Richard Sharpstein

Sharpstein, who celebrated his 63rd birthday in October 2013, finalized his divorce from his wife, lawyer Janice Sharpstein in December 2013. Before he joined Akerman, they had practiced law together. The couple raised three children in the Kendall area before moving to Miami Beach. Sharpstein, a Massachusetts native, obtained his bachelor’s and law degrees from Tulane University. He started his legal career as a prosecutor in the Miami-Dade state attorney’s office, where he prosecuted major crimes and corruption cases. After his stint as a prosecutor, Sharpstein went into private practice, developing a storied reputation over 35 years as a go-to criminal defense lawyer who represented everyone from accused murderers to drug dealers to police officers.