Miami, Fla. – Carlton Fields is pleased to announce that Miami Shareholder Merrick L. “Rick” Gross has been appointed as Co-Director of the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Litigation’s Division of Public Services.

The mission of the Division of Public Services is to apply the knowledge and experience of the legal profession to the promotion of the public good and to lend focus, voice and visibility to the Section of Litigation’s role in this area.

Historically, the ABA Section of Litigation has helped apply the legal profession’s knowledge and experience to promote the public good. The Division for Public Services provides staff support and expertise for programs and activities that lend focus, voice and visibility to the Association’s public service role.

Nine membership groups/committees carry out the work of this Division. Through these programs, the Section of Litigation studies important legal and policy issues affecting society and formulates remedial responses ranging from policy positions to demonstration projects, model legislation, technical assistance, videos, clearinghouses, public education initiatives, working conferences and publications. These activities are advanced with an annual budget deriving from membership dues along with gifts and grants to the ABA’s Fund for Justice and Education. Division members include distinguished legal scholars, judges, lawyers in the public interest community, private firm practitioners, corporate and government analysts, health professionals, scientists and economists.

Gross has more than 23 years of legal experience serving a variety of business clients. He has a multifaceted commercial litigation practice including aspects of banking litigation, real estate, creditors’ rights, securities matters, and business torts, and has litigated cases involving such claims in Federal and State courts in Florida and throughout the United States. He has also handled commercial loan workouts and foreclosures involving all types of real property including raw land, retail, office, multi-family and condominiums in Florida as well as other parts of the United States. Gross received his J.D. from Boston University School of Law and his B.A., summa cum laude, from Emory University.