Community Involvement

Kozyak Tropin Throckmorton’s commitment to our profession and community is evident in our active participation in local, state, and national bar associations, as well as civic, educational, and charitable endeavors. Recognized for our pro bono work, KTT also has a major long-term financial commitment to the University of Miami School of Law, including its Litigation Skills Training Center, and the Kozyak Tropin Throckmorton Litigation Scholarship Fund for Minority Students.

Since the firm was founded more than 40 years ago, we have made it our mission to promote diversity in the legal profession.

Asian Pacific American Bar Association of South Florida

Bernice C. Lee is a past president of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of South Florida.

Bankruptcy Bar Association for the Southern District of Florida (BBA)

David Samole has served on the board of directors for the non-profit voluntary Bankruptcy Bar Association for the Southern District of Florida (BBA) continuously since 2006, serving as president in 2017-2018 and currently serving as immediate past-president. John Kozyak and David Rosendorf are also past presidents.

Cuban American Bar Association

Maria Garcia, Jorge Piedra, Cori Lopez-Castro and Javier Lopez are past presidents.

FIU College of Law

Maria Garcia is currently a member of the Dean’s Leadership Council and has served as an Adjunct Professor in Healthcare Law.

Florida Bar Board of Governors

Jorge Piedra is a member of the Florida Bar Board of Governors representing the 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida. Jorge was elected by his peers in 2019 and re-elected in 2021.

Jewish National Fund, Miami Chapter

The firm has a history of involvement within the leadership and general membership of the Miami Chapter of the Jewish National Fund.

Kozyak Minority Mentoring Foundation

John Kozyak founded the Kozyak Minority Mentoring Foundation in 2002 which matches minority law school students in Florida with mentors who are experienced lawyers and judges. The KMMF also provides paid summer fellowships to academically-driven law students with financial needs. Cori Lopez-Castro and Detra Shaw-Wilder are on the foundation’s board of directors.

Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust

David Samole is an active supporter of Chapman Partnership, which is the private sector partner of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, operating two Homeless Assistance Centers in downtown Miami and Homestead.

Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation & Big Brothers Big Sisters

Javier Lopez is very active in the South Florida Cuban community and charitable organizations, such as the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

South Florida Chapter of the Federal Bar Association

Tal Lifshitz is president of the South Florida Chapter of the Federal Bar Association

University of Miami School of Law

Harley Tropin has taught litigation skills at the University of Miami School of Law for over 25 years.

Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr., Bar Association

Dwayne Robinson is a past treasurer and vice president of the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association, and its current President-Elect. He is also the current Chair of the Association’s Judicial Diversity Initiative.

Referring to one of the firm’s founders, John Kozyak, U.S. District Chief Judge Federico Moreno described him as “The person who has done more for diversity in the legal community than anyone else.”