton, Chair of Shumaker’s Management Committee, in the release. “Their significant contributions resonate not only with the firm, but also with the clients they serve, and their dedication has set them apart.”