The “Best Law Firms” list recognizes firms for their professional excellence and consistently compelling ratings from clients and peers. In order to rank in the list, a firm must have a lawyer listed in The Best Lawyers in America®, which acknowledges the top five percent of practicing U.S. attorneys. Earlier this year, the firm had 47 lawyers selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (click here for the full list).

Firms are ranked by tiers on a national and metropolitan basis. The firm received the following rankings:

National Tier 1

Land Use & Zoning Law

National Tier 2

Appellate Practice

Litigation – Real Estate

Sports Law

Regional Rankings Tier 1

Fort Lauderdale/Boca Raton

• Commercial Litigation
• Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
• Land Use & Zoning Law
• Litigation – Construction

Miami

• Administrative / Regulatory Law
• Appellate Practice
• Employment Law – Management
• Government Relations Practice
• Land Use & Zoning Law
• Real Estate Law
• Sports Law

Regional Rankings Tier 2

Fort Lauderdale/Boca Raton

• Construction Law
• Litigation – Labor & Employment

Miami

• Commercial Litigation
• Environmental Law
• Litigation – Real Estate

Regional Rankings Tier 3

Fort Lauderdale/Boca Raton

• Employment Law – Management

The post WSHC+B Ranked Among “Best Law Firms” By U.S. News – Best Lawyers® appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

The Florida counties and tax collectors petitioned the Florida Supreme Court to modify a 2022 $5 billion bond validation judgment issued in favor of the Florida PACE Funding Agency. The petitioners argued the trial court exceeded its jurisdiction and that they were not given proper notice of the bond validation hearing, which they claim left the vast majority of Florida counties unaware of the proceedings. The petitioners relied on Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.540(b), arguing that it allows for relief from a final judgment in cases of voidness, mistake, newly discovered evidence, or fraud.

WSHC+B’s experience in public finance and bond validation positions the firm as a key player in navigating these challenges. Their involvement in earlier PACE bond validations has set important precedents, contributing to the legal framework that governs these programs today.

Learn more here: https://www.law360.com/articles/1885940/fla-counties-say-notice-was-insufficient-in-5b-bond-deal?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

The post Florida Supreme Court Reviews $5 Billion PACE Bond Case Highlighting Notice Requirements appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

In April 2024, the DOL enacted regulations increasing the salary threshold for determining whether an employee is exempt from overtime requirements. The regulation imposed a July 1, 2024, increase of the salary threshold from $35,558 per year to $43,888 per year and an additional increase to $58,656 that would have taken effect on January 1, 2025. The Court ruling invalidates both increases. As a result, employees who satisfy the duties tests for the various white collar exemptions now, again, must earn $35,558 per year to be exempt from overtime requirements. Employers may still want to consult counsel before reversing course on any changes already implemented in connection with the July 1 increase.

Pursuant to the Court’s ruling, the DOL exceeded its authority when it attempted to increase the salary threshold by so much that it essentially converted the FLSA’s duties test into a “salary only” test for determining the exemption. The Court also ruled that the DOL exceeded its authority in implementing an automatic “escalator” provision, which would have automatically increased the salary threshold every three years, and struck down this regulation as well.

Should you have any inquiries or seek clarification on this matter, please do not hesitate to contact us.

The post Client Alert: Federal Court Blocks Overtime Exemption Threshold appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

As one of the area’s fastest-growing women’s professional organizations, WCC provides businesswomen of all races and nationalities a platform to build momentum, share their thoughts, and promote women’s professional growth through networking events, mentorship programs, and other resources.

Chanae represents developers and governmental entities in land use, zoning, and general government matters. She counsels municipal clients on compliance with public records, sunshine law and ethics, and matters dealing with comprehensive planning, general municipal, procurement, utilities, administrative, and constitutional law.

Learn more here: https://www.wccmiami.online/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

The post Chanae Wood named 2026 President-Elect for the Miami-Dade County Women’s Chamber of Commerce appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

The post Jamie Cole Selected in Florida Trend’s 2024 Florida 500 List appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

Reports under the CTA must be submitted by December 31, 2024. For businesses registered on or after January 1, 2024, registration is required within 90 days of filing their initial Articles of Organization or incorporation. Our firm is available to assist clients with this filing.

On March 1, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama deemed the CTA unconstitutional. However, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) of the U.S. Department of Treasury maintains that all applicable entities must still file their reports, except for those members of the National Small Business Association, the plaintiff in the case.

If you would like our assistance with your company’s CTA report, we are here to help.

Please note that the CTA report is not an annual filing. You will only need to refile if you sell your company or make significant governance changes, such as appointing a new president or senior officer.

The firm’s legal services will include:

1. Assessing your CTA reporting obligations by reviewing your corporate structure
2. Identifying beneficial owners based on the information you provide
3. Filing your company’s initial Beneficial Ownership Information report with FinCEN

Please be aware that the CTA is a complex law, and non-compliance can lead to significant penalties. We are here to guide you through this process and ensure you remain compliant. To receive an engagement letter, please email Emma Rodgers at ERodgers@wsh-law.com and she can send it to you by email or DocuSign upon request. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us by phone at (305) 854-0800 or by email, and we can discuss the process in more detail.

The post The Deadline is Approaching for the Corporate Transparency Act Filing Deadline appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

Candice reflected on her time as a young girl listening to her father recite the poem “Los Zapaticos de Rosa” by Cuban poet, political philosopher, and national hero José Martí, about a little girl who wore pink shoes to the seaside and ultimately gave them to another who was less fortunate.

In the piece, she recalled how her grandparents shared poems and other written works by Martí with her father as a little boy, who then, in turn, recited them to her. She now shares them with her children, continuing a long-lasting tradition within her family.

For Candice, a proud Cuban-American, Hispanic Heritage Month reminds her of the importance of upholding Cuban culture and finding ways to build upon that important cultural foundation.

Candice counsels municipalities on a broad array of matters impacting local governments. As the daughter and granddaughter of Cuban political exiles, Candice has a unique appreciation for the critical nexus between democratic institutions and community engagement. Candice is currently the Secretary and has served on the Board of Directors for the Cuban American Bar Association for the last five years. Along with several other attorneys, Candice has also volunteered her time to represent 52 political prisoners in the filing of a petition on CABA’s behalf, which is currently pending before the InterAmerican Commission for Human Rights.

Read Candice’s article “Reflections During Hispanic Heritage Month: Bedtime Stories and Little Pink Shoes” here: https://www.law.com/dailybusinessreview/2024/10/04/reflections-during-hispanic-heritage-month-bedtime-stories-and-little-pink-shoes/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

The post WSHC+B Attorney Candice Balmori Writes Article for Daily Business Review Reflecting on Her Cuban American Culture for Hispanic Heritage Month appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

Marlon and two other nominees were recognized at the 20th Annual Marcus Garvey Rootz Extravaganza. The award recognizes important members of the Jamaican community.

The event, timed to honor the 137th birthday of political activist Marcus Garvey, was attended by Jean Garvey, the widow of Marcus Garvey Jr.

The Rootz Foundation provides essential educational, cultural, recreational, health, and multimedia intervention services nationally and internationally to underserved individuals, especially minority students.

Marlon represents businesses, entrepreneurs, and local and international governments in corporate, intellectual property, and government matters. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Marlon has served as a civic leader in a number of roles across South Florida, especially with African-American and Caribbean-American communities.

The post WSHC+B Attorney Marlon Hill Receives Marcus Garvey Community Service Award appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

Speaking to the Daily Business Review, Ed emphasized the importance of this decision: “Absent these restrictions, a public hearing can devolve into chaos as anyone could use limited public hearing time to engage in irrelevant topics or behave inappropriately, distracting from government business.”

This decision establishes a new precedent for the Eleventh Circuit, aligning it with U.S. Supreme Court jurisprudence on municipal elected body meetings as limited public forums subject to reasonable, content-neutral speech restrictions.

Ed is Board Certified in Appellate Practice by the Florida Bar and is chair of the firm’s Appellate Practice Group. He has litigated dozens of appeals before the Florida Supreme Court, Florida’s district courts of appeal, and the U.S. Courts of Appeals in a wide variety of matters, including medical malpractice, premises liability, probate, First Amendment and constitutional litigation, family law, state and federal administrative rule-making and regulation, home rule authority and preemption, election law, civil rights, land use and zoning, intellectual property, and labor and employment issues.

Read the full article in the Daily Business Review here: https://www.law.com/dailybusinessreview/2024/09/17/eleventh-circuit-upholds-limits-on-public-comments-during-city-council-meetings/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

The post WSHC+B Partner Edward Guedes, Obtains an En Banc Victory in a Precedent-Setting First Amendment Case appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

“We try to embrace technology that enables us to work remotely and to transition to paperless offices,” Mitch says in the article. 

WSHC+B hasn’t mandated in-person requirements even since before COVID-19. Instead, the firm focuses on four essential pillars that help retain talent and keep them invested in the firm: guidance on business generation, work-life balance, path to partnership, and education. 

A litigator who has handled over 80 jury trials and appeals involving land disputes throughout Florida, Mitch is one of the state’s most influential lawyers in property rights lawsuits involving eminent domain, inverse condemnation and constitutional takings. Mitch has been the Firm’s Managing Director since 2018 and was included in Florida Trend’s Notable Managing Partners list earlier this year. 

Read more: https://www.law.com/pro-mid-market/2024/09/06/midsize-firms-claim-attorney-disengagement-has-yet-to-hit-them-even-as-some-offer-remote-options/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

The post Mitch Burnstein Discusses How WSHC+B Maintains Attorney Engagement in a Remote Work Environment appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.