Jamie A. Cole – Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman https://www.wsh-law.com At the Crossroads of Business, Government & the Law Tue, 29 Oct 2024 16:54:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Jamie Cole Selected in Florida Trend’s 2024 Florida 500 List https://www.wsh-law.com/news-updates/jamie-cole-selected-in-florida-trends-2024-florida-500-list/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss Tue, 29 Oct 2024 13:26:59 +0000 https://www.wsh-law.com/?p=11437 Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman partner and Managing Director of the Fort Lauderdale office, Jamie Cole, was recognized in Florida Trend’s 2024 Florida 500 list as one of the most influential business leaders in the state. Florida 500 is a special annual publication that highlights executives in different economic sectors throughout Florida. The state’s […]

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]]> Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman partner and Managing Director of the Fort Lauderdale office, Jamie Cole, was recognized in Florida Trend’s 2024 Florida 500 list as one of the most influential business leaders in the state.

Florida 500 is a special annual publication that highlights executives in different economic sectors throughout Florida. The state’s most influential business leaders are selected after a year-long research initiative by the editors of Florida Trend.

To view Jamie’s full profile in the Florida 500, please click here.

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]]> WSHC+B Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2025 https://www.wsh-law.com/news-updates/wshcb-attorneys-selected-for-inclusion-in-the-best-lawyers-in-america-2025/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss Thu, 15 Aug 2024 15:21:06 +0000 https://www.wsh-law.com/?p=11292 Congratulations to all our attorneys who have been recognized by their peers for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.  Of the 47 lawyers recognized, 12 of the firm’s attorneys were recognized for the very first time and 14 attorneys were recognized as Ones to Watch.  Best Lawyers has employed the […]

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]]> Congratulations to all our attorneys who have been recognized by their peers for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. 

Of the 47 lawyers recognized, 12 of the firm’s attorneys were recognized for the very first time and 14 attorneys were recognized as Ones to Watch. 

Best Lawyers has employed the same transparent methodology for more than 35 years, based entirely on peer review. 

The following includes all Firm attorneys named and areas in which they are recognized:

Miami

Fort Lauderdale

Boca Raton

The post WSHC+B Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2025 appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

]]> Preliminary Injunction Entered to Prevent Enforcement of Florida’s Overly Intrusive Financial Disclosure Requirements https://www.wsh-law.com/news-updates/preliminary-injunction-entered-to-prevent-enforcement-of-floridas-overly-intrusive-financial-disclosure-requirements/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss Tue, 11 Jun 2024 18:10:56 +0000 https://www.wsh-law.com/?p=11186 Miami, FL – United States District Court Judge Melissa Damian has entered a preliminary injunction enjoining the members of the Florida Commission on Ethics from enforcing a new requirement that local Mayors and members of municipal elected bodies file a highly intrusive financial disclosure form. For the past 50 years, municipal elected officials have been […]

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]]> Miami, FL – United States District Court Judge Melissa Damian has entered a preliminary injunction enjoining the members of the Florida Commission on Ethics from enforcing a new requirement that local Mayors and members of municipal elected bodies file a highly intrusive financial disclosure form. For the past 50 years, municipal elected officials have been required to file a Form 1 financial disclosure, which advises the public of the officials’ employers, primary sources of income and major assets.

Last year, Florida enacted a new law that requires municipal elected officials instead to file a Form 6, which requires that elected municipal officials also disclose the amount of their net worth, the amount of their income (including from their primary jobs), the value of each of their assets and the amounts of each liability.  These additional disclosures have nothing to do with the officials’ duties and are not relevant in any way to possible breaches of the public trust.  Judge Damian found that “it is not apparent from the record that a change from the Form 1 requirement to the Form 6 requirement was necessary nor that SB 774 is substantially related to the State’s identified interests.”

In a lawsuit filed by Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman, over 170 elected municipal officials from throughout Florida challenged the law as a violation of the First Amendment.  Judge Damian ruled that the elected municipal elected officials “have demonstrated a reasonable likelihood that they will succeed on the merits of their claim” and prevented the members of the Commission on Ethics from enforcing the new requirement statewide during the pendency of the lawsuit.

“This is the most intrusive form of financial disclosure that I am aware of in the entire nation, requiring more disclosure of quintessentially personal financial information than is required of the President of the United States, members of Congress and elected officials in every other state,” said Firm Partner and Fort Lauderdale Office Managing Director Jamie A. Cole, the lead attorney representing the plaintiffs.  “Most municipal elected officials receive little to no compensation for their public service, yet they are being asked to disclose their precise net worth, income and assets.  This legislative overreach has already resulted in the mass resignation of about 125 municipal elected officials and, if allowed, would discourage many others from serving their communities.”

Cole added that the preliminary injunction is a significant step in the plaintiffs’ efforts to ultimately obtain a ruling that the Form 6 disclosure requirements are unconstitutional.

WSHC+B Partners Edward G. Guedes and Anne R. Flanigan, and associate Jeremy Rosner, are co-counsel with Cole in representing the plaintiffs.

Click the links below to see media coverage.

 

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]]> WSHC+B Partner Jamie Cole Interviewed by CBS12 News Regarding Form 6 Requirements https://www.wsh-law.com/news-updates/wshcb-partner-jamie-cole-interviewed-by-cbs12-news-regarding-form-6-requirements/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss Mon, 04 Mar 2024 07:55:52 +0000 https://www.wsh-law.com/?p=10999 WSHC+B partner Jamie Cole was interviewed by CBS12 News about the lawsuit the firm filed on behalf of dozens of municipalities throughout Florida and their elected officials with respect to the newly expanded Form 6 financial disclosure requirements. “You have disclosed all this private information on the internet, where it will be forever, and expose […]

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]]> WSHC+B partner Jamie Cole was interviewed by CBS12 News about the lawsuit the firm filed on behalf of dozens of municipalities throughout Florida and their elected officials with respect to the newly expanded Form 6 financial disclosure requirements.

“You have disclosed all this private information on the internet, where it will be forever, and expose yourself to potential extortion, kidnapping, or burglary,” Jamie explained. “So basically, the form is going to say I live at this address, and I have $500,000 worth of stuff in my house. It’s an invitation to burglary.”

Watch the full video here: https://cbs12.com/news/local/florida-elected-officials-challenge-financial-disclosure-law-form-6-towns-villages-and-cities-floridas-commission-on-ethics-jamie-cole-florida-march-4-2024?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

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]]> Twenty-Six Cities and Seventy-Four Elected Officials File Federal and State Court Lawsuits Challenging Florida’s Overly Intrusive Financial Disclosure Requirements https://www.wsh-law.com/news-updates/twenty-six-cities-and-seventy-four-elected-officials-file-federal-and-state-court-lawsuits-challenging-floridas-overly-intrusive-financial-disclosure-requirements/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss Fri, 16 Feb 2024 16:43:29 +0000 https://www.wsh-law.com/?p=10944 Miami, FL – Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman (WSHC+B) filed new federal and state court lawsuits challenging the legality of a new law requiring municipal elected officials to file a Form 6 financial disclosure. The complaints were filed on behalf of 26 municipalities and 74 municipal elected officials in the U.S. District Court for […]

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]]> Miami, FL – Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman (WSHC+B) filed new federal and state court lawsuits challenging the legality of a new law requiring municipal elected officials to file a Form 6 financial disclosure. The complaints were filed on behalf of 26 municipalities and 74 municipal elected officials in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Miami and the Second Judicial Circuit Court in Leon County. 

Previously, all municipal elected officials in Florida were required to complete a Form 1 financial disclosure form, which advised the public of their primary sources of income and primary assets.   Under the new law, municipal elected officials have to complete and file a Form 6, which forces them to publicly disclose quintessentially private, highly personal financial information, including, among other things, the exact amount of their net worth and income and value of every asset worth over $1,000.  More than 100 municipal elected officials in Florida have resigned rather than make these new required disclosures.

The plaintiffs seek a declaration that the Form 6 disclosure requirements violate the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and the privacy clause of the Florida Constitution, along with injunctive relief.

“This is the most intrusive form of financial disclosure that I am aware of in the entire nation, requiring more disclosure of personal financial information than is required of the President of the United States, members of Congress and elected officials in every other state,” said Firm Partner and Fort Lauderdale Office Managing Director Jamie A. Cole, the lead attorney representing the plaintiffs.  “Most municipal elected officials receive little to no compensation for their public service, yet they are being asked to disclose their precise net worth, income and assets.  This legislative overreach has already resulted in the mass resignation of municipal elected officials and, if not overturned in court, will discourage many others from serving their communities.”

WSHC+B Partners Edward G. Guedes and Anne R. Flanigan are assisting Cole in representing the plaintiffs.

Click the links below to see media coverage.

WWSB ABC7 News – https://www.mysuncoast.com/2024/01/29/over-100-elected-officials-florida-step-down-ahead-new-form-6-requirements/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

Sun Sentinel – https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2024/01/27/freaking-out-over-form-6-at-city-hall-steve-bousquet/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

Palm Beach Daily News – https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/story/news/local/2024/01/11/palm-beach-town-to-participate-in-lawsuit-against-controversial-new-finance-law-florida-news/72171571007/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

Islander News – https://www.islandernews.com/news/keybiscayne/plaintiffs-lining-up-to-join-key-biscayne-lawsuit-challenging-form-6-law/article_cf66b522-ca14-11ee-af67-638228d705cb.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

Florida Today – https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/politics/2024/02/08/melbourne-joining-challenge-to-new-financial-disclosure-requirements-for-public-officials/72309815007/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

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]]> Jamie Cole Selected in Florida Trend’s 2023 Florida 500 List https://www.wsh-law.com/news-updates/jamie-cole-selected-in-florida-trends-2023-florida-500-list/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss Wed, 01 Nov 2023 14:11:48 +0000 https://www.wsh-law.com/?p=10805 Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman partner and managing director of the Fort Lauderdale office, Jamie Cole, was recognized in Florida Trend’s 2023 Florida 500 list as one of the most influential business leaders in the state. Florida 500 is a special annual publication that highlights executives in different economic sectors throughout Florida. The state’s […]

The post Jamie Cole Selected in Florida Trend’s 2023 Florida 500 List appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

]]> Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman partner and managing director of the Fort Lauderdale office, Jamie Cole, was recognized in Florida Trend’s 2023 Florida 500 list as one of the most influential business leaders in the state.

Florida 500 is a special annual publication that highlights executives in different economic sectors throughout Florida. The state’s most influential business leaders are selected after a year-long research initiative by the editors of Florida Trend.

To view Jamie’s full profile in the Florida 500, please click here.

The post Jamie Cole Selected in Florida Trend’s 2023 Florida 500 List appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

]]> WSHC+B Attorneys Selected For Inclusion In The Best Lawyers In America 2024 https://www.wsh-law.com/news-updates/wshcb-attorneys-selected-for-inclusion-in-the-best-lawyers-in-america-2024/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss Thu, 17 Aug 2023 19:02:12 +0000 https://www.wsh-law.com/?p=10645 Congratulations to all our attorneys who have been recognized by their peers for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.  Of the 41 lawyers recognized, 12 of the firm’s attorneys were recognized for the very first time and 12 attorneys were recognized as Ones to Watch.  Best Lawyers has employed the […]

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]]> Congratulations to all our attorneys who have been recognized by their peers for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. 

Of the 41 lawyers recognized, 12 of the firm’s attorneys were recognized for the very first time and 12 attorneys were recognized as Ones to Watch. 

Best Lawyers has employed the same transparent methodology for more than 35 years, based entirely on peer review. 

The following includes all Firm attorneys named and areas in which they are recognized:

Miami

Fort Lauderdale

Boca Raton

Tampa, FL

The post WSHC+B Attorneys Selected For Inclusion In The Best Lawyers In America 2024 appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

]]> WSHC+B ATTORNEYS RECOGNIZED AS 2023 SUPER LAWYERS AND RISING STARS https://www.wsh-law.com/news-updates/wshcb-attorneys-recognized-as-2023-super-lawyers-and-rising-stars/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss Mon, 26 Jun 2023 16:13:53 +0000 https://www.wsh-law.com/?p=10567 The Firm is proud to announce that 11 attorneys have been named to the 2023 Super Lawyers list, while 7 attorneys have been recognized as 2023 Rising Stars. Super Lawyers recognizes distinguished attorneys who have undergone a rigorous screening process and who are ultimately selected for inclusion in their annual list of exceptional legal professionals. […]

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]]> The Firm is proud to announce that 11 attorneys have been named to the 2023 Super Lawyers list, while 7 attorneys have been recognized as 2023 Rising Stars.

Super Lawyers recognizes distinguished attorneys who have undergone a rigorous screening process and who 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

Recognized as Rising Star

Fort Lauderdale

Recognized as Super Lawyers

Recognized as Rising Stars

Boca Raton

Recognized as Super Lawyers

Recognized as Rising Stars

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]]> WSHC+B’s new mediation group and attorneys featured in Law360 https://www.wsh-law.com/news-updates/wshcbs-new-mediation-group-and-attorneys-featured-in-law360/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss Tue, 29 Nov 2022 21:20:02 +0000 https://www.wsh-law.com/?p=10023 WSHC+B attorneys Jamie A. Cole, Howard D. DuBosar, Ronald S. Nisonson, Peter D. Waldman, Candice Balmori and Ayanna Hypolite were featured in a Law360 article announcing the firm’s new mediation practice group. “Adding this important practice area expands our firm’s profile and services. I could not be prouder to launch this practice with a group […]

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]]> WSHC+B attorneys Jamie A. Cole, Howard D. DuBosar, Ronald S. Nisonson, Peter D. Waldman, Candice Balmori and Ayanna Hypolite were featured in a Law360 article announcing the firm’s new mediation practice group.

“Adding this important practice area expands our firm’s profile and services. I could not be prouder to launch this practice with a group of highly talented WSHC+B attorneys,” said Fort Lauderdale office managing director, Jamie Cole.

Read the full article here: https://www.law360.com/articles/1547289?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss 

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]]> Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman Adds Mediation Services Practice Group https://www.wsh-law.com/news-updates/weiss-serota-helfman-cole-bierman-adds-mediation-services-practice-group/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss Thu, 03 Nov 2022 20:02:59 +0000 https://www.wsh-law.com/?p=9971 New practice area, consisting of six attorneys across Florida, will provide Supreme Court Certified Mediation services for a myriad of case types Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman (WSHC+B) announced the addition of a Mediation Services Practice Group to its roster of practice areas. This practice group will provide Florida Supreme […]

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]]> New practice area, consisting of six attorneys across Florida, will provide Supreme Court Certified Mediation services for a myriad of case types

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman (WSHC+B) announced the addition of a Mediation Services Practice Group to its roster of practice areas. This practice group will provide Florida Supreme Court certified circuit and/or county mediators for cases that involve local government, commercial litigation, construction litigation, eminent domain, property rights and education.

The firm’s certified mediators will work to assist parties find amicable resolutions to their disputes by ensuring fair and unbiased mediation services in situations where courts order mediation or when parties involved in litigation independently want to pursue a settlement. 

“Adding this important practice area expands our firm’s profile and services,” said Jamie Cole, partner and Fort Lauderdale office managing director. “I could not be prouder to launch this practice with a group of highly talented WSHC+B attorneys who have been certified by the Florida Supreme Court.”

With the firm’s comprehensive understanding of different types of disputes, WSHC+B’s certified mediators are uniquely equipped to increase the odds of a successful resolution.

The firm’s team of Supreme Court certified mediators includes:

  • Jamie Cole – Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Mediator
    Areas of focus: Local Government, Commercial Litigation
  • Howard DuBosar – Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Mediator
    Area of focus: Commercial Litigation
  • Ronald Nisonson – Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Mediator
    Area of focus: Construction Litigation
  • Pete Waldman – Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Mediator
    Areas of focus: Eminent Domain, Property Rights
  • Candice Balmori – Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Mediator
    Area of focus: Local Government
  • Ayanna Hypolite – Florida Supreme Court Certified County Court Mediator
    Area of focus: Education

 

In addition to this new practice area, the firm has had exceptional growth this year through its acquisition of a boutique law firm in Gainesville, expanding its office in Boca Raton and hiring 16 lawyers and 13 staff in 2022.

For more information on the firm’s new practice group, please visit: https://www.wsh-law.com/practices/litigation/supreme-court-certified-mediation/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

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