Alan Becker, Co-Founder of Becker & Poliakoff, Dies at 74
The former state legislator held the distinction of being the youngest member elected to the Florida House at 26 and went on to serve three terms.
July 06, 2020 at 02:21 PM
3 minute read
Alan S. Becker, founding shareholder of Becker & Poliakoff.
Becker & Poliakoff co-founder and former state legislator Alan S. Becker, a longtime force in Florida real estate law, died of cancer Saturday at 74.
The Brooklyn native held the distinction of being the youngest member elected to the Florida House at 26 and went on to serve three terms from 1972 to 1978.
As a lawmaker and member of the Florida Law Revision Council in the mid-1970s, Becker was the principal author or sponsor of the state Condominium Act, Florida Business Corporations Act, Mechanic's Lien Act, Evidence Code and the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve Act.
He entered Brooklyn College at 16, graduated from the University of Miami School of Law and began his legal career as an assistant state public defender, serving from 1969 to 1972.
Becker met his future law partner, Gary Poliakoff, in law school during a mock trial competition that they won.
As lawyers, they began by working out of the trunk of a car, advocating for the rights of condo owners and associations. They founded Becker & Poliakoff and remained partners for 42 years. Poliakoff died in 2014.
The Fort Lauderdale-based law firm ranks 20th on the Daily Business Review's Review 100 list of Florida law firms by head count with 103 attorneys. The firm has 12 Florida offices as well as offices in New York, New Jersey and Washington, D.C.
Becker served as managing shareholder and was recognized with a DBR Lifetime Achievement Award. He passed the Czech Bar and was an honorary consul of the Czech Republic for 24 years.
The lifelong Democrat prided himself on his collaborative approach to legislation, working with people on both sides of the aisle to get things done.
Becker was a member of the board of Enterprise Florida, the state's official economic development organization, for 20 years and served as vice chairman from 2015 to 2017. In 2012, he was awarded the Governor's Business Ambassador Medallion for his contributions to economic development in Florida.
He chaired the Beacon Council, Miami-Dade County's economic development agency, in 2011-2012 and served on the board of the Florida Atlantic University Foundation.
He co-authored a book on the Florida Rules of Evidence and also wrote "There's Always Room at the Top: The 8 Secrets of the Super Successful," offering life lessons from interviews with successful people.
Becker taught a business of law course at the University of Miami and a leadership class at Keiser University. His first lesson in every class was about attitude based on the Winston Churchill quote "never, ever, ever quit."
His family released a statement saying he wanted friends to know he "had a good run and wishes you a longer one."
Becker was survived by his wife Debra Jean Becker, daughters Marni and Ilana, mother Lorraine Becker and two grandchildren.
Virtual services are set for 11 a.m. Tuesday with shiva to follow from 2 to 4 p.m. and again on Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. To receive a Zoom link, visit https://tinyurl.com/AlanBeckerServices.
In lieu of flowers or food, donations will be accepted by his grandson's nonprofit, the Wuf Shanti Children's Wellness Foundation.
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