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About the Firm
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General Commercial Litigation
Every industry faces the risk of lawsuits. Our practice requires
us to keep pace with the constantly expanding body of regulatory, procedural,
statutory and case law impacting our clients. For over 25 years our lawyers
have tried or arbitrated hundreds of commercial disputes involving all sectors
of the business world.
Construction and Related Litigation
Our firm represents local, national and international real estate
developers involved in commercial, industrial and large-scale residential projects
in South Florida. We also represent general contractors, builders, and homeowner/condominium
associations involved in litigation, including design and construction defects
and mold litigation.
Financial Transaction Litigation
We represent many financial institutions and other lenders, as
well as borrowers, in litigation involving corporate finance issues such as
the issuance of debt or equity, fraud claims, lender liability issues, and disputes
arising out of notes, guarantees and other financial instruments. We have been
involved in cases here in Florida, throughout the country, and with overseas
institutions.
Director and Officer Liability
In addition to representing companies in a variety of corporate
disputes, our lawyers have also represented the officers and directors of both
small and large companies in a range of cases, including shareholder derivative
lawsuits, breach of fiduciary duty and corporate malfeasance claims.
Securities Litigation and Arbitration
We have significant experience in the defense of securities fraud
class actions. We have defended securities fraud claims brought against some
of Florida’s largest publicly traded companies, as well as their officers
and directors. We also have represented many individual securities and commodities
brokers, as well as their customers, in arbitration proceedings and litigation
involving broker abuse issues.
Aircraft Finance and Seizures
The firm represents several aircraft leasing and finance companies.
From time to time lessors and lenders of commercial aircraft find it necessary
to seize their aircraft or invoke other remedies to protect their assets or
secure payment. Because of scheduled service and rapid turnaround of aircraft
from one airport to the next, timely and knowledgeable decisions and execution
are a must. We have successfully represented clients in this industry for more
than 15 years.
Class Action Litigation
Our firm has successfully defended numerous companies in federal
and state court class actions. The industries we represent have included property
and casualty, automobile insurance, health care, consumer products and pharmaceuticals.
Published decisions where our firm prevailed in class action cases include Chinchilla
v. Star Casualty Ins. Co., 833 So. 2d 804 (Fla. 3d DCA 2002); and McCulloch
v. PNC Bank, 298 F.3d 1217 (11th Cir. 2002).
Intellectual Property Litigation
This specialized area of litigation has rapidly expanded in the
past decade as access to and distribution of copyrighted and patented materials
continually increases with emerging technologies. Our firm has litigated copyright
infringement claims and tried cases in federal courts involving trademark and
patent infringement. We have successfully represented manufacturers, distributors,
service companies and entertainers seeking to protect their particular products,
service marks, ideas, artistic expressions, creative materials and processes
from unauthorized commercial use, distribution and exploration.
Employment Law and Unfair Competition
The firm represents and advises employers on a full range of
employment topics. Our attorneys have provided pre-litigation counsel and tried
a number of cases involving sex, age, disability, national origin, race and
other prohibited forms of discrimination. We also have handled cases involving
the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Family Medical Leave Act. Our lawyers likewise
have represented clients in "whistle blower" matters and in connection
with unfair competition claims, issues involving restrictive covenants, trade
secrets, employment agreements and employment policies and procedures. We also
have years of experience guiding clients through administrative proceedings
before the EEOC and other government agencies.
Professional Malpractice Defense
We take particular pride in the fact that some of the nation’s
largest and most respected law firms and accounting firms, as well as individual
attorneys and accountants at those firms, turn to our firm for representation
in claims involving their professional service. We have more than 25 years of
experience in this area of practice and have primarily acquired our clients
through peer referrals and professional recommendations.
Real Property and Development Litigation
Sellers and purchasers of land or developed property frequently
are at odds over issues involving undisclosed conditions, development rights,
easements, specific performance, and related topics. For more than 25 years
this area of litigation has been a mainstay of our practice.
Franchise and Distributorship Litigation
We represent both franchisors and franchisees in a variety of
service and manufacturing industries, including several multi-national and publicly
traded corporations. With many of our attorneys being fully bilingual, the firm
has also developed an active practice in distributorship litigation throughout
South and Central America and the various Caribbean countries.
Health Care Litigation
We counsel litigants involved in both civil and criminal disputes
in limited areas of this highly regulated industry, including cases involving
the Stark laws and the anti-kickback provisions of the federal health care statutes.
We have represented physicians and medical facilities throughout Florida and
have been involved in litigation, on both state and federal levels, with some
of the largest health care management companies. We are currently representing
several health insurance companies in defense of alleged improper billing practices
in a national class action in Federal Court.
Environmental Litigation
Several of our attorneys have advanced their interest in the
environment and environmental defense causes into an active environmental litigation
practice. Over the years, our firm has litigated cases under federal environmental
protection statutes including NEPA, CERCLA and RCRA. Our attorneys also have
assisted clients in dealing with environmental regulatory agencies such as Florida's
DERM.
Mass Torts & Products Liability
For many years our attorneys have litigated many high profile
products liability cases, including class actions involving tobacco, polybutelene,
insurance products and prescription drugs. We also have represented manufacturers
in multi-district litigation arising out of mass torts such as commercial airline
disasters.
Exploitation and Sexual Abuse
Our firm has been nationally recognized for its work on behalf
of victims of sexual abuse, molestation and exploitation, recording record awards
and judgments on their behalf. In recognition of their work in this area, several
of our attorneys have appeared as television commentators for national news
organizations, and in the national and local print media. Our lawyers in this
practice group are established advocates for children and families victimized
by sexual abuse, molestation and exploitation. Their representation includes
assisting victims in procuring available judicial remedies and directing their
clients to knowledgeable professionals for evaluation, counseling and therapy.