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• Hospital returns $1M Scott Rothstein donation

Other firms scoop up Rothstein's colleagues

While the tentacles of the $1 billion investment scheme attributed to Fort Lauderdale attorney Scott Rothstein have reached far and wide, some of the firm's attorneys are escaping the effects of any stigma now associated with him.

Just this week, less than a month after the investigation of Rothstein's financial dealings began, five attorneys started new jobs at the small Rice Pugatch Robinson & Schiller firm in Fort Lauderdale. Other firms are also courting Rothstein's employees from Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler, which had about 70 lawyers.

``There are some firms that have either overtly stated or subtly indicated that they would prefer to not hire Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler attorneys because they're not sure where any liability, lawsuits or distractions may come from,'' said Abbe Mald Bunt, president of Bunt Legal Search in Hollywood. ``Other firms are maybe seeing this as a great opportunity to get talent that would not normally be available.''

Feds probe prominent Broward attorney Scott Rothstein

Federal authorities on Monday were conducting a criminal investigation into high-profile Fort Lauderdale attorney Scott Rothstein, who is suspected of operating a Ponzi scheme by selling tens of millions of dollars in fabricated legal settlements to investors.

Rothstein -- known for giving hundreds of thousands of dollars to state politicians and as the co-sponsor of a golf-tournament benefit with former Gov. Jeb Bush on Friday -- hired a lawyer over the weekend from his own firm.

Rothstein was out of town and could not be reached for comment. News of the investigation spread from South Florida to Tallahassee.

Feds pursue more lawyers, campaign violation links in Scott Rothstein case

Lawyer Steven Lippman and his homemaker wife, Marcy, hadn't donated much to politicians before 2006 -- just $500 to former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, the Florida Democrat. But their generosity exploded after Lippman joined Scott Rothstein's law firm in Fort Lauderdale.

Over the next four years, the Plantation couple contributed about $247,000 to Gov. Charlie Crist's campaign for the U.S. Senate, the McCain-Palin presidential ticket and other politicians. The GOP redistributed some of the Lippmans' donations to Republican political committees in 2008 battleground states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio and Colorado.

Lippmann is among 30 lawyers in Rothstein's now-defunct firm -- along with 15 other employees, spouses and relatives -- who made about $2.2 million in state and federal campaign contributions as Rothstein executed his Ponzi scheme from 2005 to 2009, public records show.

Army of lawyers picking over remains of Rothstein law firm

As arrested attorney Scott Rothstein's former Fort Lauderdale law firm implodes, one thing is clear: It will take an army of lawyers to pick through the remains.

Involving investors, creditors, former employees, clients, vendors and legal fees, the fight over the carcass of Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler likely will be intense, drawn-out and well-litigated.

``It's a race to the assets,'' said Friedrich Blasé of New York-based Kerma Partners, law firm management consultants. ``It's going to be very dissatisfying for all who are owed money. The employees who weren't paid are going to be screwed. The investors are screwed, but they always had risk. Everyone will come out poorly.''

Feds: Scott Rothstein showered police with `gratuities'

A decade before Scott Rothstein befriended Gov. Charlie Crist and others in high places, he had cozied up to local cops.

That long-standing relationship was highlighted last week when federal authorities charged Rothstein with masterminding a $1.2 billion investment scheme -- including using some of that money to shower on police officers.

Federal prosecutors say Rothstein and other co-conspirators used funds illegally obtained from the Ponzi scheme to hire local officers to provide security for his law firm and Fort Lauderdale waterfront home.