Thursday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 6/28/2018

Florida's biggest law firms grew financially in 2017, in spite of volatile market

All but one of the largest law firms in Florida either kept or improved its ranking in 2017. For the two largest Florida-based firms — Greenberg Traurig and Holland & Knight — healthy revenue growth of 7.2 percent and 5.6 percent, respectively. Greenberg Traurig CEO Brian Duffy said, “It was a broad-based and deep, strong year” for the firm. Many of the smaller law firms however, saw gross revenue decline in 2017. More from the Daily Business Review.

Related, from Florida Trend:
» Florida Legal Elite 2018: Florida Trend's annual list of top lawyers names 1,012 honorees.

Some Orlando jobs can provide a $20-an-hour future, without requiring degree

Among the jobs in Orlando that typically pay $20 or more per hour, many don’t require a college degree — and are projected to keep growing, according to CareerBuilder.com. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

North Port to host Guatemala trade commissioner

The city of North Port is hosting the trade commissioner from Guatemala, Dunia Miranda-Mauri, as part of a continued partnership with the International Trade Hub at Port Manatee. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

UCF researcher gets $1 million grant to help protect emergency personnel from opioids

A University of Central Florida professor has landed a $1 million grant for a project that aims to make it safer for emergency responders and military personnel to answer calls and perform missions that could expose them to deadly toxins. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Need a new car? Tariffs will drive prices up 'dramatically,' AutoNation CEO Mike Jackson says

Jackson’s comments followed an automotive trade group saying it will tell the Trump administration that a U.S. threat to impose a tariff of up to 25 percent on imported passenger vehicles would cost American consumers $45 billion annually, or $5,800 per vehicle. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Profile
Ted Farnsworth

Over the past 10 months, MoviePass has become a darling of cost-conscious movie-goers and a star on the tech scene. In less than a year, It has gained more 3 million users, lending weight to its claims that the service is changing the way film buffs take in the silver screen. Ted Farnsworth, the Miami-based CEO of the parent company of MoviePass, has been guiding the popular app through its ups and downs.

» More from the Miami Herald.

Out of the Box
Baby soccer and soccer snooker

Baby soccer and a billiards game where customers use their feet instead of sticks are part of a new soccer complex opening this weekend in south Orlando. The “baby soccer” field is a 6-by-10 foot turf field surrounded by a fence. It’s aimed at kids 4 and under, who uses cushy soccer balls to play.