Our Firm's History
In early 1953, R. R. Saunders, Robert M. Curtis and John F. Ginestra pooled their skills to found the law partnership of Saunders, Curtis & Ginestra. They quickly established themselves in such areas of law as Real Estate, Taxation, Insurance, Trials, and Corporations in representation of a wide variety of clients including Atlantic Federal Savings and Loan Association of Fort Lauderdale, a mutual association, became BankAtlantic.
As people became more aware of the firm's proficiencies, the demand for its services grew. To meet this demand, the three founders invited George H. Gore to join the firm in 1954, when the partnership of Saunders, Curtis, Ginestra & Gore was formed.
The firm continued to expand and grow. In 1956, Roger H. Staley brought his talents to the firm. In 1969, the partnership was incorporated under Florida law and become known as Saunders, Curtis, Ginestra & Gore, Professional Association. Roger Staley was responsible for most of the legal work performed for Atlantic Federal Savings and Loan Association of Fort Lauderdale and then BankAtlantic. He was responsible for over 25,000 mortgage loan closings and several thousand mortgage foreclosures. In addition, he represented the Association in quiet-title suits, defense of condemnation actions and other matters involving real estate and real estate litigation. He lectured for the Florida Bar, the University of Miami, and the Broward County Bar Association in all areas of the real estate practice. From 1965 through 1994, he was field attorney for Attorneys' Title Insurance Fund and, as such, was responsible for assisting other attorneys in matters involving title to real estate in Florida. He served as an expert witness in both Federal and State courts in matters involving the real estate practice.
In addition to his practice, he served as President of the Broward County Bar Association; as President and Director of Attorneys' Title Services, Inc.; served seven years on the Board of Governors of the Florida Bar; was a member of the Executive Council of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar, and served on the Attorney/Realtor Committee of the Fort Lauderdale Area Board of Realtors.
The senior partner, R. R. Saunders, passed away in 1959 and John Ginestra passed away in 1981. In 2000, Roger hired Michelle J. Gomez, who after a successful career as Director of The Dan Marino Foundation, obtained her JD at the Shepard Broad Law Center at Nova Southeastern University. Michelle was trained by Roger and together they were the principals of the firm until Mr. Staley’s passing in 2010.
Michelle, after joining the firm took on the responsibility for the legal work performed for BankAtlantic’s Revenue Recovery Department, representation of a Texas Real Estate Company, a local not-for-profit organization, and a local Credit Union, through which she has handled over 1,500 foreclosures and REOs, represented Condominium Associations with its Opinion Letters, Demand Letters, Claims of Lien, and Foreclosure of the same, and has also represented individuals in need of foreclosure defense, short sale negotiations, and loan modifications. In addition to her collection work, she has handled countless residential and timeshare closings, litigated quiet-title actions, and handles the firm’s day-to-day operations.
Michelle is licensed to practice law in Florida, District of Columbia, and New York, is a Court Approved Arbitrator and a Certified Mediator in County and Circuit Courts in Florida, and is an approved title agent for Old Republic Title.
In addition to her practice, Michelle has served on The Florida Bar Grievance Committee, including as chairperson (2013 to 2016), The Fund Circuit Advisory Team for Broward County (2010 to present), remains a member of the Attorneys’ Real Estate Council of Broward County where she served as the President (2009), Vice President (2007 and 2008), Secretary (2006) and Treasurer (2005 through 2009). She is also a Board Member of Kiwanis Club of Tamarac and serve on the National League of Cities Transportation Infrastructure & Services Policy and Advocacy Steering Committee (2011, 2012, and 2014), which came about after her appointment as a City Commissioner for the City of Tamarac, in July 2010 and October 2013. A position she currently holds. She also has served as Vice-Mayor of Tamarac for a balance of a term from March 2011 to November 2011, November 2012 to December 2012, and currently since November 2013. She recently was invested as a Board member of the Broward Bar Association.
SCGG maintains the quality of its work by employing both in house and of counsel attorneys, as well as having a paralegal staff with more than 50 years of real estate experience. The firm continues to look to the future by keeping abreast of all the latest changes in the law, the real estate market, and trends of our fluctuating economy in order to better serve our clients.
