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Address
4000 International Place
100 S.E. Second Street
Miami, Florida 33131-2114 (Miami-Dade Co.)
Phone
305-530-0050
Toll Free: 800-486-0140
Average Client Review Rating
Rating not available
Average Peer Review Rating
4.9
out of 5
Carlton Fields, P.A, was established in 1901 and is one of Florida's oldest and largest full-service firms, with more than 290 lawyers. We serve national, international and local clients in all areas of business transactions, litigation and government matters. Statement of PracticeGeneral Civil Practice and Litigation in all State and Federal Courts and Administrative Agencies, Antitrust, Appellate, Arbitration and Mediation, Automotive, Aviation, Banking and Finance, Bankruptcy, Creditors' Rights and Insolvency, Business Transactions, Class Actions, Commercial and Real Estate Financing, Complex Litigation, Condominium, Timeshare and Resort Development, Construction and Suretyship, Corporations, Criminal, Eminent Domain, Environmental and Land Use, Estate Planning, Trusts and Probate, Family Law, Franchise and Distribution, Government Law and Consulting, Health Care, Insurance, Intellectual Property and Technology, International Trade and Transactions, Labor, Employment and Immigration Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Lobbying, Medical Malpractice, Mergers and Acquisitions, Oil and Gas, Products and Toxic Tort Liability, Real Estate Transactions, Securities, Sports and Entertainment and Tax Law. Year Established: 1901
Firm Size: 290
Languages: Chinese, French, German, Italian, Latin, Macedonian, Portuguese, Spanish.
Firm Affiliations GLOBALAW (The International Law Group)
Address4000 International Place
100 S.E. Second Street
Miami, FL 33131-2114, (Miami-Dade Co.)
PhonePhone: 305-530-0050
Toll Free: 800-486-0140
Fax: 305-530-0055
Websitehttp://www.carltonfields.com/miami
Firm/Affiliate OfficesTampa, Florida: (Main Office) 4221 West Boy Scout Boulevard, Suite 1000, 33607-5736. Telephone: 813-223-7000; Toll-Free: 888-223-9191.
Orlando, Florida: CNL Center at City Commons, 450 South Orange Avenue, Suite 500, 32801-3336
St. Petersburg, Florida: One Progress Plaza, 200 Central Avenue, Suite 2300, 33731-2861. Telephone: 727-821-7000; Toll-Free: 888-821-9191.
Tallahassee, Florida: 215 South Monroe Street, Suite 500, 32301-1866. Telephone: 850-224-1585; Toll-Free: 888-224-9191.
West Palm Beach, Florida: CityPlace Tower, 525 Okeechobee Boulevard, Suite 1200, 33401-6350. Telephone: 561-659-7070; Toll-Free: 888-659-9191.
Atlanta, Georgia: One Atlantic Center, 1201 West Peachtree Street, Suite 3000, 30309. Telephone: 404-815-3400; Toll Free: 866-755-9191.
(For complete biographical data on other personnel, see Professional Biographies at Orlando, St. Petersburg, Tallahassee, Tampa, West Palm Beach and Atlanta, Georgia)
Alina Alonso (Shareholder) born Havana, Cuba, 1975; admitted to bar, 1999, Florida. Education: Florida International University (B.S., summa cum laude, 1996); University of Miami (J.D., cum laude, 1999). Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Appellate; Trial Support.Email: Alina Alonso
Cristina Alonso (Shareholder) born New York, New York, 1975; admitted to bar, 2000, Florida; 2001, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida; 2003, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida and U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; 2009, U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of North Carolina at Asheville (B.A., with distinction, 1997); University of Florida (J.D., with honors, 2000). Listed as an "Up-and-Comer" in Florida Trend's 2008 and 2007 Florida Legal Elite. Named as "Up-and-Comer" Finalist by South Florida Business Journal in 2008. Recipient: The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division, Board of Governors' Most Productive Board Member of the Year (2007); Pro Bono Service Award from Legal Services of Greater Miami (2008); University of Florida Academic and Leadership Award (2000); University of Florida Council of Ten, Criminal Law Teaching Fellow (1998); University of Florida Pro Bono Award Certificate (1998), University of Florida Spanish American Law Student Association Cuadro de Honor (Hall of Fame) (2000), University of North Carolina at Asheville Leader of the Year (1997), Omicron Delta Kappa National Honor Society Circle Leader of the Year (1997). Author: "Imposter Fraud and Incontestability Clauses in Life Insurance Policies," Florida Bar Journal, June 2006; "Jury Instructions: A Road Map for Trial Counsel," Litigation, The Journal of the ABA Litigation Section, Winter 2004; Product Liability Advisory Council, "Getting Out of Dodge" A Defendant's Guide to Removal. Contributing Author: Chapters Titled, "When is Removal Effective" and "Notice of Removal." Staff Attorney to Honorable Fred Hazouri, Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal, 2000-2002. Member: American Bar Association (Florida Delegate, Young Lawyers Division Assembly, 2005-2008; Co-Chair, Young Lawyers Subcommittee, Appellate Practice Committee, Litigation Section, 2004); The Florida Bar (11th Circuit Representative, Board of Governors, Young Lawyers Division, 2005); Florida Legal Services Inc. (Board of Directors, 2004; President, 2009-2010; The Florida Bar Foundation Board of Directors, 2009-2010); Defense Research Institute (Member, Appellate Advocacy Committee, 2002-2006; Diversity Liaison, 2002-2006); Hispanic National Bar Association (Delegate, ABA Young Lawyers Division, 2004; Regional President, Law Student Division, 1998-1999); Cuban American Bar Association; Leadership Miami Class of XXIX; National Center for State Courts (Young Lawyers Section of the Lawyers Committee). Reported Cases: Allstate Life Insurance v. Miller, 424 F.3d 1113 (11th Cir. 2005); D'Angelo v. Fitzmaurice, 863 So. 2d 311 (Fla. 2003); Altamonte Springs Imaging, L.C. v. State Farm Mutual Insurance Co.Mut. Auto. Ins., Nos. 3D08-652, 34 Fla. L. Weekly D1110, 3D07-3009, 2009 WL 1531610 (Fla. 3d DCA June 3, 2009); Embry v. Ryan, 11 So. 3d 408, (Fla. 2d DCA 2009); Detroit Diesel Corp. v. Atlantic Mut. Ins. Co., No. 4D08-1593, 34 Fla. L. Weekly D1217, 2009 WL 1675850 (Fla. 4th DCA June 17, 2009); Ford Motor Co. v. Hall-Edwards, 997 So. 2d 1148 (Fla. 3d DCA 2008); Jallali v. Nova Southeastern Univ., Inc., 992 So. 2d 338 (Fla. 4th DCA 2008); Gayer v. Fine Line Const. & Elec., Inc., 2 So. 3d 296 (Fla. 4th DCA 2008); American Home Assur. Co. v. Junger, 982 So. 2d 90 (Fla. 3d DCA 2008); Miller v. Miller, 972 So. 2d 193 (Fla. 3d DCA 2007); Lopez v. Ford Motor Co., 970 So. 2d 365 (Fla. 3d DCA 2007); Johnson v. Pires, 968 So. 2d 700 (Fla. 4th DCA 2007); Sherman v. Manufacturer's Life Ins. Co., 952 So. 2d 1200 (Fla. 3d DCA 2007); Lindsey v. BellSouth Tele., Inc., 943 So. 2d 963 (Fla. 4th DCA 2006); Manheim Auctions Gov't Servs. v. Mejia, 930 So. 2d 657 (Fla. 3d DCA 2006); Belizaire v. State, 892 So. 2d 1022 (Fla. 2d DCA 2004); Vazquez v. City of Hialeah Gardens, 874 So. 2d 626 (Fla. 3d DCA 2004); Mathews v. Urezzio, 865 So. 2d 513 (Fla. 5th DCA 2004); .Force v. Ford Motor Co., 879 So. 2d 103 (Fla. 5th DCA 2004); Canelon v. Hospitality Restoration & Builders, 853 So. 2d 424 (Fla. 3d DCA 2003); Morton Roofing, Inc. v. Prather, 864 So. 2d 64 (Fla. 5th DCA 2003). Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Appellate; Litigation; Products Liability; Health Care.Email: Cristina Alonso
Steven J. Brodie (Shareholder) born Neosho, Missouri, 1956; admitted to bar, 1981, Florida; U.S. District Court, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth, Eleventh and Federal Circuits. Education: Tulane University (B.A., with honors, 1978); University of Miami (J.D., cum laude, 1981). Greater Miami Jewish Federation Board of Directors and Executive Committee (2000-2010). Jewish Community Relations Council, Past Chairman. Cornerstone Campaign, Chairman, United Way of Miami-Dade Board of Directors (2006-2011). Past Chairman Campaign Cabinet, Community Relations Council of Metro-Dade County (appointed by Dade County Commissioners), Member (2004-2008). Miami Citizens Board, University of Miami, Secretary, Treasurer and Vice President (2005-2009), Executive Committee (2003-2009). Florida Department of Education, Ethics Commissions (appointed by Florida Cabinet), Past Member (1998-2000). Selected for inclusion in South Florida Business Journal's Who's Who in Corporate Law. Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 editions (Insurance). Selected for inclusion in Who's Who in American Law. Selected for inclusion in Florida Super Lawyers 2007 and 2009 (Insurance). Selected for inclusion in Florida Trend's Florida Legal Elite 2009 (Insurance). Selected for inclusion in Business Leaders Magazine's Power Issue 2009 (South Florida edition). Member: South Miami (Past Member, Board of Directors) and South Miami-Kendall (Member, Board of Directors, 1989-1992) Bar Associations. Reported Cases: Bray & Gillespie Management, LLC v. Lexington, Ins. Co., 2009 WL 546429 (M.D.Fla. March 4, 2009); TracFone Wireless, Inc. v. GSM Group, Inc., 555 F. Supp. 2d 1331 (S.D. Fla. May 15, 2008); Heritage Corp. of South Florida v. National Union Fire Insurance Co. of Pittsburg, PA, 255 Fed. Appx. 478 2007 WL 4142788 (C.A. 11th Fla. Nov 23, 2007); National Union Fire Ins. Co of Pittsburgh, PA v. Underwriters at Lloyds's, London, 971 So. 2d 885 (Fla. 3rd DCA 2007); Aircraft Holdings, LLC v. XL Specialty Ins. Co., 935 So. 2d 1219 (2006); Orange County v. Expedia, Inc., 440 F. Supp. 2d 1341 (M.D. Fla. Aug 2, 2006); City of West Palm Beach v. Visionair, Inc., 199 Fed. Appx. 786 (2006); Office Depot, Inc. v. Marsch & McLennan Companies, Inc., 937 So. 2d 1139 (Fla. 4th DCA 2006); Home Shopping Network, Inc. v. American Intern. Speciality Lines Ins. Co., 857 So. 2d 290 (Fla. 2d DCA 2003); Michael J. Edison and Co. v. Columbia Pictures Television, Inc. 837 So. 2d 1122 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003). Practice Areas: Litigation; Dispute Resolution; Governmental Law; Antitrust and Trade Regulation; Bankruptcy; Intellectual Property; Insurance Coverage.Email: Steven J. Brodie
Stephen J. Bronis (Shareholder) born Miami, Florida; admitted to bar, 1972, Florida and U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida; 1973, District of Columbia; 1977, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; 1978, U.S. Supreme Court; 1981, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; 1986, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida; 1994, U.S District Court, Northern District of Florida; 1996, U.S. District Court, District of Colorado and U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit; 1998, U.S. Tax Court; 2006, Colorado. Education: University of Florida (B.S.B.A., 1969); Duke University (J.D., 1972). Member: Dade County (Member, Board of Directors, 1989) and American (Executive Director, ABA White Collar Crime Committee, 2006-2008; Criminal Justice Section Council Member, 2006-2009) Bar Associations; The Florida Bar (Member, Judicial Nominating Procedures Committee, 1989; Appointed Representative to U.S. 11th Circuit Judicial Conference, 2001-2004); Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (President, 1980-1981; Board of Directors, 1986); American Board of Criminal Lawyers (Vice President, 1981); National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; California Attorneys for Criminal Justice. Practice Areas: Criminal Trial and Complex Litigation; Health Care Fraud.Email: Stephen J. Bronis
Paul A. Calli (Shareholder) born New Haven, Connecticut; admitted to bar, 1993, Florida; U.S. District Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Education: University of Connecticut (B.A., 1989); University of Miami School of Law (J.D., 1993). Speaker, "Criminal Jury Trial in the Marine Hose Case," ABA Section of Antitrust Law, Trial Practice Committee and Cartel & Criminal Practice Committee Teleconference (May 8, 2009). Co-Author with: Michael Pasano and Marissel Descalzo, "United States v. Val M. Northcutt, et. al. An Antitrust Case Study" for the American Bar Association Criminal Justice Section White Collar Crime Newsletter (Spring 2009); Marissel Descalzo, "Special Report: White-Collar Crime" in the Daily Business Review (July 15, 2008); Marissel Descalzo, "Since Enron, firms fast to conduct their own internal investigations," Daily Business Review (July 15, 2008). Miami Light Project, Board of Directors (2006-2007). YWCA Criminal Court Care Program, Board of Directors (2007-2008). Member: The Florida Bar (Member, Grievance Committee "11 B"); American Bar Association (Member, White Collar Criminal Defense and Business Law Sections); National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (FACDL) (Member, Board of Directors, Miami Chapter). Practice Areas: White Collar Criminal Defense; Criminal Defense; Appellate Practice; Complex Litigation; Administrative Law.Email: Paul A. Calli
John A. Camp (Shareholder) born Miami, Florida, 1958; admitted to bar, 1990, Florida; 1990, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida; 1997, Pennsylvania; 1999, U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania. Education: Erskine College (B.A., cum laude, 1980); University of Florida (J.D., 1989). Recipient, 2008 Florida Bar Journal Excellence in Writing Award. Member: DRI Drug and Medical Device Committee; Miami Country Day School, Board of Trustees; Educational Excellence School Advisory Council, Doctors Charter School. The Andy Warhol Museum, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Past Board Member. Member, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Board of Trustees. Practice Areas: Products Liability; Drug and Medical Device Defense.Email: John A. Camp
Natalie J. Carlos (Shareholder) born Boston, Massachusetts; admitted to bar, 1998, Florida; 1999, U.S. District Court, Southern, Northern and Middle Districts of Florida; 2000, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court. Education: Florida State University (B.A., 1993); University of Miami School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1998). Executive Editor, The University of Miami Law Review, 1997-1998; Co-author, "Zoning in Florida Under the Religious Freedom Restoration Acts," 12 St. Thomas Law Review 1 (Fall 1999). Member: The Florida Bar (Member, Appellate Practice Section, Appellate Court Rules Committee 2003-2009; Secretary 2006-2007; Chair, Orientation Subcommittee 2005-2006; Member, Orientation Subcommittee 2006-2008); Dade County Bar Association (Member, Appellate Court Committee); Cuban American Bar Association. Reported Cases: Brice v. Pan Am Horizons Federal Credit Union, 11 So.3d 454, Fla.App. 3 Dist., June 03, 2009 (NO. 3D08-2746); Rankin v. Van Vorgue, 994 So.2d 463, 33 Fla. L. Weekly D2598, Fla.App. 3 Dist., November 05, 2008 (NO. 3D07-378); Event Firm, LLC v. Augustin, 985 So.2d 1174, 33 Fla. L. Weekly D1694, Fla.App. 3 Dist., July 02, 2008 (NO. 3D07-2423); Barco Holdings, LLC v. Terminal Inv. Corp., 967 So.2d 281, 32 Fla. L. Weekly D2314, Fla.App. 3 Dist., September 26, 2007 (NO. 3D05-1913, 3D05-2073, 3D06-2893, 3D06-2894); James Crystal Licenses, LLC v. Infinity Radio Inc., 963 So.2d 982, 32 Fla. L. Weekly D2151, Fla.App. 4 Dist., September 12, 2007 (NO. 4D06-4448); Sebree v. Schantz, Schatzman, Aaronson & Perlman, 963 So.2d 842, 32 Fla. L. Weekly D1878, Fla.App. 3 Dist., August 08, 2007 (NO. 3D04-2523); Masztal v. City of Miami, 971 So.2d 803, 32 Fla. L. Weekly D1881, Fla.App. 3 Dist., August 08, 2007 (NO. 3D06-1259, 3D06-947, 3D06-1046, 3D06-920, 3D06-1255, 3D06-924, 3D06-1055); Whitby v. Infinity Radio, Inc., 961 So.2d 349, 32 Fla. L. Weekly D1436, Fla.App. 4 Dist., June 06, 2007 (NO. 4D06-660); Whitby v. Infinity Radio Inc., 951 So.2d 890, 32 Fla. L. Weekly D276, Fla.App. 4 Dist., January 24, 2007 (NO. 4D05-3888); Gillet v. Watchtower Bible & Tract Soc. of Pennsylvania, Inc., 913 So.2d 618, 30 Fla. L. Weekly D1221, Fla.App. 3 Dist., May 11, 2005 (NO. 3D02-817); Paul Revere Life Ins. Co. v. Damus, Ecker, Rosenthal and Marshall, M.D., 864 So.2d 442, 28 Fla. L. Weekly D2519, Fla.App. 3 Dist., November 05, 2003 (NO. 3D02-3434); Kendall Village, Inc. v. U.S. Development, Ltd., ex rel. U.S. Development Corp., 843 So.2d 365, 28 Fla. L. Weekly D1074, Fla.App. 3 Dist., April 30, 2003 (NO. 3D02-599); MCI Exp., Inc. v. Ford Motor Co., 832 So.2d 795, 27 Fla. L. Weekly D2137, Fla.App. 3 Dist., September 30, 2002 (NO. 3D00-3420); Stensby v. Effjohn Oy Ab, 806 So.2d 542, 26 Fla. L. Weekly D2934, Fla.App. 3 Dist., December 12, 2001 (NO. 3D99-3143, 3D99-3131); Midrash Sephardi, Inc. v. Town of Surfside, 800 So.2d 258, 26 Fla. L. Weekly D2489, Fla.App. 3 Dist., October 10, 2001 (NO. 3D00-3237); Sunshine Bottling Co. v. Tropicana Products, Inc., 757 So.2d 1231, 25 Fla. L. Weekly D1010, Fla.App. 3 Dist., April 26, 2000 (NO. 3D99-328, 3D98-1291, 3D98-1098, 3D98-2285); Butler v. Dowling, 50 So.2d 674, 25 Fla. L. Weekly D13, Fla.App. 4 Dist., December 22, 1999 (NO. 99-1372); King v. Hall, 740 So.2d 1241, 24 Fla. L. Weekly D2024, Fla.App. 3 Dist., September 01, 1999 (NO. 98-2163); Reliance Ins. Co. v. Safeharbor Employer Services I, Inc., 223 Fed.Appx. 887, 2007 WL 1213233, C.A.11 (Fla.), April 25, 2007 (NO. 06-13481); Perkins v. Sandals Resorts Intern., Ltd., 135 Fed.Appx. 278, 2005 WL 1390059, C.A.11 (Fla.), June 13, 2005 (NO. 04-14139); Midrash Sephardi, Inc. v. Town of Surfside, 366 F.3d 1214, 17 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. C 453, C.A.11 (Fla.), April 21, 2004 (NO. 03-13858); AXA Equitable Life Ins. Co. v. Infinity Financial Group, LLC, 2009 WL 1916390, S.D.Fla., April 01, 2009 (NO. 08-80611CIV); AXA Equitable Life Ins. Co. v. Infinity Financial Group, LLC, 608 F.Supp.2d 1349, 21 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. D 632, S.D.Fla., March 31, 2009 (NO. 08-80611-CIV); Axa Equitable Life Ins. Co. v. Infinity Financial Group, LLC, 608 F.Supp.2d 1330, 21 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. D 629, S.D.Fla., March 31, 2009 (NO. 08-80611-CIV-HURLEY, 08-80611-CIV-HOPKINS); PMG Collins, LLC v. Allianz Global Risks U.S. Ins. Co., 2008 WL 5085148, S.D.Fla., December 02, 2008 (NO. 08-21136-CIV); In re Managed Care Litigation, 2008 WL 2944897, S.D.Fla., July 24, 2008 (NO. 00-1334-MD, 03-21296-CIV); Reliance Ins. Co. v. Core Carriers, Inc., 2008 WL 2414041, M.D.Fla., June 11, 2008 (NO. 3:06-CV-585-J-20MCR); Reliance Ins. Co. v. Core Carriers, Inc., 2008 WL 686153, M.D.Fla., March 10, 2008 (NO. 306CV585J20MCR); Sami 2004-AR5 v. Yanchek, 2007 WL 4482604, M.D.Fla., December 17, 2007 (NO. 8:07-CV-1853T-30TBM); Rolyn Const. Corp. v. Coconut Grove PT Ltd. Partnership, 2007 WL 2071268, S.D.Fla., July 19, 2007 (NO. 07-20834-CIV-HUCK); Reliance Ins. Co. (In Liquidation) v. Core Carriers, Inc.,, 2007 WL 1100472, M.D.Fla., April 11, 2007 (NO. 3:06CV585J20MCR); Reliance Ins. Co. v. Safeharbor Employer Services I, Inc., 2006 WL 822527, M.D.Fla., March 24, 2006 (NO. 6:04CV1236ORL-31JGG); Perkins ex rel Estate of Perkins v. Ottershaw Investments Ltd., 2005 WL 3273747, 18 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. B 998, S.D.Fla., September 30, 2005 (NO. 04-22869-CIV); Midrash Sephardi, Inc. v. Town of Surfside, 2003 WL 25728149, S.D.Fla., July 11, 2003 (NO. 99-1566-CIV); Sephardi v. Town of Surfside, 2003 WL 25728150, S.D.Fla., July 10, 2003 (NO. 99-1566-CIV). Practice Areas: Business Litigation; Real Property; Appellate Practice.Email: Natalie J. Carlos
Gregory M. Cesarano (Leader, Products and Toxic Tort Liability Practice Group) born Miami, Florida, 1946; admitted to bar, 1976, Florida; 1984, U.S. District Court, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida and U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Education: University of Florida (B.A., 1968); University of Miami (J.D., 1976). Author: "Cross Examine That Doctor Without a Deposition," Trial Techniques Committee Newsletter, Spring 2006; "Opening Your Closing Argument," Trial Techniques Committee Newsletter, Fall/Winter 2004. Co-Author: with Dan Vega, "So You Thought A Remand Was Imminent? Post-Removal Litigation and the Waiver of the Right to Seek a Remand Grounded on Removal Defects," Florida Bar Journal, February 2000; with Dan Vega, "Avoiding Removal Traps and Pitfalls," The Brief, Summer 2000. Speaker: "Volunteerism, The Act of Giving," ACC Alumni Directors' Conference, March 7, 2007; "Basic Federal Practice 2007 - Trial Preparation/Trial Strategies," The Florida Bar, Young Lawyers Division, March 29, 2007. Former Trustee, University of Miami, 2003-2009. Past President, University of Miami Alumni Association. Vice Chair and Trustee, Historical Association of Southern Florida Foundation. Former Chair: Family Counseling Services; Informed Families of Dade County, Inc. Chair, Trial Techniques Committee, Tort and Insurance Practice Section. Member: The Florida Bar (Eleventh Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission, 2002-2006; Vice Chair, Unlicensed Practice of Law Committee "11B", 1998-2001; Chair, Eleventh Circuit Grievance Committee "L", 1997; Judicial Nominating Procedures Committee, 1992-1995 and 1999-2005; Judicial Administration and Evaluation Committee); American Bar Association (Vice Chair, Trial Techniques Committee, Tort and Insurance Practice Section); Defense Research Institute; Florida Defense Lawyers Association. (Board Certified, Civil Trial Lawyer, Florida Board of Legal Specialization and Education). Reported Cases: Sylvia Allen, as Personal Representative of the Estate of James Robert Allen, deceased v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., et. al.; Ryder Communications, Inc., a Florida corporation, and David Ryder v. American Telephone and Telegraph, Inc., a Foreign Corporation No. 04-12454, 2005 WL 327498; Ricky S. McLemore, et al v. Honda Motor Company, Ltd., et al - Broward County, Florida, October 4, 2000 - November 17, 2000; Florencia Espinosa Vidal as pers. rep. of the Estate of Maria de Jesus Espinosa Vidal v. American Airlines; Fabiola Lozada as pers. rep. of the Estate of Adolfo Leon Lozada, deceased v. American Airlines, Inc.; Domingo Gomez Ortiz, as Executor, Administrator and/or Personal Representative of the Estate of Luis Fernando Gomez Herrera, deceased v. American Airlines, Inc.; Cornell v. Honda - Manatee County, Florida; June 5, 1995-June 15, 1995; Weaver v. Honda - Broward County, Florida; May, 1996; NBC Aviation, Inc. v. Challenge Air Cargo, Inc. - Dade County, Florida. 637 So.2d 390 (Fla. 3d DCA 1994); Schoen v. Gilbert, 436 So. 2d 75 (Fla. 1983). Practice Areas: Trial Practice; Products Liability; Insurance Law.Email: Gregory M. Cesarano
Nancy Carolyn Ciampa (Shareholder) born Sumter, South Carolina, 1953; admitted to bar, 1997, Florida, U.S. District Court, Southern and Northern Districts of Florida, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Eleventh Circuits and U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of Maine (B.A., 1974); Boston University (M.A., Education, summa cum laude, 1979); Nova Southeastern University (J.D., summa cum laude, 1997). Staff Member, 1995-1996 and Lead Technical Editor, 1996-1997, Nova Journal of International and Comparative Law. Recipient, Francis Deak Award for the best student written article on an international law topic published in the United States, 1995-1996. Author: "Focusing on the Facts, The Value of Appellate Counsel," For The Defense, May 2004; Comment, "United States Asylum Law; The Failure of the United States to Accommodate Women's Gender Based Asylum Claims," ILSA Journal of International and Comparative Law, Winter, 1996. Co-Author: "The Ruder Report: Navigating Between Scylla and Charybdis," Securities Arbitration Update 1996, ALI-ABA Court Study Materials, 15th Annual Federal Securities Institute, February, 1997. Co-Author, with Professor John B. Anderson: "Ballot Initiatives: Recommendations for Change," The Florida Bar Journal, April, 1997. Member, Appellate Practice Law Section, The Florida Bar. Member, Sections on: Appellate and Litigation, American Bar Association. Member: Defense Research Institute (Chair, Appellate Advocacy Committee Amicus Sub-Committee). (Board Certified Appellate Practice Lawyer, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education). Reported Cases: Houck v. Tarragon Management, Inc., 4 So. 3d 73 (Fla. 1st DCA 2009); Jacques v. The Equitable Life Assurance, 972 So. 2d 265 (Fla. 4th DCA 2008); Florida State Oriental Medical Ass'n, Inc. v. Slepin, 971 So. 2d 141 (Fla. 1st DCA 2007) (pro bono); Omni National Bank v. Georgia Banking Co., 951 So. 2d 1006 (Fla. 3d DCA 2007); Provident Life & Acc. Ins. Co. v. Genovese, 943 So. 2d 321 (Fla. 4th DCA 2006) (amicus curiae); Stoppa v. Sussco, Inc., 943 So. 2d 309 (Fla. 3d DCA 2006); Hansen v. State, 898 So. 2d 201 (Fla. 2d DCA 2005) (pro bono); State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Sosnowski, 836 So. 2d 1099 (Fla. 5th DCA 2003); D'Angelo v. Orkin Extermination Co., Inc., 826 So. 2d 413 (Fla. 4th DCA 2002); Medical Management Group of Orlando, Inc. v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 811 So. 2d 705 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002); D'Amario v. Ford Motor Co., 806 So. 2d 424 (Fla. 2001); Juno Marine Agency, Inc. v. Taibil, 761 So. 2d 373 (Fla. 3d DCA 2000); Seifert v. U.S. Homes, 750 So. 2d 633 (Fla. 1999); Nash v. General Motors Corp., 734 So. 2d 437 (Fla. 3d DCA 1999). Practice Areas: Appellate Practice; Trial Support.Email: Nancy Carolyn Ciampa
Jeffrey A. Cohen (Shareholder) born New York, N.Y., 1970; admitted to bar, 1995, Florida, U.S. District Court, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth and Eleventh Circuits. Education: University of Wisconsin, Madison (B.A., 1992); University of Miami (J.D., cum laude, 1995). Order of the Coif. Projects Editor, University of Miami Law Review. Member: Defense Research Institute (Co-Chairman of Membership, Appellate Practice Committee; Member; Products Liability Committee; Automotive Products Substantive Law Group). Reported Cases: Grunow v. Valor Corp. of Florida, 904 So. 2d 551(Fla. 4th DCA 2005); General Motors Corp. v. Porritt, 891 So. 2d 1056 (Fla. 2d DCA 2004); Hockensmith v. Ford Motor Company, Case No. 03-13729 (11th Cir. 2004); Tableau Fine Art Group v. Jacoboni, 853 So. 2d 299 (Fla. 2003); Dourado v. Ford Motor Company, 843 So. 2d 913 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003); Williams v. Potamkin Motor Cars, Inc., 835 So. 2d 310 (Fla. 3d DCA 2002); Scheman-Gonzalez v. Saber Manuf. Co., 816 So. 2d 1133 (Fla. 4th DCA 2002); Oller v. Ford Motor Co., 265 F.3d 1062 (11th Cir. 2001)(table opinion); D'Amario v. Ford Motor Company, 806 So. 2d 424 (Fla. 2001); Jackson v. General Motors Corp., 60 S.W.3d 800 (Tenn. 2001)(amicus brief); Ford Motor Company v. Meyers, 771 So. 2d 1202 (Fla. 4th DCA 2000); Marlin v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., 761 So. 2d 380 (Fla. 4th DCA 1998); Bell Sports, Inc. v. Yarusso, 759 A.2d 582 (Del. 2000); Almeida v. FMC Corp., 740 So. 2d 557 (Fla. 3d DCA 1999); American First Federal Inc. v. Lake Forest Park Inc., 198 F.3d 1259 (11th Cir. 1999); Santana v. Reliastar Life Insurance Co., 732 So.2d 1078 (Fla. 3d DCA 1999); Goulah v. Ford Motor Company, 118 F.3d 1478 (11th Cir. 1997); Ciba-Geigy, Ltd. v. Fish Peddler, Inc., 691 So. 2d 1111 (Fla. 4th DCA 1997)(amicus brief); Jenkins v. Budd Co., 689 So. 2d 426 (Fla. 3d DCA 1997); Hoover v. Bell Sports, Inc., 103 F.3d 147 (11th Cir. 1996)(table opinion). Practice Areas: Products Liability; Appeals; Commercial Litigation.Email: Jeffrey A. Cohen
Jeffrey Michael Cohen (Shareholder) born Dayton, Ohio, 1940; admitted to bar, 1965, Florida, U.S. District Court, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Eleventh Circuits and U.S. Supreme Court. Education: Colgate University (A.B., 1962); Columbia University (J.D., 1965). Psi Chi. Listed in: Who's Who in American Law; Best Lawyers in America; South Florida Legal Guide "Top Lawyer"; Florida Monthly "Top Lawyer"; Florida "Super Lawyers". Assistant Public Defender, 1968-1970. Assistant State Attorney - Major Crimes Division, 1970-1972. Special Assistant State Attorney for Public Corruption Cases, 1973. Adjunct Professor: Litigation Skills, University of Miami School of Law, 1989; Adjunct Professor of Intensive Advocacy, Nova Southeastern University School of Law 2000. Faculty Member, National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Courses on Trial Skills and Deposition Skills, 1990. Faculty, Florida Bar and Trial Lawyers Section Course on Advanced Trial Skills, 2006. Lecturer: on "Banking Litigation," American Institute of Banking; "Fidelity Bonds and D & O Coverage," ABA Fidelity Bond Section 2002, "Declaratory Judgments - The Antidote for Bad Faith" ABA Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee 2005, "The Florida Bar Certification Program," ABA Committee on Specialization 2004. Author, "Recovery of Extra-contractual (Consequential) Damages in First-Party Bad Faith Cases," ABA "Coverage Magazine". Member, Panel of Arbitrators, American Arbitration Association, 1991. Member: Dade County Bar Association (Member, Board of Directors, 1996-2004); The Florida Bar (Member: Trial Lawyers Section; Subcommittee on Legislation; Chairman, Grievance Committee, "L", 1973-1976; Chairman, Grievance Committee, "C", 1978-1981; Chairman, Civil Trial Law Certification Committee, 1990-1994; 1997-2000; Chairman, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education, 2000-2006; American Bar Association (Member, Litigation Section; Co-Chair, Bad Faith Subcommittee, Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee, 2006); The Association of Trial Lawyers of America; American Judicature Society; Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers. (Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy) (Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education). Practice Areas: Complex Litigation; Trial Practice; Insurance Bad Faith; Insurance Coverage.Email: Jeffrey Michael Cohen
Ana Morales Craig (Shareholder) born Miami, Florida, 1970; admitted to bar, 1996, Florida and U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Florida. Education: University of Florida (B.A., 1992; J.D., with honors, 1996). Member: The Florida Bar; American Bar Association (Member, International Committee); Defense Research Institute. Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Products Liability; Probate Litigation; Civil Litigation.Email: Ana Morales Craig
David S. Drobner (Shareholder) born Miami, Florida, 1960; admitted to bar, 1985, Florida. Education: University of Florida (B.S., with highest honors, 1982; J.D., with honors, 1985). Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honor Society, 1983. Recipient: Real Property Book Award, highest exam, 1983; Environmental Law Book Award, highest exam, 1984. Listed in Chambers USA Guide to America's Leading Business Lawyers (Real Estate), 2007, 2008 and 2009 editions. Selected for inclusion in Florida Trend's 2007 and 2009 Florida Legal Elite. Listed in The Legal 500 (Real Estate Transactions and Finance). Law Clerk to Circuit Judge, Miami, 1983. Civil Clinic Participant, Center for Governmental Responsibility - Researcher, Peer Tutor (Contracts Law). ICSC Panelist (Retail Shopping Center CAM issues, 2006). Member: The Florida Bar (Member, Sections on: Real Property, Probate and Trust Law); American Bar Association (Member, Sections on: Real Property, Probate and Trust Law; Business Law; Member, Landlord/Tenant Committee). Transactions: Landlord's Counsel, concluding negotiations of (i) 120,000 sq. ft. ground lease major home goods chain; (ii) 70,000 sq. ft. anchor lease, national home and soft-goods chain; (iii) 50,000 sq. ft. national men's high-end clothing retailer; (iv) 69,000 sq. ft. national dollar store; (v) 24,000 sq. ft. national branded electronics superstore; (vi) Landlord's counsel for well over 1,000 garden variety retail lease negotiations; (vii) Tenant's Counsel, concluding negotiations of ground lease, construction and occupancy of Class A office building (national banking institution); numerous similar negotiations. Practice Areas: Commercial Real Estate Leasing(95%); Mortgage Finance(5%).Email: David S. Drobner
Amy E. Furness (Shareholder) admitted to bar, 1991, Pennsylvania and New Jersey; 1994, Florida and U.S. District Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida. Education: Drexel University (B.S., 1988); Widener University (J.D., 1991). Research Engineer, United Engineers and Constructors, Inc. and ARCO Chemical Company. Author, section of the Florida Bar's Handbook "Gender Equality in the Legal Profession, Practicing with Professionalism Handbook". Author, "Pro Bono for Paralegals Reference Guide," prepared for the Institute for Paralegal Education. Member: The Florida Bar (Young Lawyers Section, The Florida Board of Governors, Past Member, Eleventh Circuit Representative); American Bar Association (Litigation Section, 1994); Defense Research Institute; Globalaw (Product Liability Committee, 2005). Languages: Italian. Practice Areas: Products Liability; Insurance Law; Toxic Tort; Commercial Litigation.Email: Amy E. Furness
Roger S. Goldman (Shareholder) born Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 1953; admitted to bar, 1980, Florida. Education: University of Maryland (B.S., with high honors, 1974; J.D., with honors, 1980). Beta Gamma Sigma. Member: The Florida Bar (Member, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section); American Bar Association (Member, Sections on: Business Law; Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Sections). Practice Areas: Real Estate; Real Estate Leasing; Business Transactions; Commercial Real Estate Finance.Email: Roger S. Goldman
Mark D. Greenberg (Shareholder) born Boston, Massachusetts, 1954; admitted to bar, 1979, Florida; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Eleventh Circuits; U.S. District Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida; U.S. Supreme Court. Education: Harvard University (B.A., cum laude, 1976); University of Florida (J.D., 1979). Member: Defense Research Institute; The Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Reported Cases: In Re Kayajanian, 27 B.R. (Bankr.S.D. Fla. 1983); Scurio v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 448 So. 2d 72 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1984); Rich v. Independent Life & Acc. Ins. Co., 451 So. 2d 894 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1984); Jutagir v. Marlin, 453 So. 2d 503 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1984); Finberg v. Herald Fire Ins. Co., 455 So. 2d 462 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1984); Generali v. D'Amico, 766 F. 2d 485, 1986 A.M.C. 1051 (11th Cir. Fla.); Diaz by Rivas v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 475 So. 2d 932 (Fla. 3rd DCA); Cudlipp v. Blue Chip Laundry, Inc., 476 So. 2d 783 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1986); Garcia v. Garcia, 481 So. 2d 1278 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1986); Hang Fat Co. v. Twin Express., Inc., 483 So. 2d 556 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1986); Enfield's Miami Photo, Inc. v. Keyes Co., Inc., 489 So. 2d. 1203 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1986); Burns v. Otis Elevator Co., 550 So. 2d 21 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1989); C.M. Life Ins. Co. v. Ortega through Ortega, 562 So. 2d 702 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1990); Stinson, Lyons, Gerlin & Bustamante, P.A. v. Brickell Bldg. 1 Holding Co., Inc., 923 F. 2d 810 (11th Cir. Fla. 1991); Jumbo Nav., N.V. v. Melchior, 1991 WL 133552, 1991 A.M.C. 1518 (S.D. Fla. 1991); Groff v. Paul Revere Life Ins. Co., 887 F. Supp. 1515 (S.D. Fla. 1993); Greenberg v. Mount Sinai Medical Center, Inc., 629 So. 2d 252 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1993); Wiesenberg v. Paul Revere Life Ins. Co., 887 F. Supp. 1529 (S.D. Fla. 1995); Brooks v. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, 1995 WL 931702 (S.D. Fla. 1995)*; Brooks v. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, 116 F. 3d 1364 (11th Cir. Fla. 1997)*; Dinerstein v. Paul Revere Life Ins. Co., 173 F. 3d 826 (11th Cir. Fla. 1999); Stern v. Paul Revere Life Ins. Co., 744 So. 2d 1084 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999); Spatz v. Paul Revere Life Ins. Co., 746 So. 2d 1137 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999); Zohar v. Paul Revere Life Ins. Co., 769 So. 2d 1047 (Fla. 3rd DCA 2000); Damus, Ecker v. Paul Revere Life Ins. Co., 864 So. 2d 442 (Fla. 3rd DCA 2003)*; *In the Brooks case I represented First National Life Insurance Company at the trial and appellate levels as Lead Counsel. For unknown reasons, my involvement as Counsel does not appear in the published opinion. In the Damus, Ecker case, I was Trial Counsel and Co-Counsel for Paul Revere on the appeal. Practice Areas: Insurance; Disability Insurance; Life and Health Insurance; Contract Litigation.Email: Mark D. Greenberg
Merrick L. "Rick" Gross (Shareholder) born Brooklyn, New York; admitted to bar, 1987, Florida. Education: Emory University (B.A., summa cum laude, 1984); Boston University School of Law (J.D., 1987). Recipient: Florida Bar Business Law Section, Section Member of the Year Award (2002-2003); Dade County Bar Association, Committee Chair Exceptional Service Award (1999-2000, 2001-2002, 2003-2004, 2004-2005); American Bar Association Section of Litigation Outstanding Subcommittee Chair Award (2004-2005). Florida Supreme Court Task Force on Management of Cases Involving Complex Litigation, 2006-2008 (appointed by Chief Justice R. Fred Lewis). Ad Hoc Rules Committee of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, 2003-2007. Regional Coordinating Editor, "ABA Survey of State Class Action Law" (2002-2007). Co-Author: Chapter on Model Jury Instructions entitled "Confusion of Source," Chapter Four, Business Torts Litigation Model Jury Instructions, American Bar Association (4th Edition 2005); "Fifty State Survey of the Standards Governing the Admissibility of Expert Scientific Evidence," Commercial & Business Litigation Committee Newsletter, American Bar Association (August 2003) and Committee on Trial Evidence Newsletter, American Bar Association (Spring 2004). Speaker/Moderator: "An Introduction to Business Courts," CLE Program, ABA YDL (October 2007); "Business Courts in the United States - An Update," CLE Program, ABA Annual Meeting (August 2007); "An Introduction to Business Courts and Complex Litigation Courts - What Works Best and Why," CLE Program, ABA Annual Meeting, (August 2007) and ABA BLT Live Teleconference (April 9, 2008); "Business Courts: Are They Working and Why," CLE Program, ABA Section of Business Law Annual Spring Meeting, (April 2006). Speaker, "200 Review of Recent Developments in Business and Corporate Litigation," CLE Program, ABA Section of Business Law Annual Spring Meeting (April 2006). Moderator: "Will the Court Allow My Damages Expert to Testify: How to Survive a Daubert Challenge - A Live Demonstration," CLE Program, ABA Annual Meeting (August 2005); "Is My Expert Evidence Admissible: How to Prepare for and Succeed at a Daubert Hearing - A Live Demonstration," CLE Program, ABA Section of Litigation Annual Meeting (April 2005); "Business Courts: Are They Working and Why," CLE Program, ABA Section of Litigation Committee on Corporate Counsel CLE Meeting (February 2005); Pushing the Expert Testimony Envelope: The Intricacies of a Daubert Hearing - A Live Demonstration," CLE Program, ABA Section of Litigation Annual Meeting (April 2003). Speaker, "Why Jury Research Works: From Mock Trial to Mach Trial," CLE Program, ABA Corporate Committee Annual Meeting (February 2002). Moderator, "Advice from the Experts: Successful Strategies for Litigating Commercial Cases in Federal Courts," CLE Program, The Florida Bar (September 2002, Miami and October 2003, Orlando). Speaker: "Creditors' Rights in Bankruptcy in Florida," Seminar, Sterling Education Services, LLC (February 2002); "Priorities among Creditors" and "Non Bankruptcy Rights of Secured Creditors Upon Default," Seminar, Sterling Education Services, LLC (February 2002); "Business Litigation, Unlike Any Other Litigation," Seminar, The Florida Bar (November 1997). Author: Case Note entitled, "Florida Constitution Protects Homestead Property From Creditors Even if Purchased With Non-Exempt Funds With Intent to Defraud Creditors," Business Torts Newsletter, American Bar Association (January 2002). Member: American Bar Associations (Business Law Section Business and Corporate Litigation Committee, Business Courts Subcommittee, Chair 2005; Vice-Chair 2004-2005; Co-Chair, Litigation Section, 2011; Co-Chair, Section Annual Conference, 2009; Trial Evidence Committee, Co-Chair 2008-2009; Business Torts Committee, Books Subcommittee, Co-Chair 2005-2007; Programming Subcommittee, Co-Chair, 2001-2006; 11th Circuit Subcommittee, Chair, 1999-2002; Committee on Corporate Council, 2008 CLE Meeting, Co-Chair 2007-2008); The Florida Bar (Standing Committee on Judicial Independence, 2007, Vice-Chair, 2009; Business Law Section, Immediate Past Chair, 2008-2009, Chair, 2007-2008, Chair-Elect, 2006-2007, Treasurer/Secretary, 2005-2006, Member, Executive Council, 1997, Chair, Business Litigation Committee, 1998-1999; Co-Chair, Business Courts Committee, 1999-2004; Chair, Legislative Committee, 2004-2005; Co-Chair, Section Annual Retreat Committee, 2002-2005; Co-Chair, MJP Committee 2003-2005, and Trial Lawyers Section); Dade County Bar Association (President, 2006-2007; President-Elect, 2005-2006; Vice President, 2004-2005, Director, 2001-2004; Civil Litigation Committee, Chairman, 2000-2002; Banking and Corporate Litigation Committee, Chairman, 1998-2000, 2002-2003; Federal Courts Committee, Chairman, 2003-2005); Federal Bar Association. Fellow: American Bar Foundation; Florida Bar Foundation. Reported Cases: Ellipsis v. The Color Works, Inc., 2006 WL 1207589 (W.D. Tenn. 2006) (Successfully obtained summary judgment in favor of client resulting in dismissal with prejudice of all of plaintiff's claims in case where $54 million in damages sought); Ellipsis v. The Color Works, Inc., 428 F. Supp 2d (W.D. Tenn. 2006) (Successfully had plaintiff's expert witnesses stricken with prejudice based upon failure of plaintiff's proposed expert testimony to comply with Federal Rule of Evidence 702 and Daubert); Ellipsis, Inc. v. The Color Works, Inc., 227 F.R.D. 496 (W.D. Tenn. 2005) (Successfully obtained order from court that defendant was entitled to dispose attorney from opposing law firm, who was not plaintiff's trial counsel, and whose deposition would not expose plaintiff's trial strategy); Rodriguez v. Amstar Insurance Company, 888 So 3d 760 (Fla. 3d DCA 2004) (Successfully obtained dismissal with prejudice of claims against insurance company client in class action suit asserting that process of taking betterment deductions when processing claims was improper); In re United Container LLC, E.S. Bankest, LLC v. United Beverage Florida, LLC et. al., 284 B.R. 162 (Bkrtcy. S.D. Fla. 2002) (Successfully obtained remand of case from Bankruptcy Court to State Court, a more favorable forum for client to present defenses); Temple et. al. v. Gorman et. al., 201 F. Supp 2d 1238 (S.D. Fla. 2002) (Successfully obtained dismissal with prejudice of claims against individual client in multi-party suit asserting federal and state securities law violation claims arising from investments in a start-up dot.com entity); Molenda v. Hoechst Celanese Corporation, 60 F. Supp. 2d 1294 (S.D. Fla. 1999), aff'd, F. 3d (11th Cir., March 27, 2000) (Obtained a favorable summary judgment and directed verdict for client in a breach of contract/defamation/ Florida Whistleblower Act/ ADEA case which was upheld by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, resulting in an award of attorney's fees to defendant client). Practice Areas: Complex Commercial Litigation; Creditors' Rights Litigation; Banking Litigation; Securities Litigation; Class Action Defense.Email: Merrick L. "Rick" Gross
Alan Grunspan (Shareholder) born Tel Aviv, Israel, 1959; admitted to bar, 1984, Florida, U.S. District Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Education: University of South Florida (B.A., 1981); Florida State University (J.D., cum laude, 1984). Omicron Delta Kappa. President, Mortar Board. Recipient, American Jurisprudence Book Awards in: Contracts I; Constitutional Law. Author: "The Florida Castle Doctrine," Florida Bar Journal, November 1983; "Recent Developments in Civil RICO Litigation," Florida Bar Journal, July/August 1990. Practice Areas: Litigation; Alternative Dispute Resolution.Email: Alan Grunspan
Nancy Hagan Henry (Shareholder) born Jacksonville, Florida, 1950; admitted to bar, 1975, Florida and U.S. District Court, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Education: Vanderbilt University (B.A., 1972); University of Florida (J.D., 1974). Member, University of Florida Law Review, 1973-1974. Law Clerk: to the Honorable Griffin B. Bell, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 1974-1975; to the Honorable James Lawrence King, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, 1975-1976. Former General Attorney and Assistant Secretary, Florida Power & Light Company. Member: American Bar Association; The Florida Bar (Committee that reviewed the ABA Model Rules of Conduct and later drafted the Rules of Professional Conduct for The Florida Bar); Southern District of Florida (Ad Hoc Committee on Rules and Procedure). Reported Cases: Marotte v. American Airlines, Inc., 159 F.Supp.2d 1374 (S.D. Fla. 2001), affirmed, 296 F.3d 1255 (11th Cir. 2002); Siek v. American Airlines, Inc., 238 F. Supp. 2d 1309 (S.D. Fla. 2002); Watson v. American Airlines, Inc., 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11143 (D. Md. 2002); Buchbinder v. American Airlines, Inc., 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5714 (S.D. Fla. 2002); Blake v. American Airlines, Inc., 90 F. Supp. 2d 1265 (S.D. Fla. 2000), affirmed, 245 F.3d 1213 (11th Cir. 2001); Belak v. American Airlines, Inc., 2001 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2742 (S.D. Fla. 2001); In re American Airlines, Inc. Flight 869 Turbulence Incident of January 17, 1996, 128 F. Supp.2d 1367 (S. D. Fla. 2001); Pina v. American Airlines, Inc., 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8497 (S.D. Fla. 2000); North American Specialty Ins. Co. v. Bergeron Land Dev., Inc., 745 So. 2d 359 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999); Walco Investments, Inc. v. Thenen, 168 F.R.D. 315 (S.D. Fla. 1996). Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Securities; Employment.Email: Nancy Hagan Henry
Amy Lane Hurwitz (Shareholder) born Miami Beach, Florida; admitted to bar, 2000, Florida; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida. Education: University of Florida (B.S., with honors, 1994; M.H.S., Health Science, 1995); University of Miami (J.D., cum laude, 2000). Articles and Comments Editor, University of Miami Law Review. Member, Moot Court Board, University of Miami. Member: American Bar Association (Member, Litigation and Health Law Section). Reported Cases: Ganiko v. Ganiko, 826 So. 2d 391 (Fla. 1st DCA 2002) Practice Areas: Products Liability; Toxic Tort Liability; Pharmaceutical and Medical Device.Email: Amy Lane Hurwitz
Kristy M. Johnson (Shareholder) born Melbourne, Florida, 1969; admitted to bar, 1998, Florida; U.S. District Court, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida. Education: University of Florida (B.S., 1994; J.D., with honors, 1998). Attorney, Agency for Health Care Administration and the Department of Health in Tallahassee, Florida (litigated complex medical regulatory cases before the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings and the Florida Board of Medicine). Certified in Health Care Compliance by the Health Care Compliance Association. Speaker, The Miami-Dade FAWL Challenge, Miami, FL (May 29, 2009). Presenter, "Medical Records Law in Florida," Lorman Education Seminar to the Metro Dade Firefighters Wellness Center, Miami, FL (January 30, 2009). Speaker, "Medical Record-Keeping in Florida," Lorman Presentation, Fort Lauderdale, FL (September 17, 2008). Panelist, "Practicing with Professionalism," Florida Bar Program (January 2008). Speaker, "Medical Records on Trial," Florida Society of Medical Assistants (April 2002). Author: "Can Medical Records Be Accessed On Computer?" Ask A Lawyer, Orlando Sentinel, July 29, 2009. Member: The Florida Bar; American Bar Association (Member, Section of Litigation); Dade County Bar Association (Put Something Back); Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Miami-Dade FAWL Chapter (President-Elect, 2009-2010; Board of Directors, 2003-2007; Treasurer, 2007-2008; Secretary, 2008-2009; Co-Chaired Fundraiser for Educate Tomorrow, October 2008; Chaired Miami-Dade FAWL Challenge, May 2009). Practice Areas: Health Law; Fair Labor Standards; Labor and Employment; Professional Licensing; Health Care Compliance; Health Care; Administrative Law; General Commercial Litigation.Email: Kristy M. Johnson
Seth P. Joseph (Shareholder) born Long Beach, New York, December 30, 1954; admitted to bar, 1979, Florida and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. Education: Hofstra University (B.A., magna cum laude, 1976); University of Miami (J.D., magna cum laude, 1979). Articles and Comments Editor, University of Miami Law Review, 1978. Commissioner, Tax and Budget Reform Commission, State of Florida, 1991-2000. Member: The Florida Bar (Corporate, Banking and Capital Markets Section); American Bar Association (Business Law Section). Practice Areas: Securities; Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures; Corporate Law.Email: Seth P. Joseph
Bruce Charles King (Shareholder) born Amityville, New York, 1953; admitted to bar, 1978, Pennsylvania; 1979, Florida, U.S. District Court, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth, Fifth and Eleventh Circuits; U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Education: Allegheny College (B.A., 1975); University of Pittsburgh (J.D., 1978). Member, Order of Barristers. Co-Author: "Representation of Multiple Parties in the Construction Arena: Ethical Issues," The Construction Lawyer (Fall 2005). Author: "Takeover and Completion of Bonded Contracts by the Surety," THE BRIEF, Vol. 27, No. 1, Fall 1997; "The Surety's Right to Indemnity," The Law of Suretyship (Second Edition), 2000; "Indemnitors' Defenses and Counterclaims" and "Effect of Principal's Filing for Bankruptcy on the Surety's Right of Indemnification," The Law of Suretyship, 1993 and 1994. Member, Panel of Arbitrators, American Arbitration Association. Member: American Bar Association (Vice Chair of Fidelity and Surety Law Committee); Dade County Bar Association (Chairman, Construction Law Committee, 1992); Pennsylvania Bar Association; International Association of Defense Counsel. (Board Certified Construction Law Lawyer, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education). Practice Areas: Construction Litigation; Fidelity and Surety; Commercial Litigation.Email: Bruce Charles King
Neil D. Kodsi (Shareholder) born Hartford, Connecticut, 1966; admitted to bar, 1991, Georgia; 1996, North Carolina; 2005, Florida; U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida. Education: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (B.A., 1988); Wake Forest University (J.D., 1991). Order of the Barristers. Adjunct Professor, Wake Forest University School of Law (Fall 2004). Author: "Confronting Experts Whose Opinions Are Neither Supported nor Directly Contradicted by Scientific Literature," The Florida Bar Journal, June 2006. Member: State Bar of Georgia; North Carolina State Bar. Practice Areas: Litigation; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Products Liability; Toxic Tort Liability.Email: Neil D. Kodsi
Leonor M. Lagomasino (Shareholder) born Hartford, Connecticut, 1961; admitted to bar, 1988, Florida. Education: Loyola University (B.B.A., 1983); University of Florida (J.D., 1987). Phi Delta Phi. Member: Moot Court Team; United Way; Women's Leadership Circle. Presenter, "Agent Misconduct," Defense Research Institute's Life, Health and Disability Seminar, New York, New York (April 2009). Presenter: "Hot Topics in Life, Health and Disability," Defense Research Institute, New Orleans, Louisiana (October 2008); "Emerging Trends in Disability Litigation," International Claims Association, Palm Springs, California (September 2008). Member: Federal Bar Association; Defense Research Institute (Member, Law Committee); International Claims Association (Member, Law Committee); Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce (Member, Small Business Committee). Reported Cases: Jacques v. Equitable Life Assur. Soc., 972 So. 2d 265 (Fla. 4th DCA 2008); Grau v. Provident Life and Acc. Ins. Co., 899 So. 2d 396 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005); Zohar v. Paul Revere Life Insurance Co., 769 So. 2d 1047 (Fla. 3rd DCA 2000); Spatz v. Paul Revere Life Insurance Co., 746 So. 2d 1137 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999); Dinerstein v. Paul Revere Life Insurance Co., 173 F. 3d 826 (11th Cir. 1999); Smith v. Paul Revere Life Insurance Co., 998 F. Supp. 1412 (S.D. Fla. 1997); Joseph Middlebrooks & Associates, Inc. v. Fyne-Kemp, 664 So. 2d 72 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1995); Conley v. Morley Realty Corp., 575 So. 2d 253 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1991); A & W Electric of Miami, Inc. v. Abraira, 567 So. 2d 36 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1990); CB Institutional Fund VIII v. Gemballa USA, 566 So. 2d 896 (Fla. 4th DCA 1990). Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Disability Insurance; Insurance Defense; Commercial Litigation.Email: Leonor M. Lagomasino
Jose A. Loredo (Shareholder) born Camaguey, Cuba, 1961; admitted to bar, 1986, Florida; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida; U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Education: University of Miami (B.B.A., 1983; J.D., 1986). Certified Public Accountant, Florida, 1987. Title Agent, First American Title Insurance Company. Member: The Florida Bar (Serving on Standing Committee on Relations with CPAs and The FICPA). Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Labor and Employment; Litigation; Real Estate Litigation; Creditor Bankruptcy; International Trade and Transactions.Email: Jose A. Loredo
Wendy Frank Lumish (Leader, Appellate Practice and Trial Support Group) born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1956; admitted to bar, 1981, Florida; 1996, Minnesota; U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida; U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida. Education: Lehigh University (B.A., 1978); University of Miami (J.D., 1981). Chapter Co-Author: "Preparing for the Appeal," Chapter 36 in Product Liability Litigation: Current Law, Strategies and Best Practices, PLI Treatise (October 2009). Co-Author: "A Lot Of Evidence Is Still No Evidence," For The Defense, at 54 (December 2006). Author: "Warning! Failure To Read This Article May Be Hazardous To Your Failure To Warn Defense," 27 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 439 (2000). Author: "Kinney System Inc. v. The Continental Insurance Company: Forum Non Conveniens Revisited," The Florida Bar Journal (1996). Speaker, "A Closer Look at the Impact of State Farm v. Campbell," Lorman Education Services, Punitive Damages in Florida (December 3, 2003). Speaker, "Panel Discussion: Emerging Issues in Tort Litigation," FDLA Annual Meeting (August 8, 2003). Speaker, "SUV Aggressivity," Defense Research Institute, The Product Liability Seminar Automotive Products Specialized Litigation Group (February 10, 1999). 2006 Distinguish Service Award, presented by the Product Liability Advisory Council. 2006 Most Effective Lawyer, Appellate, presented by the Miami Daily Business Review. Listed in Florida Trend magazine's 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 Florida Legal Elite issues. Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, 2005-2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 editions. Listed in Chambers USA Guide to America's Leading Business Lawyers (Appellate, Products Liability) 2007-2008, 2008, and 2009 editions. Selected for inclusion in Florida Super Lawyers 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 editions, also named on Top 50 Female Lawyers list. Listed in the Top 100 in South Florida by the South Florida Legal Guide (2009). Phi Beta Kappa. The Florida Third District Court of Appeal Historical Society. The Eleventh Circuit Historical Society. Senior Research Aide to The Honorable Joseph Nesbitt, 3rd District Court of Appeal for the State of Florida (1981-1984). Member: The Florida Bar (Appellate Section); Florida Standard Jury Instructions Committee; Product Liability Advisory Council; American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, Fellow; Defense Research Institute; American Bar Association (Litigation Section, TIPS); Dade County Bar Association. (Board Certified, Appellate Practice Lawyer, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education). Reported Cases: Ford Motor Co. v. Hall-Edwards, No. 3D08-3220 (Fla. 3d DCA Oct. 21, 2009); Ford Motor Co. v. Hall-Edwards, 5 So. 3d 786 (Fla. 3d DCA 2009); Ford Motor Co. v. Hall-Edwards, 997 So. 2d 1148 (Fla. 3d DCA 2008); Ford Motor Co. v. Hall-Edwards, 971 So. 2d 854 (Fla. 3d DCA 2007), rev. denied, 982 So. 2d 1178 (Fla. 2008); RJ Reynolds v. Carter, 951 So. 2d 105 (Fla. 3d DCA 2007); Cerasani v. American Honda Motor Co., 955 So. 2d 543 (Fla. 2007); Engle v. Liggett Group Inc., 945 So. 2d 1246 (Fla. 2006). affirming in part and reversing in part, 853 So. 2d 434 (Fla. 3d DCA); Schlicht v. Ford Motor Co., 924 So. 2d 826 (Fla. 5th DCA 2006); Ryder v. AT&T, Inc., 156 Fed. Appx. 292 (11th Cir. 2005); Hooker v. Asplundh Tree Expert Co., 915 So. 2d 1199 (Fla. 1st DCA 2005); Grunow v. Valor Corp. of Florida, 904 So. 2d 551 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005); Force v. Ford Motor Company, 879 So. 2d 103 (Fla. 5th DCA 2004); General Motors Corp. v. Porritt, 891 So. 2d 1056 (Fla. 2d DCA 2004); Dourado v. Ford Motor Company, 843 So. 2d 913 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003); D'Angelo v. Fitzmaurice, 863 So. 2d 311 (Fla. 2003); Mason v. Ford Motor Company, 307 F.3d 1271 (11th Cir. 2002); Scheman-Gonzalez v. Saber Manuf. Co., 816 So. 2d 1133 (Fla. 4th DCA 2002); D'Amario v. Ford Motor Company, 806 So. 2d 424 (Fla. 2001); Jackson v. General Motors Corp., 60 S.W. 3d. 800 (Tenn. 2001); Goulah v. Ford Motor Company, 118 F.3d 1478 (11th Cir. 1997); Olson v. Ford Motor Co., 558 N.W. 2d 491 (Minn. 1997); Ridley v. Safety Kleen Corporation, 693 So. 2d 934 (Fla. 1996); Kinney System, Inc. v. Continental Insurance Company, 674 So. 2d 86 (Fla. 1996); Campbell v. Cutler Hammer, Inc., 996 F.2d 1164 (11th Cir. 1993), 646 So. 2d 573 (Ala. 1994). Practice Areas: Appellate Practice; Complex Litigation; Products Liability.Email: Wendy Frank Lumish
Robert B. Macaulay (Shareholder) born Littleton, New Hampshire, 1960; admitted to bar, 1983, Florida; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida. Education: University of Florida (B.S., with high honors, 1980); Harvard University (J.D., cum laude, 1983). Phi Beta Kappa. Languages: Spanish and Portuguese. Practice Areas: Securities; Corporate Law; Banks and Banking; International Law; Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures; Immigration Law.Email: Robert B. Macaulay
Marsha G. Madorsky (Shareholder) born Detroit, Michigan; admitted to bar, 1975, Florida; 1976, U.S. District Court, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Eleventh Circuits; U.S. Court of Claims; 1979, U.S. Supreme Court; 1984, U.S.Tax Court. Education: University of Florida (B.A., 1972; J.D., 1975); University of Miami (LL.M., in Taxation, 1983). Board of Trustees, Dade Community Foundation. Elected Member, Coconut Grove Village Council. Chair, Attorney's Division, Co-Chair, Business and Professional Woman's Division and Co-Chair, Commerce and Professions Division, Greater Miami Jewish Federation. Member, State of Florida Nursing Home Ombudsman. Professional Advisory Committee of Council of Jewish Philanthropies. Professional Advisory Committee of Jewish Family Services. Member: Greater Miami Tax Institute; Dade County Estate Planning Council. Member: The Florida Bar (Committees on: Probate Rules, 1998-2002; 2006; Student Education and Admissions and Tax Certification, 2002-2005; Member, Real Property and Probate Law Section, Executive Committee; 11th Judicial Circuit Representative; Member: Probate Law Committee; Trust Law Committee; Durable Power of Law Committee); Dade County Bar Association (Committees on: Probate and Guardianship and Judicial Evaluation); National Academy of Elder Law Attorney's Inc.; Florida Association of Women Lawyers (Board Member, Dade Chapter, 1981-1984). Fellow: Florida Bar Foundation. (Board Certified Tax Law Lawyer, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education). Practice Areas: Wealth Preservation(35%); Business Planning(10%); Trusts and Estates(40%); Guardianship Administration(2%); Estate Planning for the Elderly(2%); Estate Planning for the Disabled(1%); Corporate Law(5%); Business Transactions(5%).Email: Marsha G. Madorsky
Andrew J. Markus (Shareholder) born 1948; admitted to bar, 1974, Florida; 1977, District of Columbia. Education: Duke University (A.B., 1970); University of Florida (J.D., with honors, 1973); Vrije Universiteit Brussels (LL.M., magna cum laude, 1974). Past Chair and Past President, British American Chamber of Commerce, Miami. Chair, Advisory Committee on International Programs, University of Florida Law School. Vice Chair, Advisory Board, Center for Governmental Responsibility, University of Florida Law School. Founder, Past Chair and Board Member, Commercial Dispute Resolution Center of the Americas. Author: Chapter 13, "My Career as a Latin American Transactional Lawyer," Careers in International Law, Second Edition (ABA 2001); "Going International in Latin America," Counseling Emerging Companies in Going International (ABA 1994); Chapter 9, "Miami International Practice," Careers in International Law (ABA 1993); "The Role of US Counsel in Advising the Foreign Investor," Foreign Investment in U.S. Real Estate, A Comprehensive Guide (ABA 1990); "Business Structures," International Transactions Manual, (The Florida Bar 1988 and 1992) (with Maureen O'Brien). Member: American Bar Association (Section of International Law, Past Chair, 2003-2004; ABA Representative to the Council of the Inter American Bar Association, 2004; Member, Standing Committee on Membership of the American Bar Association, 2004; Delegate to the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association, 2005); The Florida Bar (Past-Chair, Section of International Law, 1991-1992); American Law Institute. Fellow: American Law Institute; American Bar Foundation. (Board Certified International Law Lawyer, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education). Languages: Spanish, French and Portuguese. Practice Areas: International Transactions; Commercial Finance; Corporate; Securities; Taxation; E-Commerce and Internet; Intellectual Property and Technology.Email: Andrew J. Markus
Carlos A. Mas (Shareholder) born Miami, Florida, May 9, 1973; admitted to bar, 1998, Florida. Education: Florida International University (B.B.A., magna cum laude, 1995); George Washington University (J.D., with honors, 1998). Member: Miami-Dade County and American Bar Associations; The Florida Bar (Member, Business Law Section); Cuban American Bar Association. Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Securities.Email: Carlos A. Mas
Niall T. McLachlan (Shareholder) born London, England, 1967; admitted to bar, 1995, Florida and U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida; U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Florida; 2004, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida; 2006, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Florida. Education: Florida State University (B.S., 1989); Florida Atlantic University (M.B.A., 1992); Nova Southeastern University (J.D., 1995). Member: Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers; Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Practice Areas: Litigation; Alternative Dispute Resolution.Email: Niall T. McLachlan
Thomas J. Meeks (Shareholder) born Tampa, Florida, 1953; admitted to bar, 1980, Florida; 1981, Georgia; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida including Trial Bar, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth, Eleventh and Federal Circuits and U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Education: University of Florida (B.A., with high honors, 1975; J.D., 1979). Chair, Ad Hoc Committee on Rules and Procedures, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida. Vice Chair, Ad Hoc Committee on Attorney Admissions, Peer Review and Attorney Grievance, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida. Member, Board of Trustees, St. Philip's Episcopal School, Coral Gables, Florida. Member: The Florida Bar (Former Co-Chair, Civil Procedure Rules Committee); State Bar of Georgia. Fellow: American Bar Foundation. Practice Areas: Business and Contract Litigation; Trade Secrets Litigation; Securities Broker-Dealer Litigation; Civil Fraud Litigation; Class Action Litigation; Copyright Litigation; Trust Litigation; Estate Litigation.Email: Thomas J. Meeks
Jason M. Murray (Shareholder) born Miami, Florida, 1966; admitted to bar, 1991, Florida; 1992, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; 1993, U.S. District Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida; 1994, District of Columbia; 1998, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida; 2005, U.S. Supreme Court. Education: Duke University (B.A., 1988); University of Virginia School of Law (J.D., 1991). Law Clerk, Judge Joseph W. Hatchett, Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, 1991-1992. Member, The American Law Institute. Member, Florida Supreme Court Task Force on Management of Cases Involving Complex Litigation, 2006. Member, Ad Hoc Committee On Attorney Admissions, Peer Review and Attorney Grievance, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, 2003-2005. Co-Author, "Covenants Not to Compete and Nonsignatories: Enjoining Unfair Conspiracies," Franchise L.J., Vol. 25, No. 3 (Winter 2006). Co-Author, Covenants Against Competition In Franchise Agreements, Second Edition, 2003 ABA Forum on Franchising Publication. Author, "White Ritual & Black Magic: Playing the Race Card," Litigation, The Journal of The Section of Litigation, American Bar Association, Vol. 31, No. 1 (Fall 2004). Author, "Developing Leadership Skills: Becoming a Young Apprentice," Goal IX, American Bar Association Commission On Racial And Ethnic Diversity In The Profession, Vol. 6, No. 1 (Winter 2000). Certified Florida Bar Diversity Trainer. Speaker, "Enjoining Nonsignatories to Covenants Against Competition," The Florida Bar Business Law Section, Antitrust Franchise & Trade Regulation Committee, Miami, Florida, December 6, 2007. Member: Dade County Bar Association (Board of Directors, 1998-2001; Executive Committee, 1998-1999, 2000-2001; Chairman: Judicial Issues Committee, 2000-2001; By-laws Committee, 2001-2002; Membership Committee, 2001-2002; Editorial Board, The Bulletin, DCBA Newspaper, 1999-2001); The Florida Bar (Member, Sections on: Equal Opportunities Law; Trial Lawyers; Business Law; Executive Council, Business Law Section, 2002; Chairman, 2003-2004 and Vice Chairman, 2002-2003, Antitrust, Franchise and Trade Regulations Committee); Federal Bar Association; American Bar Association (Associate Editor, The Franchise Lawyer, Forum on Franchising; Associate Editor, Litigation Magazine, Litigation Section, 2000-2006; Member, Franchising Committee, Intellectual Property Law Section); National Bar Association (Commercial Law Section, Minority Partners in Majority Law Firms Division; Member, Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter); American Law Institute; Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association (f/k/a Black Lawyers Association, Inc.) (Immediate Past President, 2001-2002, President, 2000-2001, President-Elect, 1999-2000, Executive Committee, 1999-2002, Chairman, Elections Committee, 2001-2002, Chairman, Scholarship Selection and Banquet Committee, 1999-2000, Chairman, By-laws Committee, 1999-2000). Reported Cases: Johnson v. Pires, (968 So.2d 700 Fla 4th DCA 2007); Gold X-Press Corp. v. Very Beary Venture I, No. 03-60176-CIV-ALTONAGA/Bandstra, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19747 (S.D. Fla. October 3, 2003). Kidder, Peabody & Co., Inc. v. Brandt, 131 F.3d 1001 (11th Cir. 1997). Smith Barney, Inc. v. Hyland, 969 F. Supp. 719 (M.D. Fla. 1997) aff'd, No. 97-2846, slip op. (11th Cir. June 19, 1998). United Impex, Inc. v. Citibank, N.A., 677 So.2d 1006 (Fla. 3d DCA 1996). Practice Areas: Franchises and Franchising; Business Law; Commercial Law; Contracts; Trademarks; Unfair Competition; Litigation.Email: Jason M. Murray
Paul L. Nettleton (Shareholder) born Orlando, Florida, 1959; admitted to bar, 1984, Florida and U.S. District Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth, Fifth, Eleventh and District of Columbia Circuits; U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of Florida (B.S., with high honors, 1981; J.D., with honors, 1983). Order of the Coif. Member, University of Florida Law Review, 1982-1983. Member: American Judicature Society, U.S. Supreme Court Historical Society, U.S. Eleventh Circuit Historical Society, Florida Supreme Court Historical Society. Former-Member, Board of Directors, The Guardianship Program of Dade County. Moderator, Muddying the Waters: The Downstream Effect of the Supreme Court's Attempt to Define the Scope of the Clean Water Act (ABA Joint CLE Seminar, Snow Bird, UT, Jan. 13, 2007). Panelist, "Insurance 101: What You Need to Know to Protect Your Clients' (and your own) Rights to Recovery," ABA Young Lawyers Division 2007 Midyear Meeting, Miami, FL (Feb. 9, 2007). Speaker, "Environmental Regulations: Compensable Takings or Permissible Legislation," ABA Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (August 11, 2007). Member: The Florida Bar (Member, Sections on: Appellate Practice; Environmental and Land Use Law; Former Member, Appellate Practice Certification Committee; Member, Appellate Court Rules Committee); American Bar Association (Division Director, Division V, Section of Litigation overseeing 24 committees; Former Co-chair, Environmental Litigation Committee; Former Co-chair, Appellate Practice Committee; Former Co-chair, Products Liability Committee, Torts and Insurance Practice Section); Defense Research Institute. (Board Certified, Appellate Practice Lawyer, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education). Reported Cases: Barley v. SFWMD, 823 So. 2d 73 (Fla. 2002); State Farm v. Sosnowski, 830 So. 2d 886 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002); Medical Management Group v. State Farm, 811 So. 2d 705 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002); Marlin v. State Farm, 761 So. 2d 380 (Fla. 4th DCA 2000); SFWMD v. Basore of Florida, 723 So. 2d 287 (Fla. 4th DCA 1998); SFWMD v. Taylor, 676 So. 2d 11 (Fla. 3d DCA 1996); Snapper Power Equip. v. Dozer, 605 So. 2d 1012 (Fla. 4th DCA 1992); FPL v. Westinghouse Elec. Corp., 510 So. 2d 899 (Fla. 1987). Practice Areas: Insurance; Commercial Litigation; Appellate Practice; Products Liability; Environmental Law.Email: Paul L. Nettleton
Dennis J. Olle (Shareholder) admitted to bar, 1976, Florida. Education: Rice University (B.A., 1975); Columbia University (J.D., with honors, 1976). Co-Author: Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education, Florida Small Business Practice (Third Edition), "General Partnerships" Chapter (1995). Author: Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education, Florida Corporate Practice (Fourth Edition), "Directors, Officers and Indemnification" Chapter (1999). Listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2008, 2009, and 2010 editions. Listed in the Top 100 in South Florida by the South Florida Legal Guide (2009). Tropical Audubon Society (Miami, FL), Director and Vice-President (Former President). North American Butterfly Association, Director (2007). Miami Blue Chapter (North American Butterfly Association), President (2004). Eagle Scout. Troop 767, Boy Scouts of America (Assistant Scoutmaster 1992-1998). The Barnacle Society, Director (1992-1995). Public Health & Environmental Degradation Task Force, Miami River Coordinating Committee Chairman (1994). Dade County/Florida Keys Water Supply Plan Advisory Committee Member (1994). Citizen's Committee of the South Florida Water Management District's South Dade Watershed Plan Chairman (1995-1996). National Audubon Society Environmental Economics Council (Miami, FL) Member (1996-2001). Biscayne Bay Partnership Initiative Regulatory Survey Team Member (2000). Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. Member: The Florida Bar (Corporate, Banking and Capital Markets Section, 1976); American Bar Association (Business Law Section, 1976). Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Securities.Email: Dennis J. Olle
Edith G. Osman (Leader, Family Law Practice Group) born New York, New York, 1949; admitted to bar, 1983, Florida and U.S. District Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. Court of Military Appeals. Education: State University of New York at Stony Brook (B.A., 1970); University of Miami (J.D., cum laude, 1983). Listed in: Florida Trend Magazine 2004 and 2006 Florida Legal Elite issues; South Florida Legal Guide to 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005. Selected for inclusion in Florida Super Lawyers 2006. Recipient, 2007 Women of Impact XIX by the Women's History Coalition of Miami-Dade County. Joint Commission on the Delivery of Legal Services to the Indigent (1990-1991). Member, House of Delegates Select Committee, 2004. Membership Committee, National Conference of Bar Association President, 1998-2000. Recipient, 2009 Juris Prudence Award, presented by the Anti Defamation League. Keynote Speaker, Tallahassee Women Lawyers Association, Women's Professional Empowerment Series: "Best Practices for Women Lawyers to Excel" (February 2007). Panelist, Florida Association for Women Lawyers (Dade Chapter), "Now and Then: The Advancement of Women in the Legal Profession and what the Future Holds" (April 2007). Panelist, International Law Section of The ABA: "The Growing Role of Mediation in the Americas: Dispute Resolution v. Litigation" (November 2006). Moderator, The Florida Association for Women Lawyers "Leadership: Balancing the Scales" (January 20, 2006). Recipient of the 2007 Women of Impact Award XIX by the Women's History Coalition of Miami-Dade County. Listed in Florida Trend magazine's Florida Legal Elite issue (2004, 2006, and 2007). Listed in the Top 100 in South Florida by the South Florida Legal Guide to 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009. Recipient, 2009 Juris Prudence Award, presented by the Anti Defamation League. Selected for inclusion in Florida Super Lawyers (2006 and 2007). Beyond Julie's Daughters: 1975-2000, selected for biographical inclusion (2007). Florida Association for Women Lawyer's Women's History Month Honoree (2004). Miami Metro Magazine: 100 Women to Watch (2000). Judge Mattie Belle Davis Achievement Award (2000). Florida Women of Achievement Photographic Exhibit (2000). Women Who Make a Difference Award (2000). Women's Park Founders Award (2000). The Roxy O'Neal Bolton Women's History Gallery (2000). ZIFF Museum's Breaking The Glass Award (2000). Miami Dade County, In The Company of Women's Award (2000). Inaugural Rosemary Barkett Achievement Award (1997). Outstanding Past Voluntary Bar President's Award (1996). Listed in: Who's Who in the World, in American Women, in American Law, in Emerging Leaders, in South/Southwest, and Strathmore's Who's Who. Southern Legal Counsel, Board of Directors (2005-present). Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Director (2007-present). Miami City Club, Board of Directors (2003-present). Florida Women of Achievement, Board of Directors (2002-2006). The Women's Fund, Honorary Chair (2003). FIU Women's Studies, Advisory Board. Florida Supreme Court Historical Society 2005-2008 (Board of Directors 2005-2007; Second Vice-President 2007-2008; First Vice President 2008-2009). The Commonwealth Institute's (TCI) South Florida Chapter, Board of Advisors. Member: American Bar Association (since 1984; House of Delegates, Florida State Delegate 1998-present; House Select Committee 2004-2007; Special Commission on Disaster Relief 2007-present; Standing Committee on Bar Activities and Services 2003-2007; Standing Committee on Independence of the Judiciary 2000-2003; Award Event Committee; ABA Direct Women's Initiative Sections on: Litigation; Family Law Section; Dispute Resolution, Litigation Tort and Insurance Practice); The Florida Bar (President 1999-2000; President-Elect 1998-1999; Chair, Grievance Mediation Committee 1997-1998; Chair, All Bar Conference 1996-1997; Investment Committee 1994-1995; Vice Chair, Rules & Bylaws Committee 1993-1995; Chair, Program Evaluation Committee 1991-1993; Executive Committee 1991-1992, 1996-2000; Board of Governors 1991-1997; Florida Bar Budget Committee 1988-1991, 1996-1998; Long Range Planning Committee 1988-1991, 1997; Special Committee on the All Bar Conference 1989-1991; Chair, Mid Year Florida Bar Convention 1988-1989; Voluntary Bar Liaison Committee 1987-1988; Chair, Legal Needs of Children Committee 2003-2004; Unified Family Court Advisory Committee 2004-2006; Special Commission of Lawyer Regular 2003-2006); The Florida Bar (Family Law Section; Executive Council 2001-2006; Co-Chair, Alternate Dispute Resolution Committee 2002-2003; Legal Education Committee 2002-present; Legislation Committee 2001-2002; Family Law Rules Committee 2004-2006; Membership Committee ;2005-2006); Southern Conference of Bar Associations (1998-current); Florida Bar Foundation, Board of Directors (1998-2000); Florida Association of Women Lawyers (FAWL - Statewide President 1989-1990; Statewide President-Elect 1988-1989; President, Dade County Chapter 1987-1988; Vice President, Dade County Chapter 1986-1987; Director, Dade County Chapter 1985-1986); Florida Council of Bar Association Presidents (President 1991-1992; President-Elect 1990-1991; Treasurer 1989-1990; Director 1987-1989); National Conference of Women's Bar Associations, Director (1989-1991); Dade County Bar Association (Programs Chairman 1988-1989, 1990-1991, 1995-1996; Executive Committee 1987-1988; Director 1986-1989). Fellow: American Bar Foundation, Fellow. Languages: Spanish, Russian. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Family Law.Email: Edith G. Osman
Gary M. Pappas (Shareholder) born Miami, Florida, 1961; admitted to bar, 1987, Florida and U.S. District Court, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Education: Duke University (B.A., 1983); University of Florida (J.D., 1987). Recipient, 2008 Florida Bar Journal Excellence in Writing Award. Past Chair, Board of Directors, The Education Fund. Director, Greater Miami Billfish Tournament, Inc.; Order of the Coif. Member: The Florida Bar; American Bar Association; Defense Research Institute; Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. Reported Cases: Sidran v. Dupont, Inc., 2006 WL 47470 (Fla. 3d DCA Jan. 11, 2006); Horvath v. General Motors Co., 636 So. 2d 771 (Fla. 3d DCA 1994); Finks Farms v. DuPont & Co. 656 So. 2d 171 (Fla. 2d DCA 1995). Practice Areas: Products Liability; Environmental Law; Intellectual Property.Email: Gary M. Pappas
Michael S. Pasano (Shareholder) born Kansas City, Missouri, 1951; admitted to bar, 1976, Missouri; 1977, District of Columbia; 1978, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit; 1985, Florida; 1986, U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; 1989, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; 1991, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida; 1993, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida; 1999, U.S. Court of Appeals, First, Second, Sixth and Eighth Circuits; 2004, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida. Education: Georgetown University (A.B., 1973); Yale University (J.D., 1976). Member: American Bar Association (Chair, Criminal Justice Section, 2005-2006; Chair Elect, 2004-2005; Vice Chair: Long Range Planning, 2003-2004; CLE, 2000-2003; Vice Chair, Government Affairs, 1999-2000; White Collar Crime Committee, Criminal Justice Section, 1993; Council Member, Criminal Justice Section, 1995-1998; Chairman: Defense Function Committee, 1992-1995; Florida Regional White Collar Crime Subcommittee, 1991; Member: Eleventh Circuit Federal Public Defender Committee, 1994; Eleventh Circuit Attorney Discipline Committee, 1993; Southern District Criminal Justice Act Committee, 1995). Practice Areas: Criminal Trial Practice; Asset Forfeitures; Business Crimes Law; Criminal Tax Investigation; White Collar Criminal Defense.Email: Michael S. Pasano
Anthony H. Pelle (Co-Leader, Insurance Practice Group) born Miami, Florida, 1955; admitted to bar, 1981, Florida, California and U.S. District Court, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Eleventh Circuits. Education: University of Florida (B.A., with high honors, 1978); University of Florida (J.D., with honors, 1980). Co-Author: "The World of Evolving Annuity Products," For the Defense Magazine published by the Defense Research Institute (2008 Fourth Quarter). Author: "ERISA Case of the Month," Insurance Litigation and Regulation Practice (August 2004 & August 2004); "Bad Faith Claims Cases of the Month," Insurance Litigation and Regulation Practice (July 2004). Greater Miami Jewish Federation, Key Biscayne Division (Co-Chair). The Association of Life Insurance Counsel. Member: The Florida Bar; State Bar of California (Bar Association of San Francisco); American Bar Association (Litigation Section, Vice-Chair of the Life Insurance Law Committee, Torts & Insurance Practice Section; Chair of the Health & Disability Insurance Law Committee, Torts & Insurance Practice Section; Former Member, House of Delegates); Dade County Bar Association. Reported Cases: Parra v. John Alden Life Ins. Co., 22 F. Supp. 2d 1360 (S.D. Fla. 1998). Pearson v. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Co., 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 22291, (N.D. Fla. 1996). Allstate Life Ins. Co. v. Fox, 700 So. 2d 49 (Fla. 5th DCA 1996). Orkin Exterminating v. Farber, 677 So. 2d 850 (Fla. 5th DCA 1996). Practice Areas: Insurance Litigation; Products Liability; Trial Practice; Appellate Practice.Email: Anthony H. Pelle
Benjamine Reid (Shareholder) born Concord, North Carolina, 1950; admitted to bar, 1974, Georgia and Florida; 1996, U.S. District Court, Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida; U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia; U.S. Court of Appeals, Third, Fifth and Eleventh Circuits; U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of North Carolina (A.B., 1971); University of Georgia School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1974). Phi Kappa Phi. Member, Editorial Board, 1972-1974 and Senior Editor, 1973-1974, University of Georgia Law Review. Author: "The Trial Lawyer as Story Teller: Reviving a Lost Art," "Trial By Administrative Ambush," "Checkmate in Class Actions: Defensive Strategy in the Initial Moves" and "Decisions on the Fly," all in Litigation Magazine; "The Case Against Offensive Collateral Estoppel," ABA Division of Professional Education; "Beating the Odds: Winning the Class Action Game By Settlement or Trial," BNA Reporter. Orange Bowl Committee. Director: Florida Justice Institute; Action Group, Products Liability Advisory Council. Board of Advisors: BNA Product Safety and Liability Reporter; BNA Class Action Litigation Reporter. Governor's Council for Sustainable Florida. Executive Committee Member, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. Dade Heritage Trust. Board Member, Historical Association of South Florida. Founding Member, Florida International University Council of 100. Executive Committee, Friends of WLRN Board. The Two Hundred Club of Miami. Chair, Episcopal Charities. Vice-Chair, Friends of WLRN Public Radio and TV. Board, Arts and Science Foundation and Educational Foundation, University of North Carolina. Member: American Bar Association (Section of Litigation; Co-Chair, Task Force on Attorney-Client Privilege; Co-Director of Divisions, Council Member, 1996-1999; Miami Annual Meeting Co-Chair, 1994-1996; Membership Chair, 1992-1994; Products Liability Committee Chair, 1987-1990; Task Force on the Judiciary; Task Force Drafting Civil Trial Practice Standards); American Board of Trial Advocates. Fellow: American Bar Foundation; Florida Bar Foundation. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Environmental Litigation; Products Liability Litigation.Email: Benjamine Reid
William D. Rohrer (Leader, Corporate, Securities and Tax Practice Group) born Marion, Ohio, 1956; admitted to bar, 1981, Ohio; 1989, New York; 1990, District of Columbia; 1993, Florida. Education: Ohio State University (B.S.B.A., cum laude, 1978; J.D., 1981); New York University (LL.M., 1987). Certified Public Accountant. Technical Editor, "Foreign Income and Foreign Taxpayers," Rose and Chomie, Federal Income Taxation, 3rd Edition, Hornbook Series, Ch. 12. Co-Author: Price Waterhouse Best Seller on the 1986 Tax Act, Price Waterhouse. Co-Author: "U.S. Banks Handcuffed on LDC Swaps," ABA Banking Journal, September 1987; "Looking Better All the Time," Sec. 1248, The Tax Advisor, July 1987; "U.S. Branch Taxation: A Venture Into the Unknown," International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation, Bulletin, 1987-1, 1987; "International Tax Planning Offshore Style," Case Western Reserve, Journal of International Law, 1985. Member: District of Columbia Bar; American Bar Association (International Tax Law Subgroup, Tax Section; Vice Chair, International Law Section). Practice Areas: International Income Taxation; Gift and Estate Taxation and Planning; Corporate Law.Email: William D. Rohrer
Charles M. Rosenberg (Miami Office Managing Shareholder) born Cleveland, Ohio; admitted to bar, 1968, Ohio and District of Columbia; 1979, Florida, U.S. Court of Military Appeals; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida; U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio; U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal, Second and Sixth Circuits; Supreme Court of Ohio; U.S. Supreme Court. Education: Washington & Jefferson College (B.A., cum laude, 1965); George Washington University (J.D., 1968). Trial Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. Chairman, Subcommittee on Alternative Dispute Resolution and Member, U.S. Civil Justice Reform Act Advisory Committee, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio. Member, Panel of Early Neutrals, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio. Delegate: U.S. Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference; Ohio Eighth District Judicial Conference. Member, Federal Court Practice Committee, The Florida Bar. Member, Panel of Arbitrators (Commercial), American Arbitration Association. Member: The Florida Bar (Federal Court Practice Committee and International Arbitration Committee); Ohio State Bar Association; Cleveland Bar Association (Chairman, Federal Courts Committee). [Captain, U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps]. Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Business Litigation; Dispute Resolution.Email: Charles M. Rosenberg
Alan Rosenthal (Shareholder) born Coral Gables, Florida; admitted to bar, 1976, Florida; 1977, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, including Trial Bar and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Eleventh Circuits; 1980, U.S. Supreme Court. Education: Cornell University (B.A., 1973); Universitat Wien, Vienna, Austria; University of Miami (J.D., 1976). Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity (Life Member). Original Member, Miami-Dade Independent Review Panel. Three-time President, Tiger Bay Political Club. Chairman, Village of Pinecrest Charter Review Commission, 2006. Counsel and Member, Executive Committee, Temple Beth Am, 2004-2006. Commissioner, Youth Basketball League, 2000. Member: University of Miami Citizens Board, 2001; Miami-Dade Advisory Committee for South Dade Transit, 2005-2006. Counsel and Member, Board of Directors, Florida Chapter, March of Dimes Foundation, 1974. Vice Chairman and Member, National Board of Trustees, 1985-1995. Chairman, Vice Chairman and Member, Miami-Dade Public Health Trust, 1990-1999. Special Counsel, City of Miami Code Enforcement Board, 1985-1988. Member, City of Miami Charter Review Committee, 1983-1984. Member: American Bar Association (Member, Communications Law Forum, 1976). Practice Areas: Business Litigation; Real Property; Family Law; Bankruptcy.Email: Alan Rosenthal
Emmet J. Schwartzman (Shareholder) born Newport News, Virginia, 1958; admitted to bar, 1983, Louisiana; 1987, Florida; 2006, Texas; U.S. District Court, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida; U.S. District Court, Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Eleventh Circuits;. Education: Vanderbilt University (B.A., cum laude, 1980); Tulane University (J.D., cum laude, 1983). Named in Who's Who Legal, Aviation Chapter, Florida 2008. Author: "The Evolution of the Warsaw System and the Current Status and Future of Air Carrier Liability for Passenger Bodily Injury or Death," Skywritings: The Newsletter of Aerospace Law Committee, Defense Research Institute. Member, Aviation Insurance Association. Member: American Bar Association (Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, Litigation Section); The Florida Bar (Aviation Law Committee); Defense Research Institute (Member, Aerospace Law Committee). Reported Cases: Felix v. American Airlines, Inc., 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10362 (D.V.I. 2003). Watson v. American Airlines, Inc., 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7360 (D. Md. 2003). Siek v. American Airlines, Inc., 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16831 (S.D. Fla. 2002). Marotte v. American Airlines, Inc., 296 F.3d 1255 (11th Cir. 2002). Siek v. American Airlines, Inc., 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16567 (S.D. Fla. 2002). Siek v. American Airlines, Inc., 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15497 (S.D. Fla. 2002). Watson v. American Airlines, Inc., 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11143 (D. Md. 2002) Buchbinder v. American Airlines, Inc., 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5714 (S.D. Fla. 2002). Marotte v. American Airlines, Inc., 159 F. Supp. 2d 1374 (S.D. Fla. 2001). Blake v. American Airlines, Inc., 245 F.3d 1213 (11th Cir. 2001). Belak v. American Airlines, Inc., 2001 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2742 (S.D. Fla. 2001). In re American Airlines, Inc. Flight 869 Turbulence Incident of January 17, 1996, 128 F. Supp. 2d 1367 (S.D. Fla. 2001). Lizarraga v. American Airlines, Inc., 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14843 (S.D. Fla. 2000). Pina v. American Airlines, Inc., 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8497 (S.D. Fla. 2000). American Airlines, Inc. v. Mejia, 766 So. 2d 305 (Fla. 4th DCA 2000). Blake v. American Airlines, Inc., 90 F. Supp. 2d 1265 (S.D. Fla. 2000). Bode v. Pan American World Airways, Inc., 786 F.2d 669 (5th Cir. 1986). Practice Areas: Aviation; Insurance; General Liability.Email: Emmet J. Schwartzman
David J. Smith (Shareholder) born Somerville, New Jersey, 1957; admitted to bar, 1991, Florida, U.S. District Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern Division of Florida. Education: University of South Carolina; Pennsylvania State University (B.A., 1978); University of Miami (J.D., cum laude, 1990). Litigation Paralegal, Britton & Cohen, P.A., 1980-1986. Associate, Kaufman Dickstein & Grunspan, P.A., 1991-2004. Member: Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Practice Areas: Litigation; Complex Commercial Litigation; Uniform Commercial Code; Commercial Collections; Mortgage Foreclosure; Creditor Bankruptcy; Real Estate Litigation.Email: David J. Smith
Jay A. Steinman (Shareholder) born Abington, Pennsylvania, 1958; admitted to bar, 1983, Florida. Education: Dickinson College (B.A., magna cum laude, 1980); University of Miami (J.D., 1983). Author: "Real Estate Asset Valuation: Acquiring a Fractured Condominium Project," Counsel to Counsel magazine (March 2009). YMCA of South Dade (Executive Board of Directors). Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. The Beacon Council. Volunteer coach for youth athletics. Winner, Daily Business Review Top Dealmakers Award 2009, Real Estate Finance Category. Finalist, Daily Business Review Top Dealmakers Award 2007, Office Category. Selected for inclusion in Florida Super Lawyers 2007-2009, also named on the 2007 Florida Super Lawyers' Top 100 List. Selected for inclusion in Florida Trend's Florida Legal Elite 2009. Listed in The Legal 500 (Real Estate Transactions and Finance). Listed in the Top 100 in South Florida by the South Florida Legal Guide (2009). Member: The Florida Bar (Real Estate and Probate Section); American Bar Association (Business Law, Real Estate and Probate Section; Affordable Housing and Community Development Law Section). Transactions: Represented lenders in over $150 million in note sales over the past 12 months; Represented lenders in over $500 million in loan workouts involving condominium, hotel condominium, multifamily lenders in over $500 million in loan workouts involving condominium, hotel condominium, multifamily, office, retail, and hospitality projects over the past 12 months; Represented note purchasers in acquisition of approximately $50 million in mortgage loans involving fractured condominium projects over the past 12 months; Representation of lenders in two cross-collateralized syndicated construction loans in the aggregate amount of $250 million for retail, office and hotel complex consisting of, a 750,000 square-feet, 46-floor commercial office building and a 42-story hotel in downtown Miami, Florida; Represented purchaser in $19,300,000 acquisition of two shopping centers containing approximately 175,000 rentable square feet located in the Miami Gardens, Florida; Represented seller in $48,000,000 sale of office park consisting of approximately 176,306 rentable square feet located in Miami-Dade County, Florida; Represented seller in $98,000,000 sale of approximately 7 acres of water front vacant land in the Miami, Florida; Represented seller in $34,200,000 sale of ownership interests in company holding title to apartment complex located in Jacksonville, Florida; Represented purchaser in $13,650,000 acquisition of two shopping centers containing approximately 32,000 rentable square feet located in the Pinecrest, Florida; Represented European fund in proposed $30,000,000 investment in company to renovate and construct luxury spa resort facility located in Miami Beach, Florida; Represented investor in proposed $130,000,000 purchase of luxury condominium project to be constructed in Miami, Beach and Miami, Florida; Acted as local counsel and performed land use and zoning due diligence for lender in $100,000,000 acquisition loan to finance the borrower's purchase of 92,000 acres in Charlotte and Lee County Florida; Represented co-lender in $84,750,000.00 Loan to finance the construction of a mixed-use residential and retail condominium project, and an associated parking garage located in Delray Beach, Florida. Practice Areas: Commercial Finance; Commercial Real Estate Finance; Commercial Real Estate Development; Commercial Real Estate Acquisitions; Commercial Real Estate Sales; Condominium Conversions; Loan Syndication; Commercial Real Estate Workouts; Construction Finance; Mezzanine Finance; Easements; Land Acquisitions; Land Sales; Land Trusts; Real Estate Acquisitions; Real Estate Contracts; Real Estate Development; Real Estate Foreclosure; Real Estate Leasing; Real Estate Restructuring; Real Estate Sales; Real Estate Secured Lending; Real Estate Title; Real Estate Title Examination; Real Estate Title Insurance; Real Estate Workouts; Real Property Acquisitions; Real Property Development; Real Property Finance.Email: Jay A. Steinman
Walter J. Taché (Shareholder) born Brooklyn, New York; admitted to bar, 1994, Florida; U.S. District Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida and U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Education: University of Florida (B.A., Accounting, with high honors, 1990); The Yale Law School (J.D., 1994). Member: Miami-Dade County Bar Association; The Florida Bar; Cuban-American Bar Association. Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Complex Civil Litigation; Health Care Litigation; International and Transnational Multi-Forum Litigation; White Collar Crime.Email: Walter J. Taché
Patricia Halvorson Thompson (Shareholder) born Chicago, Illinois, 1951; admitted to bar, 1976, Florida, U.S. District Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Eleventh Circuits. Education: Saint Olaf College (B.A., magna cum laude, 1973); Vanderbilt University (J.D., 1976). Recipient, 2007 Key Partners Award from South Florida Business Journal. Honoree, 2009 Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center. Member, Surety Claims Institute. Member, Panel of Arbitrators (Commercial), American Arbitration Association. Author: "Use of Experts in Discovery and Preparation for Trial," ABA program materials for Fidelity and Surety Law Committee Midwinter 2007 program. Author: "Methods for Adding Clarity and Persuasiveness to the Trial of Complex Surety Cases," ABA program materials for the 2007 Complex Surety Trial program. Author: "To Pay or Not to Pay; To Stay or Not to Stay: Contractual and Statutory Analysis of an Owner's Right to Withhold Payment for Work Performed," ABA program materials for Forum on the Construction Industry's 2006 Fall Meeting. Author: "Recent Developments in Fidelity and Surety Law," 41 Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Law Journal 429, ABA (2006). Author: "A Practitioner's Introduction to Prompt Payment Statutes," 15 Construct! - The newsletter of the Construction Litigation Committee, Litigation Section, ABA (Summer 2006). Author: "Florida" State-by-State Guide to Architect, Engineer and Contractor Licensing (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 Cumulative Supplements). Speaker: "Structuring Intelligible Insurance Provisions and Surety Issues," program on Drafting and Negotiating Tomorrow's Construction Contracts Today, PLI (May, 2009). American Arbitration Association (Approved Panel of Arbitrators for Complex Commercial Cases). Executive Committee Member, Beacon Council (Miami-Dade County's official economic development organization). Board of Directors, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. Board of Advisors, University of Miami School of Law, Center for Ethics & Public Service. Member: American Bar Association; American College of Construction Lawyers (Member, Board of Governors). Fellow: American Bar Foundation; American College of Construction Lawyers. Reported Cases: Royal Trust Bank v. National Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, Pa., 788 F.2d 719 (11th Cir. 1986); Sanchez v. AT&T Corp, 13 Fla. Law W. Fed D 57 (1999); Distefano Constr. Inc. v. Fidelity & Deposit Co. of Md., 597 So.2d 248 (Fla. 1992); DCC Constructors, Inc. v. Fidelity & Deposit Co. of Md., 770 So.2d 1283 (Fla. App. 2000); Michael Zelman, P.A. v. Daniel, 663 So.2d 1 (Fla. App. 1995);Pelullo v. FDIC, 583 So.2d 729 (Fla. App. 1991);Stamm v. Paul, 121 F.3d 635 (1997);Bufman v. FDIC, 82 F.3d 1020 (11th Cir. 1996); FDIC v. Marina, 982 F.2d 1522 (11th Cir. 1990). Practice Areas: Construction Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Employment Litigation; Fidelity and Surety Litigation.Email: Patricia Halvorson Thompson
Eileen Trautman (Shareholder) born New York, New York, 1949; admitted to bar, 1974, Florida, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida; U.S. Tax Court. Education: University of Florida (B.A., with honors, 1971); University of Miami (J.D., magna cum laude, 1974). Phi Beta Kappa; Phi Kappa Phi. Professional Advisory Committee, Greater Miami Jewish Federation Foundation of Jewish Philanthropies. Speaker, "Dynastic Planning for Education: Income and Estate Tax Savings from Rolling Over 529 Plans from Generation to Generation" at the BNA Estate Planning Tax Advisory Board, New York (September 20, 2007). Practice Areas: Business Transactions; Taxation.Email: Eileen Trautman
OF COUNSELJason R. Alderman (Of Counsel) born Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 1974; admitted to bar, 1999, Florida; U.S. District Court, Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida. Education: Florida State University (B.A., 1996); University of Miami (J.D., magna cum laude, 1999). Order of the Coif. Member, Interamerican Law Review. Admiralty Law Committee. Miami Chapter, Rotary Club. Board Member, Humane Society of Greater Miami. Member: Florida Bar (Member, Sections on: Business Law; Real Property Probate and Trust Law; Young Lawyers); The Association of Trial Lawyers of America (Former President, University of Miami Chapter). Practice Areas: Litigation; Alternative Dispute Resolution.Email: Jason R. Alderman
Scott P. Andrew (Of Counsel) born Tampa, Florida; admitted to bar, 1995, Florida and U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida. Education: University of Florida (B.S., Accounting, with high honors, 1992; Master of Accounting, 1995; J.D., with honors, 1995). Member: The Florida Bar (Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section); American Bar Association (Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section). Practice Areas: Real Estate.
Donna K. Knapton (Of Counsel) born West Palm Beach, Florida; admitted to bar, 1997, Florida; 1998, District of Columbia. Education: University of Florida (B.S., 1988); University of Miami (J.D., cum laude, 1996); Georgetown University (LL.M., Securities and Financial Regulation, with distinction, 2000). Phi Delta Phi; Order of the Coif. Recipient: Thomas Bradbury Chetwood S.J. Prize, Georgetown University Law Center; CALI Excellence for the Future Award, Georgetown University Law Center; Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts Legal Services Award, 2000. Member, Editorial Board, University of Miami Law Review, 1995-1996. Associate Editor, University of Miami Inter-American Law Review, 1995-1996. Director, 2005 and Member, Board of Directors, Georgetown Club of Miami. Staff Attorney and Senior Counsel, Division of Enforcement, Headquarters Office, Washington, D.C., 1996-2002 and Senior Counsel, Division of Enforcement, Southeast Regional Office, Miami, FL, 2002-2006, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. 2009 Recipient, Real Property Pro Bono Award presented by the Dade County Bar Association. Member: Dade County (Member, 2005 and Vice Chair, 2005-2006, Securities Litigation Committee; Member, Membership Committee, Young Lawyers Section, 2003-2005) and American (Member: Litigation Section, 2005; Securities Litigation Committee; Securities Commodities and Exchange Committee) Bar Associations; The District of Columbia Bar; Bar Association of the District of Columbia (Director, Board of Directors, Young Lawyers Section, 1999-2002). Practice Areas: Securities; White Collar Crime.Email: Donna K. Knapton
Maria Chang Mayer (Of Counsel) admitted to bar, 1993, Florida; 2001, District of Columbia; 2002, New York. Education: University of Florida (B.A., English, 1990; J.D., with honors, 1993). Author: "Citizen Suits: Toward a Workable Solution to Help Created Wetlands Succeed," University of Florida Journal of Law and Public Policy (Fall 1993). Greater Miami Jewish Foundation-Women's Division. Transportation and Parking Committee for the City of Miami Beach, Member. Organization of Women in International Trade, Miami Chapter. Adjunct Professor, St. Thomas University, Miami, Florida (2005). Member: The Florida Bar (International Law Section, Inter-American Bar Committee); American Bar Association (International Law Section); Florida-China Chamber of Commerce; Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce; Hispanic National Bar Association. Languages: Spanish, French. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; International Corporate Law.Email: Maria Chang Mayer
Rafael G. Moreno (Of Counsel) born Oriente, Cuba; admitted to bar, 1993, Florida. Education: Florida International University (B.A., with honors, 1989); Boston University (J.D., 1993). Member: The Florida Bar; American Bar Association (Member, Real Property Section). Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Real Estate.Email: Rafael G. Moreno
STAFF ATTORNEYDouglas L. Oppenheimer (Contract Attorney) born Los Angeles, California, 1946; admitted to bar, 1976, Florida. Education: University of Florida (B.S., 1968); University of Miami (J.D., cum laude, 1976). Board of Directors, Rotary Club of Miami. Past President, Board of Directors, Family Service Foundation, Inc. Shake-a-Leg Miami (Sailing Instructor for the physically and mentally challenged). Past President, Board of Directors, Family Counseling Service of Greater Miami, Inc. Member: Dade County (Past Chairman, Banking Law Committee) and American (Member, Sections on: Business Law; Intellectual Property and Law Litigation Section) Bar Associations; The Florida Bar (Member, Business Law and Litigation Section). Practice Areas: Products Liability; Toxic Tort Liability; Banking Law; Insurance Law.Email: Douglas L. Oppenheimer
ATTORNEYSDouglas J. Chumbley (Attorney) born Miami, Florida, 1956; admitted to bar, 1982, Florida. Education: Williams College (B.A., cum laude, 1978); Washington & Lee University (J.D., cum laude, 1982). Recipient, CLE Award, Florida Defense Lawyers Association, 2003-2004. Circuit Court Judge, Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Miami-Dade County, Florida, 2006-2008. Visiting Associate Judge, Fourth District Court of Appeal, West Palm Beach, Florida, 2007. Honored by: Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, the Florida Supreme Court, The Florida Bar and the Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights, Representation of Death Row Inmates; Metropolitan Dade County, Pro Bono Services to Dade County; Eleventh Judicial Circuit and the Dade County Bar Association, Pro Bono Services. Member: Florida Defense Lawyers Association; International Association of Defense Counsel. Practice Areas: Products Liability; Toxic Torts; Complex Litigation; Appellate Practice.Email: Douglas J. Chumbley
Ashley M. Daugherty (Attorney) born Nashville, Tennessee; admitted to bar, 2002, Florida. Education: Vanderbilt University (B.A., magna cum laude, 1999); Vanderbilt University Law School (J.D., 2002). Recipient: 2002 American Bankruptcy Institute Medal of Excellence in Bankruptcy; Junius L. Allison Legal Aid Award for outstanding service to the Legal Aid Society. Practice Areas: Family Law; Commercial Litigation.Email: Ashley M. Daugherty
Katherine Renee Schimkat (Attorney) admitted to bar, 1992, New Jersey; 1993, New York; 1999, Florida. Education: Syracuse University (B.A., Political Science and Journalism, 1989); Fordham University School of Law (J.D., 1992). Member: Dade County (Member, Securities Committee) and American (Member: Torts and Insurance Practice Section; Fidelity and Surety Law; Insurance Coverage Litigation and Professionals', Officers' and Directors' Liability TIPS Committees; Litigation Section; Commercial and Business Litigation; Insurance Coverage Litigation and Securities Litigation Committees). Practice Areas: Insurance.Email: Katherine Renee Schimkat
——————————Christopher O. Aird (Associate) born Kingston, Jamaica, 1977; admitted to bar, 2004, Florida. Education: University of Miami (B.A., 1998; M.B.A., 2000; J.D., cum laude, 2004). Phi Delta Phi. Recipient, CALI Award. Practice Areas: Litigation; Dispute Resolution; Construction Law Practice.Email: Christopher O. Aird
Aram C. Bloom (Associate) born Toronto, Ontario, 1976; admitted to bar, 2003, Massachusetts and Rhode Island; 2009, Florida. Education: Fundación Ortega y Gasset, Madrid, Spain (1996); Trinity College (B.A., 1998); Boston University (J.D., cum laude, 2003). Law Clerk, The Honorable Ronald R. Lagueux, Sr. Judge, U.S. District Court, Providence, RI, 2004-2005. Summer Law Clerk, The Honorable Bruce M. Selya, Sr. Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit, Boston, MA, 2001. Legal Counsel, Pro Bono Publico, San Francisco Waldorf School. Member, Florida Voter Protection Program. Player, Miami Latin-American Baseball League. Associate: Jorden Burt, LLP, Miami, FL, 2007-2008; Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge, Providence, RI, 2005-2007; Kirkpatrick & Lockhart, Boston, MA, 2002-2004. Member: Massachusetts Bar Association; Rhode Island Bar Association. Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Insurance Litigation; Commercial Property Insurance; Casualty Insurance; Securities; Securities Fraud Litigation; Securities Regulatory Compliance; Trademark Infringement; Patent Infringement Litigation; Commercial Insurance; Excess and Reinsurance; General Liability; Insurance Agents and Brokers Defense; Insurance Agents and Brokers Errors and Omissions; Insurance Bad Faith; Insurance Coverage; Property Damage; Property Insurance; Property Loss; Mass Tort Litigation.Email: Aram C. Bloom
Paul Ray Borr (Associate) born Miami, Florida; admitted to bar, 2006, Florida. Education: University of Florida (B.S., Finance, magna cum laude, 2003); University of Miami (J.D., magna cum laude, 2006). Order of the Coif. Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Business Law; Business Litigation; Health Care; Health Care Litigation; Health Care Privacy.Email: Paul Ray Borr
Gavrila A. Brotz (Associate) born Tucson, Arizona; admitted to bar, 2007, Florida. Education: International Program, Institut d'Etudes Politiques à Paris, France (Diploma); Tufts University (B.A.); University of Miami School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude). Order of the Barristers. Practice Areas: Business Litigation; Health Care.
Jennifer Christianson (Associate) admitted to bar, 2002, Florida. Education: Carleton College (B.A., magna cum laude, 1996); University of Miami (J.D., summa cum laude, 2002). Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Stanley Marcus, Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, 2002-2003. Practice Areas: White Collar Criminal Defense; Complex Litigation; Health Care.Email: Jennifer Christianson
Paul M. Clermont, III (Associate) born Brooklyn, New York, 1978; admitted to bar, 2005, California; 2007, Florida. Education: Clemson University (B.A. in Computer Science, 2001); University of Pittsburgh (J.D., 2004); Kyushu University Department of Law (LL.M. in International Economics and Business Law, honors, 2004); University of Miami (LL.M. in Taxation, 2006). Member: The Florida Bar; State Bar of California; American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Taxation; Estate and Gift Taxation; Federal Taxation; International Tax Controversies; International Taxation; Tax Controversies.Email: Paul M. Clermont, III
Tenikka L. Cunningham (Associate) born Hollywood, Florida; admitted to bar, 2004, Florida; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Education: Florida State University (B.S., cum laude, 2001); University of Miami School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2004). Member: Dade County Bar Association; The Florida Bar (Member, Young Lawyers Division); American Bar Association; Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Business Litigation.Email: Tenikka L. Cunningham
Marissel Descalzo (Associate) born Chicago, Illinois, 1978; admitted to bar, 2003, Florida; U.S. District Court, Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida. Education: Florida International University (B.A., 2000); University of Miami School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2003). Speaker and Organized a Panel for the ABA Section of Litigation Annual Conference, program was entitled was The Role of Privilege in Investigation and Prosecution of Corporations- What do Recent Changes Mean for Practitioners (May 1, 2009). Member: Cuban American Bar Association; Lawyers for Children America. Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Complex Commercial Litigation(20%); White Collar Criminal Defense(80%).Email: Marissel Descalzo
Matthew S. Ellish (Associate) born Boca Raton, Florida, November 26, 1981; admitted to bar, 2008, Florida. Education: University of Michigan Business School (B.B.A., with high distinction, 2004); University of Florida, Fredric G. Levin College of Law (J.D., 2007). Co-Authored: "Practical Solutions to the Problems Resulting from the Real Life Application of Florida's Construction Lien Transfer Bond Statute," The Florida Bar Journal (March 2008). Member, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, New World Center Committee, 2008. Central Business District Task Force Co-Chair, 2009-2010. Member, Greater Miami Jewish Federation, 2008. Co-Chair, Miami Beach Network, 2009-2010. Member, Leadership Development Institute, 2008-2009. Member: Miami Downtown Development Authority/Downtown Miami Partnership, Economic Development Committee 2009. Member, Urban Land Institute, 2004; Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, 2009. Law Clerk, The Honorable Paul G. Feinman, Supreme Court of New York Summer Law Clerk, 2006. Articles Editor, Florida Journal of International Law, University of Florida Levin College of Law. Member: The Florida Bar; American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Corporate Law(50%); Real Estate(50%).Email: Matthew S. Ellish
Adrian K. Felix (Associate) admitted to bar, 2006, Florida and U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida; 2007, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida. Education: Duke University (B.S. in Biological Anthropology and Anatomy); University of Miami School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2006). Law Clerk, Burger King Corporation, October 2004 - July 2006. Judicial Intern, Chief Magistrate Judge Stephen T. Brown, Summer 2004. Co-Author, "A Human Apolipoprotein E Mouse Model of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy," Soc'y for Neuroscience Abstracts (2000). Member: The Florida Bar; Dade County Bar Association; American Bar Association (Litigation Vice-Chair, Young Lawyers Division, 2009-2010). Languages: Portuguese, Spanish. Practice Areas: Litigation; Defense Litigation; Civil Litigation.Email: Adrian K. Felix
Robert S. Flicker (Associate) born Miami, Florida, 1977; admitted to bar, 2005, Florida. Education: Colgate University (B.A., 1999); University of Miami School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2005). Order of the Coif. Articles and Comment Editor, UM Inter-American Law Review. Practice Areas: Real Estate.Email: Robert S. Flicker
Lindsay E. Levin (Associate) admitted to bar, 2007, Florida; 2008, New Jersey. Education: American University (B.A., magna cum laude, 2004); University of Miami (J.D., 2007). Practice Areas: Construction Law.Email: Lindsay E. Levin
James Paxton Marshall (Associate) admitted to bar, 2003, New York; 2006, Florida; U.S. District Court, Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida and U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Education: University of Miami (B.A.S., Psychology, magna cum laude, 1999); Tulane University Law School (J.D., magna cum laude, 2002). Member: New York State and Federal Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Litigation(100%).Email: James Paxton Marshall
Ilan A. Nieuchowicz (Associate) admitted to bar, 2007, Florida. Education: University of Florida (B.S., Business Administration, with honors, 2000; M.A., Business Administration and International Business, 2001); Florida State University College of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2006). Order of the Coif. Chief Justice Commendation, Supreme Court of Florida. Author: "The Claim of Lien: A Condominium's Assessment Collection Tool," Nov. 8, 2007, (last visited April 10, 2008). Author: "BAPCPA Constitutional Issues: A Survey of the New Bankruptcy Code After Year One," Vol. 75, No. 12, THE BRIEFS, 9 (December 2006). Member: Jewish Federation of Greater Miami (Co-chair of the International Network). Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Real Estate(10%); Real Estate Litigation(60%); Bank Foreclosures(20%); Business Litigation(10%).Email: Ilan A. Nieuchowicz
Angela T. Puentes-Leon (Associate) born Miami, Florida, 1977; admitted to bar, 2001, Florida; 2002, U.S. District Court, Southern and Northern Districts of Florida; 2005, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida. Education: Florida International University (B.A., cum laude, 1998); University of Miami (J.D., cum laude, 2001). Author: "The Politics of Music and Film: The Validity of a Local Government's Cultural Embargo on Cuba," 30 U. Miami Inter-Am. L. Rev. 253 (2000). Panelist, Florida International University's College of Law Professionalism and Ethics Panel (2005 and 2006). Recipient: Thomas A. Snow Community Service Award; Pro Bono Publico Award; Dean's Honor Scholarship; Marco A. Vazquez Memorial Scholarship (Litigation). Quarter-Finalist, Conrad B. Duberstein National Moot Court Competition. Phi Delta Phi; Honorary International Legal Fraternity; Omicron Delta Kappa; Leadership Honor Society; Phi Kappa Phi; Academic Honor Society. Pi Sigma Alpha; Political Science Honor Society. Mortar Board, Service Honor Society. Golden Key National Honor Society, Interdisciplinary Honor Society. Florida International University (President's Council f/k/a Council of 100). President, Mercy Hospital Foundation's "Angels of Mercy," 2008mdash;. Lifetime Member, Florida International University Alumni Association. Judicial Intern, The Honorable Melvia B. Green, 3rd District Court of Appeal. Judicial Intern, The Honorable Ellen Leesfield, 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida, Criminal Division. Associate Editor, University of Miami Inter-American Law Review, University of Miami Moot Court Board, University of Miami School of Law. Member: Cuban American Bar Association (CABA); Dade County Defense Bar Association (President, 2008 and Secretary, 2006-2008). Reported Cases: Beale v. Biomet, 492 F.Supp.2d 1360 (S.D. Fla. 2007). Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Products Liability; Litigation.Email: Angela T. Puentes-Leon
Jay M. Rosen (Associate) admitted to bar, 2004, Florida and Massachusetts. Education: The George Washington University (B.A. 1999); University of Miami School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2002); Boston University School of Law (LL.M. in Taxation, 2003). Carrfour Supportive Housing, Inc., Board of Directors (2007). Member: The Florida Bar (Member, Business Law Section). Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Securities; Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures.Email: Jay M. Rosen
Sharaine A. Sibblies (Associate) born Miami, Florida, 1981; admitted to bar, 2007, Florida. Education: University of Miami (B.A., Psychology, 2004; Pre-Law, 2004; J.D., 2007). Practice Areas: Corporate Law(25%); Probate(75%).Email: Sharaine A. Sibblies
Elaina I. Sodhi (Associate) born Meriden, Connecticut, 1976; admitted to bar, 2002, Connecticut; 2003, New York; 2004, Florida. Education: Boston College (B.A., with honors, 1998); Emory University School of Law (J.D., with honors, 2002). Boston College, Scholar of the College Recipient; Recipient, Sol I. Golden Legal Scholarship; Executive Articles Editor, Emory International Law Review. Member: New York State, Connecticut, and American (Member, Real Property Section) Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Real Estate; Mortgage Finance; Commercial Leasing; Condominium Law.Email: Elaina I. Sodhi
Michael E. Strauch (Associate) admitted to bar, 2005, Florida; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida. Education: University of Maryland (B.A., Criminal Justice, summa cum laude, 2000; M.A., Criminal Justice, 2002); University of Miami School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2005). Recipient, Thomas Ewald Award for highest grade in University of Miami Litigation Skills Program, 2005. Executive Editor, University of Miami Business Law Review, 2005. Member, University of Miami Moot Court Board, 2003-2005. Champion, University of Miami First Year Moot Court Competition, 2003. Member: Dade County Bar Association American Bar Association Cuban American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Litigation(100%).Email: Michael E. Strauch
Timothy S. Taylor (Associate) born Valparaiso, Indiana, 1977; admitted to bar, 2002, Florida; 2003, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida; 2004, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida. Education: University of Florida (B.A., 1998; J.D., with honors, 2001). Speaker, Florida Lien and Bond Law, South Florida Construction Claims Clinic (July 2007). Co-Author, "Force Majeure: Risk Allocation for Unforeseeable Events," 15 CONSTRUCT! 2 (2006). Member: Dade County (Member, Committees on: Construction Litigation; Civil Litigation) and American Bar Associations; The Florida Bar; Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce (Member, Transportation Committee). Practice Areas: Construction Litigation; Commercial Litigation.Email: Timothy S. Taylor
Michele Aimee Vargas (Associate) admitted to bar, 2003, Florida; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida. Education: St. Thomas University (B.A., Psychology and Political Science, cum laude, 2000); St. Thomas University School of Law (J.D., 2003). Phi Delta Phi. Dean's List. Recipient: Academic Scholarship, 2002-2003; Environmental Law Book Award, 2003. Brief Writer, Privacy Law, International Moot Court, 2001. Academic Support Instructor, Torts, Contracts, Civil Procedures, Criminal Law, Construction Law, St. Thomas Law School, 2003-2004. Member: Cuban American Bar Association; Defense Research Institute. Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Drug and Medical Device Defense; Tobacco Litigation; Products Liability Defense; Toxic Tort Defense; Wrongful Death; Appellate Practice; Commercial Litigation.Email: Michele Aimee Vargas
Olga M. Vieira (Associate) born Miami, Florida; admitted to bar, 2006, Florida; U.S. District Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida. Education: University of Florida (B.S., Accounting, cum laude, 2001); Georgetown University (J.D., 2006). Treasurer and Member, Board of Directors, Amor en Acción. Member: Dade Heritage Trust, Board of Trustees; Lawyers for Children America, Attorney Ad Litem. Lead Articles Editor, The Tax Lawyer. Representative, Student Bar Association. Delta Sigma Phi; Golden Key National Honor Society. Student Ambassador. President, Catholic Forum. Member, La Alianza del Derecho. Law Clerk and Summer Associate, McKenna Long & Aldridge, 2004. Member: Cuban American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Products Liability(100%).Email: Olga M. Vieira
Aaron S. Weiss (Associate) admitted to bar, 2004, New York; 2008, Florida. Education: State University of New York at Binghamton (B.A., Political Science, summa cum laude, 2000); Columbia University Law School (J.D., 2003). Member: New York State Bar Association; Defense Research Institute (Member, Committee on Legal Ethics). Practice Areas: Litigation.Email: Aaron S. Weiss
Jessica Zagier Wallace (Associate) admitted to bar, 2005, Florida; U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida. Education: Tulane University (B.A., Political Economy and History, summa cum laude, 2000); New York University School of Law (J.D., 2004). Practice Areas: Business Litigation; Criminal Law; Immigration and Naturalization; Appellate Practice.Email: Jessica Zagier Wallace
(All attorneys are members of their local Bar Associations, The Florida Bar and The American Bar Association).
Ratings Methodology
The following firm members have been rated by their peersDisclaimer: No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. The testimonial or endorsement does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter. Any result that the endorsed lawyer or law firm may achieve on behalf of one client in one matter does not necessarily indicate that similar results can be obtained for other clients. Past success cannot be an assurance of future success because each case must be decided on its own merits. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Martindale-Hubbell® does not undertake to develop a Client Review Rating or Peer Review Rating for all firms and/or lawyers. Therefore, the fact that a firm or lawyer has not been reviewed should not be construed as unfavorable. Martindale-Hubbell accepts no responsibility for and will not be liable for the content and accuracy of the individual Reviews and the aggregated Reviews.
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