Alan B. Koslow: Hollywood's Most Influential Man
by: Jana Soeldner Danger, The Digest, Thursday, April 6, 2000
HOLLYWOOD - Ask people in Hollywood and the surrounding area about lawyer Alan B. Koslow, and you're likely to hear the word "vision." Clients, city officials and members of charitable organizations with whom he works view him as someone who can see a bigger picture, look ahead to the future, and help make vision reality.
Koslow served as city attorney in Hollywood for several years before resigning under pressure in 1993. But as an attorney in private practice, he has continued to work effectively with commissioners and other officials, pushing for major projects within the city on behalf of clients. Now a partner with Becker & Poliakoff, the firm he joined immediately after leaving the City of Hollywood, Koslow has built a niche for himself with a practice specializing in entertainment, sports and gaming. Among his many clients are the new Diplomat; the Great Southern Hotel; Ocean Walk; the Pompano Harness Track; Golf Hollywood; Isle of Capris Casinos; the Hollywood Super Mall; and Sun Cruises.
"He's a phenomenal asset to the firm," said Alan Becker, a principle in the firm. "People are aware of his energy and his rainmaking ability. He's a tremendous producer of business. But his greatest strength is that he's a very creative lawyer."
Koslow decided to focus on the entertainment business because he saw it as a growing area that was still uncrowded. "There were very few attorneys who had built that kind of practice in a broad sense, and the whole entertainment industry is evolving in South Florida," Koslow said.
"This is a very dynamic time," Koslow continued. "Florida is becoming younger, and the entertainment business caters to youthful audiences. It's a natural evolution."
His experience with municipal law transfers well to the entertainment business. It's of ten about getting approvals for licensing, zoning and land acquisitions, so it benefits the client that I know the local law," Koslow said.
It's not always easy. "The challenge is convincing all of the local government agencies to step up to the plate," Alan Koslow said. "You need to educate and create consensus at the local government level."
Sometimes work can The fun, too. An avid golfer (he's proud of the fact that he hit the first hole-in-one on the new Diplomat Course), Koslow says he often finds himself putting deals together on the links. "He's always working," said Dave Lottes, vice president of Golf Hollywood, a client as well as a golfing partner of Koslow. "He's very creative as far as the entertainment business goes."
Koslow likes working out deals that will benefit both his client and the city. One example is the Great Southern Hotel, long an albatross in Hollywood's newly revitalized downtown. Purchased by developer Yosi Fove, the building will soon be restored as a combination office and retail center. Koslow worked with Fove and the city to put together a package attractive to both.
City officials seem to have an affection for Koslow, as well as an admiration for his work. "He's an extremely smart man and has a wonderful legal mind. I like him," said Commissioner Cathy Anderson. "He has a lot of empathy, and a youthful mentality." Commissioner Sal Oliveri recalled working with Koslow during Oliveri's term as mayor. "He was a lot of help to me at the time," Oliveri said. "He knew his way around the city and the county, and had a lot of ability."
One rapidly growing area of South Florida's entertainment industry is film and television. Koslow serves as chairman of the Broward Alliance of the Film and Television Commission, where he is working toward the development of a sound stage production site that will include a multi-acre campus to accommodate related areas of the industry. "He's extremely visionary in what he'd like to see in the growth of this industry," said Elizabeth Wentworth, executive director of the Film and Television Commission. "He's absolutely driven toward his vision of making Broward County the center of the South Florida film industry, and he's working diligently toward the goal of attracting major players in the industry."
As Koslow's' practice grew, so did his involvement with charitable organizations within the community. Among those he currently works with are the Boys and Girls Club; the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood; and the Broward Outreach Center, Hollywood's homeless shelter.
Cynthia Miller, executive director of the Art and Culture Center where Koslow is vice chairman of the board" said his ability to make quick decisions has helped get things done. "When I present a problem and options, he has a quick way of cutting to the chase." she said. He's very knowledgeable about what's going
on in this area, and he's a wonderful advocate for the center."
Allen Reesor, director of the Broward Outreach Center, said Koslow has been an asset to its board of directors. Koslow is helping with a fund raising campaign for a new shelter for women and children; plans call for construction to begin in the fall. "He's very effective at helping us meet the people who have the money to help," Reesor said. "He has a good vision for the larger community."
Having vision, Koslow said, is an important part of what he does. "I get along with (city officials) because they know I'm trying to do something good for the city," he said. "You have to have a vision, and fm confident that this commission will have a vision. |
