Jorden Burt LLP is a national law firm with more than 80 lawyers focused on providing advice and representation to the financial services, insurance, healthcare, and other related industries. The Firm functions as a strategic team, across industry groups, practice teams and geographic locations with offices located in Washington, D.C., Miami, Florida and Simsbury, Connecticut. The Firm's lawyers are active in relevant professional and industry associations, acquiring the knowledge and maintaining the skills necessary to meet the evolving needs of their clients. Our focus is on assuring a reputation for excellence, integrity, teamwork and an understanding of and service to the needs of our clients.

Long recognized as a pioneer in the creation of innovative financial and investment fund structures and of new insurance and reinsurance products, Jorden Burt is a preeminent defender of the general corporate and financial services industry in market conduct, class action, securities, fraud, contract, trademark, intellectual property, white collar criminal, regulatory and other complex litigation and investigations. The Firm's clients are multinational and domestic corporations, issuers of financial products for businesses, pension plans, and individuals, with distribution through established channels and electronic networks in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and developing markets around the globe.

Statement of Practice

Appellate and Trial Practice in all Courts, Arbitration, Broker-Dealer, Class Actions, Commercial and Complex Litigation, Copyrights, Consumer Finance, Constitutional Law, Corporate Finance, Communications, Criminal and Civil Fraud, Defamation, Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation, Employment, ERISA, Financial Services and Product Distribution, First Amendment, General Securities, Health Insurance, Information Technology, Insurance Regulatory, Intellectual Property, Intellectual Property Litigation, Internet and e-Commerce, Investment Management, Labor, Life Insurance, Media, Mutual Fund, Pension, Privacy, Private Equity, Property and Casualty Insurance, Registered Financial Products, Reinsurance, Securities Litigation and Enforcement, Securitization, Federal and State Tax, Trademarks, White Collar Crime.

Address

777 Brickell Avenue, Suite 500
Miami, FL 33131, (Miami-Dade Co.)

Phone

Phone: 305-371-2600
Fax: 305-372-9928

Website

http://www.jordenburt.com

Firm/Affiliate Offices

(For complete biographical data on other personnel, see Professional Biographies at Washington, D.C. and Simsbury, Connecticut)

PARTNERS

Enrique D. Arana (Partner) born Zaragoza, Spain, 1972; admitted to bar, 2000, Florida. Education: University of Illinois (B.A., cum laude, 1994); Harvard Law School (J.D., cum laude, 1998). Phi Beta Kappa. Member: Dade County Bar Association; The Florida Bar. Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Civil Trial Litigation; Appellate Litigation; Commercial Litigation.Email: Enrique D. Arana

Ann Young Black (Partner) born Austin, Texas, 1965; admitted to bar, 1991, Florida. Education: University of Florida (B.S., with honors, 1987; M.A.C.C., with honors, 1990; J.D., with honors, 1991). Order of the Coif. Member: The Florida Bar; American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Corporate Contracts; Corporate Finance; Corporate Governance; Corporate Investigations; Corporate Organization; Corporate Reorganization; Securitization; Corporate Ethics; Corporate Fiduciary Law; Structured Finance; Insurance; Insurance Company Demutualization; Insurance Agents and Brokers; Insurance Contracts; Insurance Insolvency; Insurance Mergers and Acquisitions; Insurance Products; Insurance Rate Regulation; Insurance Receivership; Insurance Regulation; Insurance Rehabilitation and Liquidation; Life and Health Insurance; Life Insurance; Reinsurance; Unfair Insurance Practices; Securities; Blue Sky Law; Broker-Dealer Registration; Broker-Dealer Regulation; Private Placement; Securities Disclosure; Securities Finance; Securities Offerings; Securities Registration.Email: Ann Young Black

Elizabeth M. Bohn (Partner) born New York, N.Y., 1954; admitted to bar, 1979, Florida; U.S. District Court, Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida including Trial Bar; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Education: University of Miami (B.A., cum laude, 1975; J.D., 1979). Faculty Member, National Institute of Trial Advocacy Deposition Program, Nova University, 1992. Author: "Fundamentals of Article 2A of the Uniform Commercial Code," Florida Bar Seminar, 1993; "Repossession of Personal Property-Prebankruptcy," National Business Institute, 1994; "Overview of Florida's Construction Lien Law," presented by Dade County Bar Association Construction Law Committee, 1996; Co-Author: "How to Get Results in Collection of Delinquent Debts in Florida," National Business Institute, 1995 and 1996; "FDCPA Compliance for the Florida Practitioners," National Business Institute, 2002. Member: Dade County Bar Association (Construction Law Committee, 1995-1997; Corporate Banking and Business Law Committee, 1997-1998); American Bar Association (Member, Business Law, Litigation and Litigation Practice Management Sections; Women Rainmakers Group); The Florida Bar (Corporate, Banking and Business Law and Trial Sections; Member: Bankruptcy/UCC Committee, 1993; Uniform Commercial Code Committee, Member: 1982-1983; 11th Circuit Grievance Committee of the Florida Bar, 1996-1999); The Association of Trial Lawyers of America; Bankruptcy Bar Association for the Southern District of Florida; American Bankruptcy Institute. Reported Cases: Plural Realty Inc., v. Michael Bende, 152 BR 677 (Bankr. S D Fla 1993); Harvard Farms, Inc. v. National Casualty Company, 617 So. 2d. 400 (Fla 3rd DCA 1993); Steve Saks v. National Casualty Company, 623 So. 2d 853 (Fla 3d DCA 1993); Schneider v. National Casualty Company, 623 So. 2d 798 (Fla 3d DCA 1993); Gath v. St. Lucie County-Fort Pierce Fire District, et al., 640 So. 2d 138 (Fla 4th DCA 1994); W.C.P.S. of Florida, Inc. v. Standart Brands of America, et al, 707 So. 2d 416 (Fla 4th DCA 1998) Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Real Estate and Construction Law; Business Transactions; Creditors Rights and Bankruptcy.Email: Elizabeth M. Bohn

Franklin G. Burt (Partner) born Detroit, Michigan, 1948; admitted to bar, 1975, Florida; 1999, District of Columbia. Education: University of Michigan (A.B., with distinction, 1971); University of Miami (J.D., 1975). Co-author: Florida Section: 50 State Survey, Libel Defense Resource Center. Author: Florida Section: Open Government Manual, Reporters' Committee for Freedom of the Press. Member: The Florida Bar; The District of Columbia Bar. Reported Cases: American Bankers Group, Inc. v. United States, 408 F.3d 1328 (11th Cir. 2005); American Bankers Ins. Co. v. Alexander, 818 So. 2d 1073 (Miss. 2001); American Bankers Ins. Co. v. Wells, 819 So. 2d 1196 (Miss. 2001); Askew v. City of Ocala, 348 So. 2d 308 (Fla. 1977); Baron v. Best Buy Co., 79 F. Supp. 2d 1350 (S.D. Fla. 1999); Bath Club Inc. v. Dade County, 394 So. 2d 110 (Fla. 1981); Boehm v. American Bankers Ins. Group, Inc., 557 So. 2d 91 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1983); Burstein v. First Penn-Pacific Life Ins. Co., 209 F.R.D. 674 (S.D. Fla. 2002); Cernuda v. Heavey, 720 F. Supp 1544 (S.D. Fla. 1989); Cheatwood v. Barry University, 2001 WL 1769914 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1991); Dade County Schools v. Miami Herald Publ'g Co., 443 So. 2d 268 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1983); Dade County v. Matheson, 605 So. 2d 469 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1992); Edwards v. Your Credit, Inc., 148 F.3d 427 (5th Cir. 1998); Feldman v. Glucroft, 522 So. 2d 798 and 580 So.2d 866 (Fla. 1988); Fender v. City of Miami, 666 So. 2d 596 (Fla. 1988); Feldman v. Glucroft, 80 So. 2d 866 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1991); Frelin v. Oakwood Homes, 2002 WL 31863487 (Ark. Cir. 2002); Futura Realty v. Lone Star Bldg. Centers (Eastern), Inc., 578 So. 2d 363 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1991); Gras v. Associates Financial First Capital Corp., 786 A.2d 886 (N.J. App. Div. 2001); Hammett v. American Bankers Ins. Co., 203 F.R.D. 690 (S.D. Fla. 2001); In re Humana Inc. Managed Care Litigation, 285 F.3d 971 (11th Cir. 2002); Jones v. Miami Herald Publ'g Co., 416 So. 2d 480 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1982); Jordan v. AVCO Fin. Services of Ga., Inc., 117 F.3d 1254 (11th Cir. 2001); Linder v. Calero Portocarrero, 747 F. Supp. 1452 (S.D. Fla. 1990); Linder v. Portocarrero, 963 F.2d 332 (11th Cir. 1992) London v. Chase Manhattan Bank USA, N.A., 150 F. Supp. 1314 (S.D. Fla. 2001); London v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 340 F.3d 1246 (11th Cir. 2003); McCorkle v. The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, 112 P.3d 838 (Idaho App. 2005); McDonald v. Southern Farm Bureau Life Ins. Co., 291 F.3d 718 (11th Cir. 2002); McIlnath v. General Electric Capital Assurance Co., 146 F. Supp. 2d 1304 (S.D. Fla. 2001); Miami Heart Institute v. Reis, 638 So. 2d 530 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1994); Miami Herald Publ'g Co. v. Chappell, 403 So. 2d 1342 (Fla. App. 1981); Miami Herald Publ'g Co. v. Hagler, 506 So. 2d 1037 (Fla. 1987); Miami Herald Publ'g Co. v. Morejon, 561 So. 2d 577 (Fla. 1990); Minton v. American Bankers Ins. Co., 2000 WL 1040984 (S.D. Fla. 2002); Minton v. American Bankers Ins. Co., 2003 WL 21303330 (11th Cir. 2003); NCL Corp. v. Lone Star Bldg. Centers (Eastern), Inc., 144 B.R. 170 (Fla. Dist. 1983); Parkway General Hosp., Inc. v. Allinson, 453 So. 2d 123 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1984); Parsons & Whittemore, Inc. v. Metropolitan Dade County, 429 So. 2d 343 (Fla. Dist. 1983); Paul v. Blake, 376 So. 2d 256 (Fla. Ct. App. 1979); Richardson v. Standard Guaranty Ins., 2002 WL 972181 (N.J. Super. 2002); Richardson v. Standard Guaranty Ins. Co., 371 N.J. Super. 449 (N.J. Super Ct., App. Div. 2004); State ex rel Veale v. Boca Raton, 353 So. 2d 1194 (Fla. App. 1977); Taylor v. American Bankers Ins. Group, Inc., 700 N.Y.S. 2d 458 (N.Y. App. Div. 1999); Voyager Ins. Companies v. Whitson, 867 So. 2d 1065 (Ala. 2003); Wait v. Florida Power & Light Co., 372 So. 2d 420 (Fla. 1979); Woodall v. GE Financial Assurance Holdings, Inc., et al., Case No. 02-04025 (Fla. 13th Cir. Ct. 2003), affirmed (Fla. 2d Dist. Ct. App. 2004); American Bankers Group, Inc. v. United States, 408 F.3d 1328 (11th Cir. 2005); Dunlap v. Friedmans, Inc., et al., 2005 WL 2561470 (S.D.Va. 2005); McCorkle v. The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, 112 P.3d 838 (Idaho App. 2005). Transactions: $3.1 billion hostile takeover of American Bankers Insurance Group, Inc.; $125 million sale of assets from Lone Star Industries, Inc. to Tarmac Florida, Inc.; sale and lease of $60 million cement plant; purchase of numerous concrete companies and associated properties and plants; purchase and sale of media properties; purchase of quarries, sand and aggregate properties. Practice Areas: Litigation; Class Action Defense; First Amendment and Environmental Law; Mergers and Acquisitions.Email: Franklin G. Burt

Josephine Cicchetti (Partner) admitted to bar, 1980, District of Columbia; 1984, Florida. Education: St. Joseph College (B.A., 1977) Trustee Scholar; Georgetown University (J.D., 1980). Associate Editor, The American Criminal Law Review, 1980. (Also at Washington, D.C. Office). Practice Areas: Corporate; Securities; Insurance Regulatory; Insurance Products; Mergers and Acquisitions.Email: Josephine Cicchetti

Landon K. Clayman (Partner) born Lima, Peru, 1949; admitted to bar, 1979, Florida. Education: University of Florida (B.A., 1974); Yale Law School (J.D., 1979). Member: The Florida Bar; American Bar Association. Languages: Spanish and Portuguese. Practice Areas: Class Action Litigation; Insurance Law; Appellate Practice; Communications and Media Law.Email: Landon K. Clayman

Farrokh Jhabvala (Partner) born Bombay, India, 1945; admitted to bar, 1988, Florida; 1989, District of Columbia; U.S. Federal District Court, Southern District of Florida; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth, Fifth, Seventh and Eleventh Circuits. Education: University of Bombay (B.S., 1963); Fletcher School (Ph.D., 1977); University of Miami (J.D., magna cum laude, 1988). Articles and Comments Editor, University of Miami Law Review, 1987-1988. Author: "Declarations by Judges of the International Court of Justice," American Journal of International Law, 1978; "The Political-Propaganda Label Under FARA: Abridgement of Free Speech or Legitimate Regulation," University of Miami Law Review, 1987; "The 'Direct-Conflict 'Test for First-Clause McCarran-Ferguson Cases," Torts and Insurance Law Journal, Summer 1998; "Premium Cuts for the Plaintiffs' Bar? Market Conduct Class Actions Involving Gap Premium, Modal Premium, Premium Tax and Other Theories," ALI-ABA Conference on Life and Health Insurance Litigation (May 2003). Member: American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Complex Commercial Litigation; Class Actions; Trial and Appellate Practice.Email: Farrokh Jhabvala

James F. Jorden (Partner) born Sewickley, Pennsylvania, 1941; admitted to bar, 1966, Virginia; 1968, District of Columbia; 1982, Florida. Education: Dickinson College; George Washington University. Research Editor, George Washington Law Review; Author: "'Paying Up' For Research: A Regulatory and Legislative Analysis," Duke Law Journal 1103, 1975; "Special Insurance Company Problems in the Marketing and Administration of Pension and Health and Welfare Plans," The Forum, XI, No. 4, 1054, Summer 1976; "Federal Fraud and State Law Fiduciary Duties - A Tour of The Circuits Reveals Continuing Confusion," Idaho Law Review, Spring, 1983. Co-Author: "Section 22 (d) of The Investment Company Act of 1940 - Its Original Purpose and Present Function," Duke Law Journal 975, 1973; "An Appraisal of Disclosure Requirements in Contest For Control Under The Williams Act," 46 George Washington Law Review 817, 1980; "Handbook on ERISA Litigation," Aspen Law & Business, 1992 and 1994; "Litigation and Regulatory Issues for Insurance Companies," Inside the Minds: Legal Strategies for the Insurance Industry, Aspatore Books, 2005. Co-Chairman, ALI/ABA Conference on Securities, Tax and ERISA Issues Affecting Insurance Companies, Fall 1983-1999. Chairman, ALI/ABA Conference on Life Insurance Litigation, Spring, 1996-2002. Co-Chairman, Practicing Law Institute Seminar, Insurance Companies and The Federal Securities Laws, 1979. Panelist: Practicing Law Institute Seminars; Non-Federal Class Actions, 1999-2002; Investment Company Institute Annual Mutual Funds and Investment Management Conference, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1996; Class Action Litigation Panel, Annual Meetings, CCIA, 1996, ALIC, 1998, 2005, ACLI, 1999; Developments in ERISA Litigation, Annual Meeting, National Organization of Life and Health Guarantee Association, 1994, 1995; ERISA and Securities Litigation Update, ABA Tips Sect ion, 1995; Market Conduct Litigation, 2002. Member: Association of Life Insurance Counsel, 2005—. Member: District of Columbia Bar (Chairman, Division of Corporation, Finance and Securities Law, 1974-1978); American Bar Association (Chairman, Committee on Employee Benefits, Tort and Insurance Practice Section, 1978-1980; 1985-1987; Member: Federal Securities Law Committee, 1976—; Chairman, Sub-Committee on Securities Activities of Insurance Companies, 1983—; Member, Business Litigation Committee; Chairman, Sub-Committee on ERISA Litigation); The American Law Institute; American Bar Foundation. Practice Areas: Insurance and Securities Industry; Litigation; Corporate and Pension Litigation; Corporate Financing; Securities Law.Email: James F. Jorden

Steven Kass (Partner) born Poughkeepsie, New York, 1952; admitted to bar, 1983, Florida and U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida. Education: University of Pennsylvania (B.S., 1974); University of Miami (M.B.A., 1980; J.D., magna cum laude, 1983). Society of Wig and Robe. Associate Editor, University of Miami Law Review, 1982-1983. Author: "Tufts v. Commissioner: Reopening the Pandora's Box of Crane's Footnote 37," University of Miami Law Review, 1982. Member: American Bar Association (Member, Committee on Law and Accounting, Business Law Section). Practice Areas: Insurance Regulation; Corporate/Securities; Insurance Litigation; Accounting and Financial Fraud.Email: Steven Kass

Markham R. Leventhal (Partner) born New York, N.Y., 1959; admitted to bar, 1986, New York and Florida; 1987, New Jersey; 2003, Mississippi; 2004, District of Columbia. Education: Duke University (B.A., 1981); Seton Hall University (J.D., 1985); New York University (LL.M., 1986). Member, Editorial Board, Seton Hall Law Review, 1984-1985. Author: "Class Actions: Fundamentals of Certification Analysis," Florida Bar Journal, May 1998; "Civil Conspiracy and Aiding-Abetting: Discussing the Structure of the Theories and Related Principles of Legal Causation," Seton Hall Law Review, 1984. Editor: "State Limited Partnership Laws," Florida Section, 1988-1990. Chairman, Legal Committee, USA Triathlon, 1989—. Member: Dade County (Federal Court Committee) and American (Class and Derivative Actions Subcommittee, Business and Corporate Litigation Committee, Section of Business Law; Class Action Committee, Litigation Section; Tort and Insurance Practice Section) Bar Associations. The Florida Bar (Member: Business Law Section; Appellate Practice Section). Practice Areas: Trial and Appellate Litigation; Class Actions; Fraud; Punitive Damage Defense; Consumer Litigation; Insurance; Contracts; ERISA Litigation.Email: Markham R. Leventhal

Sonia E. O'Donnell (Partner) born Havana, Cuba, 1952; admitted to bar, 1978, Florida, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Eleventh Circuits and U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of Florida (B.A., 1974; J.D., 1977). Former Assistant U.S. Attorney, 1979-1983, Deputy Chief of Appeals, 1983-1989, Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney, 1989-1992 and Special Counsel to U.S. Attorney, 1993-1994, Southern District of Florida. Reported Cases: Florida Paraplegic Association v. Miccosukee Tribe, 166 F.3d 1126 (11th Cir. 1999); Miccosukee Tribe v. U.S.A., EPA, 105 F.3d 599 (11th Cir. 1997); United States v. Marino-Garcia, 679 F.2d 1373 (11th Cir. 1982); United States v. Cortez, 757 F.2d 1204 (11th Cir. 1985); United States v. Roggio, 863 F.2d 41 (11th Cir. 1989). Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Civil and Criminal Appellate Practice; Federal Litigation; Environmental Law; Indian Law.Email: Sonia E. O'Donnell

Richard J. Ovelmen (Partner) born LaPorte, Indiana, 1952; admitted to bar, 1979, Florida and U.S. District Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida; 1987, U.S. Supreme Court. Education: Butler University (B.A., cum laude, 1974); Yale University (J.D., 1979). Co-Author: "Access," PLI 1980-1999; Libel Defense Resource Center 50-State Survey, Media Libel Law, "Florida," 1988-2001. Moderator, "The First Amendment and the United States Supreme Court," Fla. Bar, 1992-2000. Adjunct Professor of Law: Constitutional Litigation, University of Miami Law School, 1986-1987; Copyright Litigation, University of Miami Law School, 1983. Faculty, Practicing Law Institute, 1980-2001. Member: The Florida Bar; American Bar Association (Chairman, Media Law and Defamation Committee, Section of Tort and Insurance Practice, 1989-1990). Practice Areas: Communications and Media Law; Intellectual Property Law; Antitrust Law; Constitutional Litigation; Land Use; Local Government Litigation; Civil Litigation; Commercial Litigation.Email: Richard J. Ovelmen

Richard A. Sharpstein (Partner) born Boston, Massachusetts, 1950; admitted to bar, 1976, Florida and U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit; 1978, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida; 1980, U.S. Supreme Court; 1981, U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit; 1986, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit. Education: Tulane University (B.A., cum laude, 1972; J.D., cum laude, 1975). Omicron Delta Kappa. Assistant State's Attorney, Dade County, 1976-1979. Major Crimes Prosecutor, 1971-1973. Special Assistant Public Defender, 1979—. Member, American Board of Criminal Lawyers 1991—; American Inns of Court, 1990—. Listed in: The Best Lawyers in America, 1998—; South Florida Legal Guide to Top Lawyers, 2000—. Member: The Florida Bar (Member, Criminal Law Section); American Bar Association; Florida Criminal Defense Attorneys Association (Vice-President, 1984-1985; President, 1986; Member, Board of Directors, 1984-1994); National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers (Member, Criminal Law Section); The Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Practice Areas: Federal Criminal Law; Civil Practice; Trial Practice.Email: Richard A. Sharpstein

Irma Reboso Solares (Partner) born Coral Gables, Florida, 1964; admitted to bar, 1989, Florida; U.S. District Court, Southern, Northern and Middle Districts of Florida; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Education: University of Miami (B.A., 1985; J.D., 1988). Member: Dade County and American Bar Associations; The Florida Bar; Cuban-American Bar Association. Reported Cases: Minton v. American Bankers Ins. Group, 2002 WL 1040984 (S.D. Fla. Apr. 24, 2002); Feldman v. Glucroft, 580 So.2d 866 (Fla. 3d DCA 1991); Miami Heart Institute v. Reis, 19 F.L.W. D976 So.2d (Fla. 3d DCA 1994). Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Insurance; Labor and Employment.Email: Irma Reboso Solares

Julianna Thomas McCabe (Partner) born Akron, Ohio, 1967; admitted to bar, 2000, Florida. Education: University of Akron (B.A., 1993); University of Connecticut (M.A., 1995); Boston University (J.D., magna cum laude, 2000). Executive Editor, Boston University Law Review. Author: "Fifteen Years After Weintraub: Who Controls The Individual's Attorney - Client Privilege in Bankruptcy?" Boston University Law Review Volume 80 Number 2, April 2000. Member: The Florida Bar. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Commercial Litigation.Email: Julianna Thomas McCabe

Stephan I. Voudris (Partner) born New York, N.Y., August 8, 1966; admitted to bar, 1991, Ohio; 1998, Florida; U.S. District Court, Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida and Northern District of Ohio; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Eleventh Circuits; U.S. Supreme Court. Education: Miami University (B.S., 1988); University of Texas (J.D., 1991). Member: American Bar Association (Member, Litigation Section); The Florida Bar; Dade County Bar Association. Reported Cases: Ward v. Life Investors Insurance Co. of America, 383 F. Supp. 2d 882 (S.D. Miss. 2005); McIlraith v. General Electric Capital Assurance Co., 146 F. Supp. 2d 1304 (S.D. Fla. 2001); Adelstein v. Unicare Life and Health Insurance Co., 135 F. Supp. 2d 1240 (M.D. Fla. 2001); Cione v. Gorr, 843 F. Supp. 1199 (N.D. Ohio 1994); American Bankers Insurance Co. of Florida v. Booth, 830 So. 2d 1205 (Miss. 2002); Sutherland v. ITT Residential Capital Corp., 702 N.E.2d 436 (Ohio Ct. App. 1997). Practice Areas: Class Action Defense; Complex and Multi-District Litigation; Insurance Litigation; NASD Arbitration; Mediation; Appellate Practice; Contracts; Commercial Law; Unfair Insurance Practices; Insurance Fraud; Insurance Bad Faith; Insurance Agents and Brokers; Civil RICO; Securities Fraud; Trademark Litigation; Copyright Litigation; Unfair Competition; Theft of Trade Secrets.Email: Stephan I. Voudris

Edmund J. Zaharewicz (Partner) born Garfield Heights, Ohio, 1965; admitted to bar, 1994, Florida. Education: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (B.S.E.E., 1988); University of Miami (J.D., cum laude, 1994). Practice Areas: Securities Regulation; Insurance Regulation; Corporate Law.Email: Edmund J. Zaharewicz

OF COUNSEL

Janice Burton Sharpstein (Of Counsel) born Charlotte, North Carolina, 1949; admitted to bar, 1975, Florida, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Eleventh Circuits; 1977, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida. Education: Florida State University (B.A., 1971); Hague Academy of International Law, Den Haag, The Netherlands; University of Florida (J.D., cum laude, 1975). Member: Law Review; Center of Governmental Responsibility. Co-Author: "The Hearsay Rule," Chapter 5 and "Hearsay Exceptions," Chapter 6, Evidence in Florida, 2nd ed., 1978. Member, American Inns of Court, 1990—. Member: Dade County (Member: Young Lawyers Section, 1978-1985; Board of Directors, 1978-1980; Member, Committee to Evaluate New Evidence Code, 1977); and American Bar Associations (Member, National Committee, 1981); The Florida Bar; Criminal Defense Attorneys Association. Reported Cases: U.S. v. Brown, 79 F.3d 1550 (11th Cir. 1996); and State v. Boucourt, 785 So.2d 744 (3rd DCA 2001); Nogues v. State, 762 So.2d 967 (Fla.3d DCA 2000); State v. Preston Williams, 513 So.2d 684 (Fla. 2d DCA 1987). Practice Areas: Federal Practice; Appellate Practice.Email: Janice Burton Sharpstein

ASSOCIATES

Ramiro C. Areces (Associate) born 1983; admitted to bar, 2008, Florida. Education: Florida International University (B.S., summa cum laude, 2005); University of Miami School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2008). Member: The Florida Bar.Email: Ramiro C. Areces

Karen A. Benson (Associate) born Hartford, Connecticut, 1976; admitted to bar, 2002, Florida. Education: Syracuse University (B.A., 1999); George Washington University (J.D., 2002). Member, GW Moot Court Board. Member, The GW International Law Review. Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist. Member: American Bar Association. Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Business Law; Insurance.Email: Karen A. Benson

Andres F. Chagui (Associate) born Miami, Florida, 1980; admitted to bar, 2005, Florida. Education: Vanderbilt University (B.A., cum laude, 2002); University of Southern California (J.D., 2005). Member: The Florida Bar. Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Appellate Practice; Class Actions.Email: Andres F. Chagui

Stephanie Fichera (Associate) born 1983; admitted to bar, 2008, Florida. Education: Boston University (B.A., magna cum laude, 2005); University of Miami School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2008). Member: The Florida Bar.Email: Stephanie Fichera

Todd M. Fuller (Associate) born Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1975; admitted to bar, 2003, Florida. Education: West Virginia University (B.S., 1998; B.A., 1998); University of Miami School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2003). George David Gold Scholar. Recipient, CALI Award; Dean's Certificate for International Research and Writing Methods. Citations Editor, University of Miami International and Comparative Law Review. Member: The Florida Bar; American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Commercial Litigation.Email: Todd M. Fuller

Ari H. Gerstin (Associate) born New Jersey; admitted to bar, 2004, Florida; 2005, U.S. District Court, Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida; 2007, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Education: University of Miami (B.B.A., cum laude, 2001; J.D., cum laude, 2004). Articles and Comments Editor, University of Miami Law Review, 2003-2004. Recipient: CALI Award for Legal Research and Writing; Dean's Certificate of Achievement in Legal Research and Writing; Dean's Certificate of Achievement in Family Law. Co-Author: "FDCPA Traps for the Unwary Nationwide Lender, Loan Servicer and Debt Collector," American Bankruptcy Institute Journal, April, 2005. Co-Author: "Fringe Banking," Review of Banking & Financial Services, Vol. 22, No. 9, September, 2006. Member: The Florida Bar; American Bar Association; Dade County Bar Association; National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Practice Areas: Litigation; Class Action Defense; Consumer Fraud; White Collar Criminal Defense.Email: Ari H. Gerstin

Lara O'Donnell Grillo (Associate) born 1980; admitted to bar, 2007, Florida. Education: Emory University (B.A., magna cum laude); Harvard Law School (J.D.). Member: The Florida Bar. Practice Areas: Trial Practice; Class Actions.Email: Lara O'Donnell Grillo

Jonathan P. Hart (Associate) born 1980; admitted to bar, 2008, Florida. Education: University of Wisconsin (B.A., 2003); University of Miami School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2008). Member: The Florida Bar.Email: Jonathan P. Hart

Sarah Jarvis (Associate) born 1981; admitted to bar, 2007, Florida. Education: Florida State University (B.S., 2003); University of Miami (J.D./M.B.A., magna cum laude, 2006). Member: American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Corporate and Transactional; ERISA and Tax; SEC; NASD.Email: Sarah Jarvis

Jason P. Kairalla (Associate) born Charleston, South Carolina, 1976; admitted to bar, 2002, Florida; U.S. District Court, Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Education: University of Miami (B.B.A., 1998; J.D., 2002). Alpha Lambda Delta (President, 2001-2002). Order of the Coif. Member: Miami-Date County and American Bar Associations; Society of Bar & Gavel; Iron Arrow Honor Society. Fellow: University of Miami School of Law Center for Ethics and Public Service, 1999-2002. Member, 2000-2002 and Projects Editor, 2001-2002, University of Miami Law Review. Judicial Law Clerk to U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck, Southern District of Florida, 2002-2003. Practice Areas: Complex and Multi-District Litigation; Class Actions; Appellate Practice.Email: Jason P. Kairalla

James E. Kirtley, Jr. (Associate) born 1979; admitted to bar, 2006, Florida. Education: Arizona State University (B.S., summa cum laude, 2002); University of Miami (J.D., magna cum laude, 2006). Phi Beta Kappa. Member: The Florida Bar; American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Class Actions; Labor and Employment.Email: James E. Kirtley, Jr.

Richard T. Sahuc (Associate) born Metairie, Louisiana, 1972; admitted to bar, 2003, Florida and U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Florida. Education: Dartmouth College (B.A., 1994); University of Miami School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2002). Order of the Coif. Articles and Comments Editor, University of Miami Law Review. Recipient: Dean's Merit Scholarship; CALI Award for Legal Research and Writing. Member: The Florida Bar; American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Class Actions.Email: Richard T. Sahuc

Michael C. Shue (Associate) born 1981; admitted to bar, Florida. Education: Northwestern University (B.A., 2003); University of Miami School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2006). Order of the Coif. Staff Editor, University of Miami Law Review. Member: Florida Bar Association. Practice Areas: Appellate Practice; Class Actions.Email: Michael C. Shue

Michael N. Wolgin (Associate) born 1982; admitted to bar, 2007, Florida. Education: Yeshiva University (B.S., magna cum laude, 2004); University of Miami School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2007). Member: The Florida Bar; American Bar Association.Email: Michael N. Wolgin