Accepts Credit Cards

(Main Office)

The law firm of Rutherford Mulhall, P.A. is one of the oldest in Boca Raton, Florida, tracing its origins to 1973 when its co-founder, Charles E. Rutherford, relocated to this area to continue his practice.

We are a multi-service law firm, specializing in many areas of the law while maintaining close co-counsel relationships. We are committed to providing the highest quality of legal services to our clients, with an emphasis on prompt service and individual attention.

Statement of Practice

Agricultural Law; Annuity Planning; Appellate Practice; Asset Protection; Banking Law; Bankruptcy; Business Law; Charitable Advisory/501 (c)(iii) Law; Civil Litigation; Commercial Finance; Commercial Litigation; Constitutional Law (State and Federal Court); Construction Law; Contracts; Corporate Finance; Corporate Law; Creditors Rights; Criminal Law, including White Collar Crimes; Debtor's Rights; Educational Rights Law; Elder Law; Estate Planning; Family Law; Federal Taxation, including IRS Practice and Procedures, as well as Complex Tax Litigation; Foreclosures; Guardianship; Insurance Fraud and Coverage; International Law; Labor and Employment; Landlord and Tenant Law; Local Taxation; Mechanics' Lien Law; Mediation Services; Medical Malpractice; Municipal and Administrative Law; Nursing Home Neglect/Abuse; Partnership/LLC/LLP Law; Personal Injury; Planned Giving; Probate; Probate, Guardianship and Estate Litigation; Real Estate; Real Estate Title Insurance; RICO Litigation; Securities Arbitration; State Taxation; Trusts and Estates; Qualified Retirement Planning; Wrongful Death.

Rate Information

Fixed Hourly Rates
Fixed Fees Available
Accepts Major Credit Cards

• Visa
• MasterCard
• American Express
• Discover

Address

Fountain Square I, Fourth Floor
2600 North Military Trail
Boca Raton, FL 33431-6348, (Palm Beach Co.)

Phone

Phone: 561-241-1600; 800-741-1600
Facsimile: 561-241-3815

Website

http://www.rmlawyer.com

Office Hours

Monday: 08:30 AM - 06:00 PM
Tuesday: 08:30 AM - 06:00 PM
Wednesday: 08:30 AM - 06:00 PM
Thursday: 08:30 AM - 06:00 PM
Friday: 08:30 AM - 06:00 PM

Firm/Affiliate Offices

Active in the legal community, Charlie is a member of the Palm Beach County, South Palm Beach County, North Palm Beach County and American Bar Associations, where he is a member of the Business Law Section, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, and the Law Practice Management Section. He is also a member of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section and Business Law Section of The Florida Bar. He is a Founding Director of the Gold Coast Chapter of the International Association of Financial Planners and is a member of the East Coast Estate Planning Council and the Boca Raton Estate Planning Council.

Civically and charitably oriented, Charlie has served as Chairman of the United Way, is a former member of the YMCA Board and Executive Committee and Campaign Head for the Boca Raton American Red Cross Chapter. He is currently a Board and Executive Committee Member of the Schmidt Family Centre for the Arts at Mizner Park, Inc., and its Festival of the Arts/Boca. After a long absence, Charlie rejoined the Florida Atlantic University Foundation Board last year. Charlie and his wife, Ann, have both long been active supporters of the Boca Raton Historical Society, and, along with two other couples, founded Boca Bacchanal, an international food and wine Festival which from its first year has been recognized as one of the best in the United States.

Rutherford Mulhall, P.A. from inception has committed financial and personal resources to many charities and organizations throughout Palm Beach County. Today those commitments touch over 60 organizations. A few of the many are the YMCA, Children's Place at Home Safe, Take Stock in Children, Florence Fuller Child Development Center, Friends of Abused Children, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Junior League of Boca Raton, George Snow Scholarship Fund, the American Cancer Society, the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, the Boca Raton Community Hospital Foundation, the Hispanic Human Resources Council, Spirit of Giving and the FAU Foundation.

Charlie and his wife Ann have resided in Boca Raton since 1973. They have two grown sons, Eric and David, and their daughter-in-law Kirsten, married to David. Charlie's leisure interests include golf, tennis, reading, cinema and the theatre. Member: Palm Beach County, South Palm Beach County, North Palm Beach County and American Bar Associations (Member, Business Law Section, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Law Practice Management Section). The Florida Bar (Member, Real Property; Probate and Trust Law Section; Business Law Section). Practice Areas: Estate Planning; Probate; Trusts and Estates; Guardianship; Real Estate; Corporate Law.Email: Charles E. Rutherford

Robert L. Wunker (Shareholder) born Cincinnati, Ohio, July 2, 1943; admitted to bar, 1974, Florida and U.S. District Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida including Trial Bar; 1981, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court; 1995, U.S. Court of International Trade; Federal Court of Appeals. Education: University of Cincinnati (B.A., cum laude, 1965; J.D., 1968). Author: "How the International Sale of Goods is Affected by the Convention for International Sale of Goods Differently than the UCC Affects Domestic Sales," International Law Quarterly, Winter 1996; "International Arbitration: Selecting Appropriate Means," International Law Quarterly, Summer 1995; "The Laws of Vietnam Affecting Foreign Investment," The International Lawyer, Summer 1994. Adjunct Professor, Nova Southeastern University. Member: Board of Advisers, Lawyers' Title Services Inc., Broward County, 1978-1984; Appointed by the Governor of Florida, Florida Foreclosure Study Commission, 1991. Member: South Palm Beach County and American (Member, Sections on: Business Law; Real Property; Trust and Estate Law) Bar Associations; The Florida Bar (Member, Sections on: Business Law; Real Property; Probate and Trust Law); Commercial Law League of America. Special Agencies: Member of the Finance Committee for St. Andrew Church; Member of the Archbishop's Charities Drive Committee. Practice Areas: Banking Law; Mortgage Banking Law; Commercial Litigation; Corporate Law; Real Estate; International Law.Email: Robert L. Wunker

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Caroline B. Ganin (Attorney) born Paris, France, July 6, 1971; admitted to bar, 1997, Florida. Education: Florida Atlantic University (B.A., 1994); Nova Southeastern University (J.D., 1997). Caroline B. Ganin was born in Paris, France, on July 6, 1971, and moved to Florida at the age of ten. She practices primarily in the areas of Family and Matrimonial Law. Her undergraduate education was at Florida Atlantic University, where she earned her B.A. in Economics in 1994. She graduated from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center (J.D., 1997), where she achieved the honor of finalist of the Clarence Darrow Trial Competition. While still in law school, Caroline was chosen to be a Certified Intern Prosecutor with the Broward State Attorney's Office, where she worked in misdemeanor, homicide and drug trafficking divisions. She was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1997. She tried both jury and non-jury trials when she was hired as Assistant State Attorney. As a prosecutor, she represented the State of Florida in Driving Under the Influence (D.U.I), stalking, assault and battery, and possession of unlawful substances cases. Caroline has since focused her practice in Family and Matrimonial Law where she has handled contested dissolution of marriage actions, appeals, modifications, contempt, paternity and domestic violence cases. She prepares and negotiates Antenuptial Agreements, Marital Settlement Agreements and Postnuptial Agreements. She has served as a Court Appointed Guardian Ad Litem, advocating the best interests of children to the Court. Caroline is a member of The Florida Bar (Member and Secretary of the Support Issues Committee, Family Law Section), the American Bar Association (Member, Family Law Section), the Florida Association of Women Lawyers (FAWL), South Palm Beach County Chapter, the Broward Bar Association (Member, Family Law Section), the South Palm Beach County Bar Association. Caroline had the honor of serving as Secretary of the Florida Bar's Support Committee and as Newsletter Editor of the South Palm Beach County Chapter of FAWL in 2008 and 2009. Named Florida Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2009. She is fluent in French and reads Hebrew. She resides in Boca Raton, Florida with her family. Member: Broward County (Member, Family Law Section), Palm Beach County, South Palm Beach County and American (Member, Family Law Section) Bar Associations; The Florida Bar (Member and Secretary of the Support Issues Committee, Family Law Section); Florida Association of Women Lawyers (FAWL) South Palm Beach County Chapter (Newsletter Editor, 2008, 2009); Alliance Française de Miami. Languages: French and Hebrew. Practice Areas: Family Law; Matrimonial Law.

Philip B. Harris (Senior Attorney) born West Palm Beach, Florida, July 16, 1968; admitted to bar, 1994, Florida; 2000, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida; 2001, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida. Education: Florida State University (B.A., 1990); St. Thomas University (J.D., 1994). Phi Delta Phi. Articles Editor, St. Thomas Law Review, 1994. Assistant Public Defender, 1997-1999. Assistant State Attorney, 1999-2000. Member: Palm Beach County Bar Association; The Florida Bar. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Bankruptcy; Real Estate; Bank Foreclosures.Email: Philip B. Harris

L. Diana Hileman (Attorney) born Louisville, Kentucky; admitted to bar, 1994, Florida. Education: University of Louisville (B.A., cum laude, 1989); Northern Kentucky University (J.D., 1992). Member, Craig S. Barnard American Inn of Court LIV. Member: Attorneys' Title Insurance Fund, Inc.; Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce; Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce; Rotary Club of Boca Raton. Board Member: Habitat for Humanity of South Palm Beach County. Board Member: South Palm Beach County FAWL, Inc. Member: South Palm Beach County Bar Association; The Florida Bar; Florida Association of Women Lawyers (South Palm Beach County Chapter). Practice Areas: Estate Planning; Probate; Guardianship; Real Estate.Email: L. Diana Hileman

Corinne B. Kahn (Senior Attorney) born New York, N.Y., May 22, 1953; admitted to bar, 1978, New Jersey and U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey; 1980, U.S. Tax Court; 1988, Florida. Education: New York University (B.A., 1974); Hofstra University (J.D., 1977); Rutgers University (M.B.A., 1978). Named Outstanding Woman of the Year, 1982. Listed, Who's Who Publications. Designations: California Lutheran University; Chartered Financial Consultant. Chair and Co-Author: "Planned Giving Council of Broward County Aid to Local Philanthropy Directory of Charities and Charitable Gifts in Conjunction with the Broward County Planned Giving Council," February, 1992; "Avoiding Adverse Income Tax Consequences of Life Insurance," Trusts and Estates Magazine, May 1990. Co-Author: "The Life Insurance Primer," American Bar Association; "Irrevocable Trusts and Life Insurance"; "The Charitable Retirement Benefit Plan"; "Charitable Gifts of Life Insurance"; "Insurance Planning Strategies Before and After Divorce," Leaders Magazine. Author: "Life Insurance: The Missing Piece of the Puzzle?" Prestigious Publication of the Real Property, November 1996. Member: The Florida Bar (Member, Sections on: Elder Law; Real Property Probate and Trust Law; Member, Certified Public Accountants Committee, Lawyers Relations); American Bar Association (Member: Sections on: Real Property; Trust and Estate Law; Past Vice Chair, Retirement and Old Age Planning Committee); Estate Planning Council of Broward County (Director, 1987-1989). Special Agencies: United Hearing and Deaf Services; International Association for Financial Planning (Secretary, 1986-1989; Distinguished Service Award, 1989-1990); the Planned Giving Council; the Society of Financial Service Professionals (Past President, Distinguished Service Award, 1990). Practice Areas: Estate Planning; Probate; Trusts and Estates; Guardianship.Email: Corinne B. Kahn

Jhan Thomas Lennon (Attorney) born Baltimore, Maryland, January 7, 1971; admitted to bar, 1998, Massachusetts; 2003, Florida; 2008, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida. Education: St. Lawrence University, New York (B.A., with honors); New England School of Law (J.D., 1997). Dean's List. Recipient: Writing Honorary; English Honor Society; Academic Scholarships, 1993. Named Florida Super Lawyer's Rising Star. Member: Palm Beach County (Member, Young Lawyers Section); Massachusetts State and American (Member, Sections on: Business Law; Intellectual Property Law; Young Lawyers Division) Bar Associations; The Florida Bar (Member, Business Law Section). Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Real Estate; Intellectual Property; Business Transactions.

Emilio R. Lenzi (Attorney) born Norristown, Pennsylvania; admitted to bar, 2003, Florida; 2004, New Jersey. Education: West Virginia University (B.S., 2000); University of Miami, School of Law (J.D., 2003). Member: The Florida Bar; New Jersey State Bar Association. Practice Areas: Banking Law; Mortgage Banking Law; Commercial Litigation; Real Estate.Email: Emilio R. Lenzi

Julia Luyster (Attorney) born Paterson, New Jersey; admitted to bar, 1994, Florida; 1995, U.S. District Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida; 2005, U.S. Supreme Court and U. S Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit 2009, District of Columbia. Education: Baylor University (J.D., 1993). Delta Phi. Member, Women's Honor Society. Recipient, Norman E. Whilten Award. Named to the Editorial Board of the Federal Bar Association, Broward County Chapter Publication; Chair of Diversity Committee South Palm Beach County Bar, Editorial Board of the Florida Bar Journal, Federal Legislative Task Force for the Forum ABA, Member of Assoc. of Builders and Contractors, Palm Beach County Construction Litigation CLE Committee. Published Works A Father's Right to Custody, book pending publication Summer 2009; "A Father's Right to Custody" article in The Broward County Federal Bar News, summer 2009; "Where We Are Now With Women and Minority Business Enterprise Programs," the ABA The Construction Lawyer, Spring 2009, co-author; "Spoliation of Evidence," The Constructor, Publication of the AGC, 2007; "Appellate Practice Standards of Review - Criminal," on behalf of the Appellate Practice Section, The Florida Bar Journal, May 2007; "Appellate Practice Standards of Review - Civil and Administrative," on behalf of the Appellate Practice Section, The Florida Bar Journal Special Appellate Practice Edition, April 2007; "Frye and Daubert Challenges," Trial Advocate Quarterly, Florida Defense Lawyers Association, Spring, 2007; "Drafting a Valid Joint Proposal for Settlement in Florida and Evaluating a Proposal Served Upon Vicariously Liable Defendants," Florida Bar Journal, January 2006; "When is a Joint Proposal for Settlement a Valid Proposal for Settlement: Apportionment, Avoiding Ambiguity in Release Language and the Barnes Dilemma," Trial Advocate Quarterly, Florida Defense Lawyers Association, Winter 2005. This article was cited by the Second District Court of Appeal in Hess v Walton, 898 So.2d 1046 (Fla. 2d DCA 2005); "Social Security Offset Against Permanent Total Disability Benefits 1980-Present," Trial Advocate Quarterly, Florida Defense Lawyers Association, Fall 1999; "Traversing the Landscape of Personal Injury Protection Coverage Exclusions," Trial Advocate Quarterly, Florida Defense Lawyers Association, Summer 1998; "Transition from Law Student to First Year Associate," Young Lawyer, ABA, May 1997; Seminars Lecturer Florida Lien Law, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, June 2009; Lecturer Landlord Tenant Laws, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, April 2009; Lecturer Construction Law Update, Construction Litigation Section PBC Bar, West Palm Beach, February 2009; Moderator, What To Do When Construction Projects Go Bad, Lorman Seminars, West Palm Beach, June 14, 2007; Lecturer, Spoliation of Evidence, Florida Liability Claims Conference, Orlando, May 2007; Lecturer on Discovery in Construction Litigation, Palm Beach County Bar, February 2007; Lecturer on Appellate Standards of Review, Lorman Appellate Practice Seminar, Tampa, November 2006; Lecturer on Frye and Daubert Challenges, 10th Annual Florida Liability Claims Conference in Orlando, June 2006. . Member: Lawyers Without Borders; District of Columbia, March 2009; Florida Bar 1994; United States Supreme Court 2005; U.S. District Court for the Southern Districts 1995; U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit 2005; South Palm Beach County Bar Diversity Committee Chair - 2009; American Bar Association Construction Forum, Division 10; American Bar Association Construction Forum, Federal Legislature Working Task Force; The Florida Bar, Appellate Practice Section; The Florida Bar, Appellate Practice Section Outreach Committee, 2005-2009; The Florida Bar, Appellate Practice Section Publications Committee, 2005-2006; The Florida Bar, Appellate Practice Section Legislation Committee, 2005-2006; The Florida Bar, Editorial Board Committee Member for Bar Journal and News, 2003-2009; Palm Beach County Bar Association; Palm Beach County Appellate Practice Committee, 2005-2007; Palm Beach County Bar Construction Litigation Section; Broward County Bar Association; Florida Defense Lawyers Association; ABC PAC Legislative Action Committee; Craig S. Barnard American Inn of Court, LIV (Master). Reported Cases: Benchmark III v. William and Lisa Kaye,502008CA008188XXXXMB, Fourth District Court of Appeal, Florida, August 5, 2009; BDI Construction Co. v. Hartford Fire Ins. Co., 995 So.2d 576 (Fla. 3rd DCA 2008); Kaye v. Macari Bldg. & Design, Inc., 967 So.2d 1112 (Fla. 4th DCA 2007); Pereda v. Parajon, 957 So.2d 1194 (Fla. 3d DCA 2007); Fred Stevens Tree Company v. Scott Harrison, AMS Staff Leasing, 944 So.2d 1109 (Fla. 1st DCA 2006); Fountain Jewelers v. Riemer Ins. Group, 939 So. 2d 110 (Fla. 4th DCA 2006); Echarte v. Summit Run Homeowners Assoc., 931 So. 2d 919 (Fla. 4th DCA 2006); Northern Insurance Co. v. Seitlin & Company, 919 So. 2d 534 (Fla. 3d DCA 2005); Chomat v. Northern Insurance Company, 919 So. 2d 535 (Fla. 3d DCA 2006); Progressive Express Ins. Co. v. Quality Medical Group Inc., 12 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 1020a (Fla. 11th Cir. 2005); Innovative Insurance Consultants, Inc. v. Pettineo Ins. Agency, Inc., 871 So. 2d 892 (Fla. 4th DCA 2004); See also citation in Hess v. Walton, 898 So. 2d 1046 (Fla. 2d DCA 2005). Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Construction Law.

Mark L. Nowak (Senior Attorney) born West Springfield, Massachusetts, September 8, 1959; admitted to bar, 1984, Massachusetts; 1985, U.S. Tax Court and U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts; 1986, Florida; 1991, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida and U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; 1997, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida. Education: Western New England College (B.S., magna cum laude, 1981; J.D., cum laude, 1984); New York University (LL.M., Taxation, 1985). Certified Public Accountant, Florida, 1986. Member: Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants; American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; YMCA of Boynton Beach (Board of Directors); Boca Raton Museum of Art (Advisory Board); Palm Beach County Business Development Board (Co-Chairman, IRB Task Force, Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners). Member: Palm Beach County (Member, Planned Giving Council), South Palm Beach County, Massachusetts State and American Bar Associations; The Florida Bar Association (Member Sections on: Real Property Probate and Trust Law; Tax Law); Greater Boca Raton Estate Planning Council; East Coast Estate Planning Council. Practice Areas: Taxation; Business Law; Corporate Law; Trusts and Estates; Real Estate.Email: Mark L. Nowak

David A. Riggs (Senior Attorney) born Auburn, New York, August 18, 1946; admitted to bar, 1975, New Hampshire; 1980, New York; 1984, Florida. Education: Duke University (B.A., 1968); Syracuse University College of Law (J.D., summa cum laude, 1975). Member: Duke University Alumni Admissions Advisory Committee; Board of Directors, Boca Hoops, Inc. Member: South Palm Beach County Bar Association; The Florida Bar. [Captain, U.S. Air Force, 1968-1972]. Practice Areas: Family Law; Business Law; Real Estate; Probate; Estate Planning; General Practice.Email: David A. Riggs

Christina A. Varghese (Attorney) admitted to bar, 2001, Florida, U.S. District Court, Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida. Education: University of Florida (B.A., cum laude, 1997; J.D., 2000). Christina A. Varghese, Esq. is the Chair of the Labor and Employment Law Department of Rutherford Mulhall. Christina was admitted to the Florida Bar on April 30, 2001, Florida. She is also admitted into the U.S. District Court, Southern, Middle and Northern Districts. Christina graduated from the University of Florida with a BA, cum laude in 1997, and from the University of Florida College of Law in 2000. Christina is on committees for the Florida Bar (Member Outreach Committee) and the American Bar Association Equal Employment Opportunities (Committee Liaison to the CLE Committee). She chairs the Member Outreach/Diversity Committee for the Broward County Bar Association and co-chairs the Diversity Committee for the South Palm Beach County Bar Association. She serves on the Labor and Employment Law Committee for the South Palm Beach County Bar Association. Christina has extensive experience in consulting and representing businesses from different industries in all employment-related and civil litigation matters. For example, her representation has included representing Fortune 500 companies, hospitals, financial institutions, staffing firms, churches, hazardous waste management companies, health care offices, pre-schools, daycares, and restaurants in all employment-related and civil litigation matters. She has defended businesses against Fair Labor Standards Act claims and other employment-related lawsuits, and charges brought before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and other state and local agencies. She has consulted executives and health care professionals in compensation and non-compete agreements. She has negotiated severance agreements on behalf of high-level executives. Christina authors a blog for entrepreneurs at http://christinavarghese.wordpress.com/. She speaks on employment related topics including non-compete, employment, confidentiality and independent contractor agreements, and business development topics such as "rainmaking". Member: The Florida Bar (Member, Equal Employment Opportunity Section); the American Bar Association (Member: Labor and Employment Law Section; Business Law Section; Employment Rights and Responsibilities Employer/Management Committee); Broward County Bar Association; the South Palm Beach County Bar Association; The Federal Bar Association; South Asian Bar Association; Broward County Women Lawyers' Association (BCWLA); Florida Association of Women Lawyers' Association (FAWL); Palm Beach County Chapter, Florida Association of Women Lawyers' Association. Practice Areas: Labor and Employment; Litigation; Civil Litigation.Email: Christina A. Varghese