Latest additions strengthen practice areas across offices in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton
Miami, FL – Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman (WSHC+B) continues to grow the firm’s roster of quality attorneys throughout South Florida. The firm recently added five associates:
- Lindsay Behnke is located in the firm’s Fort Lauderdale office, where she counsels clients in complex governmental litigation matters, has significant knowledge of tort and civil rights laws, and is part of the firm’s Litigation Division and Appellate Practice Group. Prior to joining the firm, she served as a legal intern at the United States Attorney’s Office in the International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section of the Criminal Division. Behnke was also a judicial intern for U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and most recently served as law clerk to Judge Bronwyn C. Miller of Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal. Behnke received a full merit scholarship to Florida International University College of Law, where she earned her J.D. graduating magna cum laude and ranking in the top ten of her class.
- Jake Bland is based in the firm’s Miami office and counsels clients in the construction industry, negotiating contracts on their behalf and representing them in complex disputes. Before joining the firm as an associate, Bland gained experience as a WSHC+B intern conducting legal research, drafting discovery responses, and assisting with all phases of litigation. He also served as a law clerk at a boutique construction law firm and multinational infrastructure construction company, where he assisted with drafting construction contracts and commercial lease agreements. Bland earned his J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, from the University of Miami School of Law.
- Ryan Hudak, who is based in the firm’s Boca Raton office, represents public and private companies in connection with employment matters and legal disputes. He advises clients on compliance with federal, state and local laws governing employment discrimination and employee rights and benefits. Prior to joining the firm, Hudak served as Assistant School Board Attorney for the Lee County School District, where he responded to discrimination charges defending the district before external state and federal agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Office for Civil Rights, Florida Commission on Human Relations, and Public Employee Relations Commission. Hudak received his J.D. from Marquette University Law School.
- Narinah Jean-Baptiste is based in the firm’s Fort Lauderdale office and part of its Government Division, representing municipalities in complex land use and zoning issues. She also counsels clients in general government matters, including negotiating contracts and complying with public records, government-in-the-sunshine and ethics laws. During law school, Jean-Baptiste served as a judicial intern to the Honorable Beth Bloom in the U.S. District Court. She earned her J.D. from the University of Florida Levine College of Law.
- Blayne Yudis represents private and public sector clients in litigation across a broad range of subject matters in the firm’s Fort Lauderdale office, including appeals. Immediately prior to joining the firm, he served as judicial law clerk to Judge Jeffrey T. Kuntz of Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal. Before that, Yudis served as a judicial extern to U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, where he conducted research and drafted proposed orders on motions to dismiss and other dispositive motions. Yudis graduated cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law.
This latest acquisition of talent brings the firm’s total of new attorneys this year to 17. The firm continues to focus on finding and retaining exceptional attorneys at all experience levels and across all of its practice areas.
