As a founding member of the firm, Richard Weiss helped to establish and grow Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman into a leading Florida firm for business and government clients.

Over a career that spans four decades, Richard has counseled private and public sector clients on governmental and municipal law, including American Airlines, the Hertz Corporation, the Miami Heat basketball franchise, and dozens of cities, counties, and other governmental entities. Richard has been involved in some of Florida’s largest public-private projects, including the $3 billion North Terminal at Miami International Airport, the American Airlines Arena, the Homestead Motorsports Complex, and Hard Rock Stadium, the home of the Miami Dolphins. Richard has served as City Attorney for nearly a dozen South Florida cities and as special and labor counsel to many more. He has authored charters for newly-created cities. Before entering private practice, Richard served as an Assistant County Attorney for Miami-Dade County for seven years. Richard’s extensive experience also includes litigation in the state and federal trial and appellate courts.

In recognition of his commitment to the public interest, Richard was awarded The Florida Bar’s prestigious Claude Pepper Outstanding Government Lawyer Award, presented to lawyers whose character and accomplishments exemplify the highest ideals of government service.

Richard serves as guest lecturer at The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and has served as an adjunct professor in the Department of Public Administration at Florida International University and at the Criminal Justice Institute at Broward County Community College. He has presented on municipal law topics to organizations including the American Arbitration Association, the Florida Association of Police Legal Advisors, the Florida Public Employer Relations Association and the Florida Association of Municipal Attorneys.

Professional & Community Involvement

• Big Brother and Sisters Foundation, Board Member, 2014-2019
• Broward County Charter Review Commission Member, 2000, 2006
• Broward County Planning Council, Member, Chair, 1995-2002
• Town of Miami Lakes Charter Commission Attorney, 2000
• Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida Advisory Board, 1999
• Miami-Dade County Mayor’s Ad Hoc Charter Review Committee, 1997
• City of Aventura Charter Commission Attorney, 1995
• Doral Charter Commission Attorney, 1995
• Indian Trace Charter Steering Committee Member, 1995
• Dade County Public Health Trust Trustee, 1989-1993
• Jackson Memorial Foundation Chairman, 1989-1993
• Haven Center (Home for Disabled) Director, 1978-1988
• Affiliate Outreach Project Director, 1986
• Union Bank of Florida, Director, 2000-2005
• Broward County Professional Fire Administrators Association Advisory, Labor Counsel, 1995-2000
• South Florida Chapter, International Personnel Management Association, General Counsel, 1993-2000
• Florida International University, Department of Public Administration, Adjunct Professor, 1991-1999
• Florida International University Institute of Government, Steering Committee Chairman, 1991-1999
• The Florida Bar, Local Government Section, Labor Law Committee Co-Chairperson, 1989-1990
• American Bar Association Director, Young Lawyers Division, 1985-1986
• American Bar Association Chairman, Young Lawyers Division, Alternate Dispute Committee, 1981-1982
• American Bar Association Committee Chairman, Young Lawyers Division, National Community Law Week, 1981
• Stetson University Governmental Law Symposium Editor, 1977-1979

Awards & Recognition

• Best Lawyers in America®, Government Relations Practice, 2012 – present
  • Lawyer of the Year, Government Relations Practice, 2012, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2023
• The Florida Bar, Claude Pepper Outstanding Government Lawyer Award, 2017
• South Florida Legal Guide, Top Lawyers, 2002-present
• Florida Super Lawyers, 2007-2018
• Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, 2004-present
• Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating
• South Florida Business Journal, Best of the Bar, 2004

Florida, 1977

Tulane University Law School, J.D., 1977

Tulane University, B.A., 1974