BigLaw Associate in Political Race Pressured to Quit Firm Over BP Ties

MIAMI - Another Akerman Senterfitt attorney running for state office finds himself tarred by the law firm’s BP connection.

Dr. Jeffrey Solomon, a Democratic contender for a state House seat, is calling for his opponent, Akerman lawyer-lobbyist Jose “Pepi” Diaz, to resign.

Solomon, a chiropractor, contends Diaz, should resign like Dan Gelber, a former Akerman attorney running for Florida attorney general.

Read the letter.

Diaz, 30, is one of two Republicans running for the District 115 seat to represent suburban Miami voters from Westchester to Cutler Ridge.

BP retained the 500-attorney Akerman in May to defend it in Florida against lawsuits filed in response to the gulf oil spill.

“You can’t serve two masters, and it’s clear as day you’re either with Florida or BP,” Solomon said. “It’s Conflict 101. It’s just outrageous that a professional lobbyist can be paid to defend BP on a Tuesday and be able to cast votes which directly affect them on Wednesday.”

The fact that Diaz is an associate at the firm could potentially prevent him from casting votes related to oil ventures and oil drilling, Solomon claims.

Diaz said he has nothing to do with BP’s legal work and has no intention of resigning.

“I’m a 30-year-old young attorney with a newborn child and he’s asking me to resign from my law firm based on something that is peripheral that I have nothing to do with,” Diaz said. “It’s politics as usual.”

He insists voters don’t care that he works for BP’s law firm, saying, “when I knock on doors, people ask about job creation, access to health care, government waste and corruption and improving our education system ...