REAL ESTATE ATTY RON SHAPO JOINS THE FIRM

REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY JOINS RUDEN McCLOSKY

(FORT LAUDERDALE, FL May 13, 2004) -- The law firm of Ruden, McClosky, Smith, Schuster & Russell, P.A. is pleased to announce that Ronald Shapo has joined the Firm as Of Counsel in the Real Estate Practice Group. He will be resident in the Sarasota and Miami offices of Ruden McClosky.

Ron Shapo earned his undergraduate degree, (B.A., cum laude, 1962) from the University of Miami, and received his law degree, (J.D.,cum laude,1966) from the University of Miami Law School. Formerly a partner and member of the Executive Committee of Broad & Cassel, Mr. Shapo concentrates his professional practice in the areas of real estate/land use, including permitting and environmental matters, as well as governmental/administrative and regulatory matters; complex civil litigation, corporate transactions, banking and finance issues; solid waste and energy co-generation; construction and telecommunications.

His real estate services encompass a broad range of projects including single-family and condominium developments to office parks and golf communities. He has effected hundreds of millions of dollars in acquisitions, sales and financings ranging from apartments to hotels to large unimproved tracts. He counsels local international construction companies

--more--

concerning projects with a value of over $1 billion, and represents contractors in contract disputes and construction defect matters.

His practice includes complex commercial litigation ranging from contract, real estate and probate disputes to accounting malpractice, government procurement and corporate issues.

He handles local and regional zoning and environmental and land planning issues, such as dredge and fill, wetlands, landfill claims and air quality issues before the U.S. Corps of Engineers, E.P.A., and the Florida Departments of Community Affairs and Environmental Protection. His

extensive governmental and administrative experience includes approximately $1 billion in contracts varying from telecom and professional services to debris disposal and retail procurements. He has provided counsel for many private/public projects and proposals.

Mr. Shapo served as Chairman of the Insurance Commissioner's Statewide Task Force on Security for Public Deposits, and as a member of the Expert Panel serving the State of Florida's Information Technology Task Force. In Sarasota, he serves as a member of the Process Team for SCOPE's Redevelopment and Infill Study Group, and is a member of Tiger Bay and The Civic League. He served as Chairman of the Financial Institutions Task Force Sub-committee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, as a member of the Legislative Committee of the South Florida Builders Association and as a member of the Blue Ribbon Selection Committee for the South Point Redevelopment Area of Miami Beach and of the City of Miami's Zoning Review Committee.

Mr. Shapo has authored articles on subjects ranging from securities regulations to real property. He has also served as co-author of the Creditors' Rights Section of the official Florida Bar book on that topic.

Ruden McClosky is a full-service law firm with offices throughout Florida including Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Naples, Orlando, Port St. Lucie, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Tallahassee, Tampa and West Palm Beach and one office in Caracas, Venezuela.