Super Lawyers recognizes distinguished attorneys who have undergone a rigorous screening process and are ultimately selected for inclusion in their annual list of exceptional legal professionals. Published by Thomson Reuters, Super Lawyers is a rating service of attorneys from more than 70 practice areas and determines its rankings through independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations. Only the top 5 percent of outstanding lawyers in Florida are rated by Super Lawyers, while no more than 2.5 percent of lawyers under 40 years old or who have practiced for fewer than 10 years are selected as Rising Stars.

The Firm’s recognized attorneys are listed below.

Miami

Recognized as Super Lawyers

• Mitchell Bierman
• Alan K. Fertel
• Edward G. Guedes
• Joseph H. Serota

Recognized as Rising Star

• Justin D. Luger

Fort Lauderdale

Recognized as Super Lawyers

• Mitchell J. Burnstein
• Jamie A. Cole
• Susan Trevarthen
• Peter D. Waldman

Recognized as Rising Stars

• Anne Reilly Flanigan
• Alicia Gonzalez
• Chanae Wood

Boca Raton

Recognized as Super Lawyers

• Howard D. DuBosar
• Alen H. Hsu
• Brett J. Schneider

The post WSHC+B ATTORNEYS RECOGNIZED AS 2024 SUPER LAWYERS AND RISING STARS appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

The firm is incredibly proud of WSHC+B partners Lily Arango, the Surfside Town Attorney, and Tony Recio, who heads the firm’s private land use and zoning practice, who both dedicated countless hours working with officials on a plan of action in the days, weeks, and months after the catastrophe. And when the impending litigation arose, WSHC+B litigators Eric Hockman and Joe Serota stepped in as part of the team of attorneys who negotiated the nearly $1 billion in settlements, a result that presiding Judge Michael Hanzman called “beyond extraordinary.”

Eric spoke with several media outlets about the stunning settlement result. He told Law360 that Judge Michael Hanzman “was pushing everybody really, really hard. He really did a tremendous job. This case belonged in front of him.”

Judge Hanzman, who had no advanced warning that the victims’ attorneys would announce the resolution of their claims against dozens of entities for $997 million, was “at a loss for words.” But then he added, “The result that has been achieved in this case and the speed with which it has been achieved is beyond extraordinary. If the right people were not running this case, this could have turned into a decade-long slog.”

Eric elaborated to Law360, “This is one of those cases where the last thing in the world you want to happen is to have a jury decide that your client is at fault for this terrible tragedy. It’s far better to buy your peace and deny liability than have a jury say you caused this. For a lot of insurers, keeping their clients’ exposure down within policy limits is a good, strategic choice.”

Once the settlements are approved, the parties’ investigations into the cause of the collapse will cease, although Eric said Surfside will continue its contract with structural engineer and collapse expert, Allyn Kilsheimer. Despite objections from some of the participants, Judge Hanzman concluded that Surfside was entitled to continue its investigation into the cause of the collapse.

Our hearts go out to the families of the victims as we approach the painful anniversary of this tragedy.

Click here to read the full Law360 article.

Click here to read the Miami Herald article.

Click here to see CBS Miami’s coverage of the news.

The post WSHC+B’s municipal, zoning and planning, and litigation teams come together to represent the Town of Surfside appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

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 25 lawyers selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® (click here for the full list).

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

National Tier 1

• Appellate Practice

National Tier 2

• Land Use & Zoning Law

Metropolitan Tiers

Miami

• Appellate Practice
• Commercial Litigation
• Employment Law – Management
• Environmental Law
• Government Relations Practice
• Land Use & Zoning Law
• Litigation – Labor & Employment
• Real Estate Law

Fort Lauderdale

• Commercial Litigation
• Construction Law

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

Chanae will be officially recognized as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion honoree during the IMLA’s 86th Annual Conference taking place in Minneapolis, September 29-October 3, 2021.

The post WSHC+B Attorney Chanae L. Wood is the Recipient of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award at the upcoming IMLA Annual Conference appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.