In the Headlines
February 1, 2011

Politics Aside

Florida Trend
Public Policy & Regulation Partner Jim Davis and former Governor Bob Martinez, senior policy advisor in the Public Companies and Securities Group, were featured in a Florida Trend article titled "Politics Aside." Litigation Partner Brad Kimbro was also quoted in the article.

The article reports that on the 39th floor of Tampa's tallest skyscraper, Mr. Martinez, a Republican and former Florida governor, and Mr. Davis, a Democrat and former Florida state representative, work in adjacent offices. When Mr. Martinez and Mr. Davis joined Holland & Knight and were assigned offices next door to each other, they didn't expect that their work relationship would develop into a personal friendship. Now, they consult and collaborate over coffee and have fun talking politics – minus any partisan bickering. "We don't miss an opportunity to pick each other's brains," Mr. Davis said.

Having two big names from each party working side by side helps balance the firm's political footprint, according to Mr. Kimbro, who is executive partner of the Tampa office. "Business-wise, with all of the changes on the political landscape happening so quickly, it makes an awful lot of sense for us to have both Democrats and Republicans involved to help our clients," he said.

Mr. Martinez and Mr. Davis both worked to attract the Republican National Convention to Tampa in 2012, which the article reports likely contributed to Holland & Knight winning its bid to represent the 2010 Tampa Bay Host Committee.

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