CORAL GABLES, FL – September 29, 2026 – Podhurst Orseck, a leading national boutique trial and appellate law firm, is continuing a period of highly selective growth with the addition of two new attorneys, Ava M. Gruener and Jon Concepción. The additions follow the recent arrival of Jacob H. Koffsky and represent a notable expansion for a firm that has intentionally maintained a boutique size for nearly 60 years.
With an associate and partner head count under 20, Podhurst Orseck has historically been highly selective in its hiring, adding attorneys only when they bring the experience, judgment and shared commitment to excellence essential to its unique culture. The firm’s latest additions reflect that approach, bringing together attorneys with experience in high-stakes litigation, class actions and complex commercial disputes.
“We have been roughly the same size for more than 40 years, and we intend to remain a boutique litigation firm,” said Steven Marks, Managing Partner of Podhurst Orseck. “Ava brings a strong foundation in complex litigation, a commitment to advocacy and a breadth of experience that will serve our clients well across a range of matters. She is exactly the kind of thoughtful, talented lawyer we look for when adding to our team, and we are very pleased to welcome her to the firm.”
Gruener joins Podhurst Orseck as an associate, where she will represent plaintiffs in litigation involving personal injury, wrongful death, aviation, and products liability. She brings experience handling matters in state and federal court, including contract, employment and antitrust disputes, as well as a strong background in advocacy and public service.
Prior to joining Podhurst Orseck, Gruener was an associate at Sidley Austin LLP in Miami, where she worked on a range of matters, including contract disputes, antitrust litigation and employment. She previously served as a summer associate at the firm and as a summer associate and 1L Diversity Fellow at White & Case LLP.
Gruener earned her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, a Master of Science in Education and Social Change from the University of Miami, and a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, in History and Spanish, with a minor in Latino Studies, from the University of Notre Dame. She is fluent in Spanish and is admitted to practice in Florida, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
Concepción joins Podhurst Orseck as an associate focused on complex commercial litigation and class actions. He brings significant federal litigation experience, including two judicial clerkships and experience handling criminal white-collar and civil regulatory matters at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.
“Jon brings an exceptional combination of sophisticated litigation experience, outstanding legal training, and a deep understanding of the federal courts,” said Peter Prieto, Head of Class Action and Complex Commercial Litigation. “His experience and perspective will further strengthen our ability to handle the most complex matters on behalf of our clients. We are very pleased to welcome him to the firm.”
Concepción served as a law clerk to the Honorable Adalberto Jordán of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the Honorable Nelson S. Román of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Concepción began his legal career in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, where he served as a paralegal specialist and was a member of the Terrorism & International Narcotics Unit. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago Law School and his Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Connecticut. He is admitted to practice in New York and is fluent in English and conversational in Spanish.
The addition of Gruener and Concepción follows the recent arrival of Jacob Koffsky, who joined the firm as an associate focused on class action and complex commercial litigation. Koffsky came to Podhurst Orseck from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, where he served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal Division and handled numerous federal prosecutions and eight jury trials.
At Podhurst Orseck, attorneys at every level have a voice in the firm, including in hiring decisions, and the firm places a premium on maintaining close, collegial relationships among its lawyers and staff.
“Clients don’t hire law firms, they hire lawyers,” Marks added. “Our goal has never been to build the biggest firm. It is to have some of the very best names in trial and appellate litigation working together in an environment where everyone has a seat at the table. That is what makes Podhurst Orseck different, and it is why we are so deliberate about who we bring into the firm.”
About Podhurst Orseck, P.A.
Founded in 1967 by Aaron Podhurst and Robert Orseck, Podhurst Orseck began as a focused litigation and appellate practice in Miami, Florida. Over time, the law firm became a global force in tort litigation, known primarily for its groundbreaking work in aviation law, complex commercial disputes, class actions, and catastrophic personal injury cases. What sets Podhurst Orseck apart is its deliberate decision to remain a boutique firm with an elite, collaborative team. Nearly 60 years after its inception, the firm continues to set the standard for courtroom excellence and client-focused advocacy.
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