We are proud to announce that the South Florida Legal Guide (“SFLG”) has named WSH among the Top Law Firms in this year’s edition of its annual publication. SFLG is a premier resource serving the tri-county legal community. Originally launched in 2000, SFLG provides a convenient, easily accessible print and online resource for the region’s professional community. In addition to WSH’s inclusion as a “Top Law Firm,” several of our Members and Partners were honored by as 2013 “Top Lawyers” and “Top Up and Comers.” The list of WSH honorees includes:
Richard Jay Weiss (Top Lawyer) – Founding Member Richard Jay Weiss was named the 2012 Miami Government Relations Practice Lawyer of the Year by BestLawyers. He is an AV rated attorney who serves as City Attorney for Homestead and Village Attorney for Bal Harbour. A member of our Local Government Law Division, Richard focuses his practice on governmental and municipal law advice and guidance to both private sector and public sector clients.
Joseph H. Serota (Top Lawyer) – Founding Member Joseph Serota is an experienced trial and appellate attorney with numerous reported opinions to his credit. A member of our Litigation Division, he has extensive experience representing both municipal and private clients in all phases of litigation.
Stephen J. Helfman (Top Lawyer) – Founding Member Stephen Helfman serves as Village Attorney for both Indian Creek and Key Biscayne, as well as Town Attorney for Golden Beach. He is a member of the Florida Planning & Zoning Association, and as served as a member of the Coral Gables Planning & Zoning Board.
Gilberto Pastoriza (Top Lawyer) – Member Gilberto Pastoriza chairs our Private Land Use and Zoning Practice Group. He has successfully represented numerous private and public sector clients in obtaining all types of governmental approvals for property development. He has extensive experience with code enforcement issues and mitigation of code enforcement liens and fines.
Jamie A. Cole (Top Lawyer) – Managing Director Jamie Cole is a skilled litigator and appellate advocate who represents private and public clients with an emphasis on commercial litigation and governmental matters. He has served as special litigation counsel for numerous municipalities; he also serves as City Attorney for the cities of Miramar and Weston.
Nina L. Boniske (Top Lawyer) – Member Nina Boniske concentrates her practice primarily on the representation of newly-formed municipalities and public/private partnerships. She is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in City, County and Local Government Law. She currently serves as Village Attorney for Islamorada and City Attorney for North Bay Village.
Mitchell A. Bierman (Top Lawyer) – Member Mitchell Bierman chairs our Airports and Aviation Services Group; his work includes winning and negotiating large public contracts, public/private partnerships, public infrastructure improvements, and advocating for industry clients on legislative issues affecting their industry. Prior to joining WSH, Mitch served as counsel to Miami International Airport.
Abigail C. Watts-FitzGerald (Top Lawyer) – Partner Abi Watts-FitzGerald routinely serves as outside general counsel to various for-profit and non-profit entities. She has extensive experience representing clients in mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, corporate partnerships, joint ventures and LLCs, tax-exempt organizations, sports and entertainment law and sponsorships, closely held corporations, shareholders agreements, and licensing agreements. SFLG also singled out Abi as a “Distinguished Attorney”; the publication featured an interview with Abi that can be found here.
Edward G. Guedes (Top Lawyer) – Partner Edward Guedes chairs WSH’s Appellate Practice Group, and is Board Certified in Appellate Practice by the Florida Bar. His appellate experience encompasses significant representation medical malpractice defense, premises liability defense, intellectual property, land use and zoning law, election law, constitutional law, and employment and labor defense.
Clifford A. Schulman (Top Lawyer) – Partner Cliff Schulman chairs WSH’s Environmental Law Group, focusing his practice in zoning, growth management, subdivision law and land development. He has served as Chairman of the Florida Bar’s Committee on Land Use and Environmental Law.
Gary L. Brown (Top Lawyer) – Partner Gary Brown chairs WSH’s Construction Group. He is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Construction Law, and practices general commercial and business litigation, handling both complex and routine matters for clients with special expertise in construction-related matters.
Ignacio G. Del Valle (Top Lawyer) – A member of WSH’s Real Estate Group, Partner Ignacio Del Valle has extensive experience in complex public/private transactions, real estate negotiations, acquisitions, sales, financing, construction, management and leasing of commercial, residential and industrial properties. He also serves as title agent for several major title insurance companies.
Matthew H. Mandel (Top Lawyer) – As Chair of WSH’s Litigation Division, Partner Matt Mandel has extensive litigation and trial experience at both the State and Federal levels for municipal and private clients alike. Matt also has extensive appellate experience at both the State and Federal levels and has several published decisions to his credit.
Anthony L. Recio (Top Up & Comer) – Partner Tony Recio focuses his practice in the representation of private developers in land use and zoning matters. He has significant experience with complex tax-credit financing guidelines and procedures established by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and Florida Housing Finance Corporation.
