Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice & Purtz adds Smith & Smith to its name
Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice & Purtz has become Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice, Purtz, Smith & Smith, a new name reflecting the next generation of leaders for the 62-year-old Southwest Florida law firm.
Christopher J. Smith, managing partner, along with his wife, firm partner Andrea Smith, have been the face of the firm for the past five years.
“We continue to pursue the standard set for our clients by one of our founders, the late Ray Goldstein, of respect, passion and unwavering pursuit for justice, which we affectionately call the Goldstein Standard,” said Christopher Smith. “And because I know people will ask, the catchy, iconic jingle we use in our commercials continues, too.”
While the name is changing, the firm will continue to occupy the original office at the corner of Main Street and Broadway in downtown Fort Myers where the firm started and has grown through the years by buying neighboring offices. Other offices are in Cape Coral, Naples, Lehigh Acres and Port Charlotte.
Christopher Smith joined the firm in 2007 after receiving his law degree from St. Thomas University School of Law in 2007. He became a partner in 2011 and a managing partner in 2018. Andrea Pleimling Smith, who graduated from Marquette University Law School, joined the firm in 2014. Christopher and Andrea initially met as opposing counsel when she was working at another firm. Andrea then joined the firm in 2014. She became a partner in 2017. She likes to point out that she became a partner with the firm faster than her husband.
Other named partners in the firm’s name include Stephen Buckley, who has been with the firm since 1969, John Cechman, who has been with the firm since 1972, Jeffrey Rice who has been with the firm since 1976 and retired in 2023, and Managing Partner Richard Purtz, who joined the firm in 1983. Additional attorneys include partner Eve T.K. Volkmann, who joined the firm in 2019 and became partner in 2024. Attorney Kristin L. Stocks and Mark Precheur joined the firm in 2024.
About Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice, Purtz, Smith & Smith
Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice, Purtz, Smith & Smith P.A., is a personal injury firm representing those injured by the wrongdoing of others in Southwest Florida since 1962. The firm’s experienced attorneys are board certified by the Florida Bar, and areas of practice include personal injury and accidents, trip, slip and fall, premises liability, wrongful death, motorcycle and truck accidents, medical malpractice, wills, and estate planning and administration. With offices in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Lehigh Acres and Port Charlotte, attorneys can be reached by calling 239-500-HURT or visiting gbclaw.com/attorneys/.