October 20, 2005 - (Boca Raton, FL) - Proskauer Rose LLP, an international law firm with over 700 lawyers in the U.S. and Europe, announced that David Pratt has been named a partner in the firm's Boca Raton office. The founder and head of Pratt & Bucher LLP, a renowned Boca Raton estate and tax planning firm, Mr. Pratt joins Proskauer's Personal Planning Department and will focus his practice on estate, trust and tax planning

"David has an impeccable reputation as a leading estate and tax planning attorney and makes an excellent strategic addition to the firm," said Proskauer Chairman Allen I. Fagin. "The skill and wealth of knowledge possessed by him and his team will allow Proskauer to continue to strengthen its presence in Boca Raton and the surrounding area."

Added Albert Gortz, head of Proskauer's Boca Raton office: "David has been a significant presence in the local legal and civic community for many years and is a respected peer. His roots in Palm Beach County are deep and we look forward to integrating his practice to form one of the largest personal planning practices in the area."

"The opportunity to join a firm with the resources and global reach of Proskauer was a one-of-a-kind opportunity that will provide my clients with access to a full range of legal services in multiple practice areas," said Mr. Pratt. "I look forward to helping to continue the robust growth of the firm's practice in Boca Raton and its national estate and tax planning practice."

Mr. Pratt is Florida Board Certified in both Taxation and Wills and Trusts and Estates and is AV Rated. He serves as chair of the American Bar Association's Fiduciary Income Tax Committee, is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, and is chair of the Professional Advisory Committee of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County. In addition, he has held numerous leadership positions with the Tax Section of the Florida Bar and is a past President of both the Palm Beach and Boca Raton Tax Institutes. Mr. Pratt has served on numerous committees and sections of the Florida Bar and American Bar Association and has served with a number of prominent community groups in Palm Beach County. A prolific writer, Mr. Pratt has written numerous articles for legal and finance journals throughout his career and is a frequent lecturer at various national and local tax and estate planning conferences such as the New York University Tax Institute and the Notre Dame Tax and Estate Planning Institute. He is a 1991 graduate of Brooklyn Law School and holds a Masters of Law degree in Taxation from New York University Law School. 

Coming to Proskauer with Mr. Pratt is Elaine Bucher, who is joining as senior counsel, two additional attorneys and several legal and staff assistants. Ms. Bucher is a Florida Board Certified Wills, Trusts and Estates attorney and is AV Rated. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School. 

Proskauer's Boca Raton office brings clients the in-depth resources of an international law firm combined with the Florida market experience and efficiencies of a locally-based firm. While personal planning is a key focus and significant component of its work, Proskauer's Boca Raton office and its over 25 attorneys work in a range of practices - personal planning, corporate and securities, labor & employment, litigation, aviation, healthcare, real estate, employee benefits and executive compensation - that are integrated into the firm's national and international practices.