WSHC+B welcomes Shana H. Bridgeman as Partner in the firm’s Boca Raton office and as a member of its Labor and Employment Division.

Shana has more than 22 years of legal experience, including 19 years representing management, businesses, and municipal clients in labor and employment matters throughout Florida. She handles a broad range of labor and employment law issues, including collective bargaining, employee discipline, grievances, policy development, employment agreements, and overall risk management.

Her practice encompasses matters arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, and Florida Civil Rights Act. Shana represents employers before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Florida Public Employees Relations Commission, Florida Commission on Human Relations, Florida Division of Administrative Hearings, and in arbitration proceedings.

Shana also conducts workplace investigations involving harassment, discrimination, retaliation, misconduct, and ethics and policy violations. She holds an Association of Workplace Investigators Certificate Holder (AWI-CH) designation.

“Shana’s breadth of experience in labor and employment law and workplace investigations makes her an exceptional addition to our team,” said Brett J. Schneider, Partner and Chair of the firm’s Labor and Employment Division. “I have known Shana for many years, and I believe her significant experience and interpersonal skills, combined with her deep roots in South Florida, positions her to deliver immediate value to our clients throughout the region.”

Shana began her legal career as an Assistant State Attorney at the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office, where she served as first-chair trial counsel in approximately 50 trials. She subsequently spent over 15 years practicing labor and employment law at a full-service law firm representing municipal and private clients across Florida.

Most recently, Shana founded and operated her own law firm, providing management-side legal counsel, investigation services, and compliance consulting to businesses, local government entities, and HR directors throughout Florida.

Shana earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Florida. She has been admitted to practice law in Florida since 2005 and is also admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

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WSHC+B welcomes Mariela Malfeld as Partner in the firm’s Miami office, where she will practice within the firm’s Litigation Division with a focus on construction law.

Mariela is Board Certified in Construction Law by the Florida Bar. She represents contractors, owners, designers, and sureties in complex commercial disputes in state and federal courts, and domestic and international arbitrations. Having taken multiple cases to final hearing in arbitration and trial, she brings deep experience across all phases of litigation, including risk assessment, motion practice, and complex electronically stored information discovery.

A seasoned litigator, Mariela advises clients on contract review and helps them anticipate and resolve disputes efficiently in high-stakes matters. Her practice spans construction defect claims, insurance coverage disputes, and other complex commercial litigation, with an emphasis on mitigating risk and protecting client interests in both courtroom and arbitration settings.

Mariela has held leadership roles in bar and industry committees focused on construction and international law, including serving as Co-Vice Chair of the Insurance and Surety Committee of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar. She has also contributed to publications on construction law, dispute resolution, and international arbitration practices, and presented at national industry conferences, including the Associated General Contractors of America Construction Risk Conference and Southern Surety and Fidelity Claims Conference.

“Mariela brings a level of technical depth and courtroom experience that will be an immediate asset to our clients and litigation team,” said Chad S. Friedman, Chairman of WSHC+B. “Her track record in complex commercial disputes and international arbitration makes her an exceptional addition to the firm.”

Mariela is fluent in Spanish and conversational in French and German. She earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and her Bachelor of Business Administration, cum laude, from the University of Miami, with minors in German language studies and Business Law. She has been admitted to practice law in Florida since 2008.

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Joseph H. Serota has been named a “Lifetime Achievement” winner, recognizing his distinguished career and lasting impact on Florida’s legal community. Chanae L. Wood has been recognized as an “On the Rise” winner, honoring her significant impact early in her career, as well as her leadership and contributions in the legal field. Marlon A. Hill has been named a finalist in the “Innovators” category, which recognizes attorneys who introduce new ideas, programs, or technologies that improve the legal profession.

The Florida Legal Awards celebrate extraordinary talent and achievement within Florida’s vibrant legal community, recognizing individuals and teams who demonstrate exceptional leadership, innovation, and commitment to excellence across a wide array of practice areas.

Joe, Chanae, and Marlon will be honored at the DBR’s Florida Legal Awards ceremony on April 29 at the JW Marriott Marquis in Miami.

To view the full list of honorees and winners, click here.

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Marlon discussed a broad range of legal issues that many will have to consider in advance of the World Cup, including trademark issues, Miami’s legal obligations, travel to the United States, workforce demands, licensing requirements for public watch parties, and more.

Marlon represents businesses, entrepreneurs, and local and international governments in corporate, intellectual property, and government matters, and is a key member of the firm’s Road to the World Cup group.

Click here to view the article.

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Daniela represents local governments and nonprofit organizations on governance and public trust matters, guiding clients through operational and policy decisions that directly impact their communities. Her cross-sector practice gives her practical insight into the ways public entities and nonprofit organizations operate and collaborate within complex regulatory frameworks.

A trusted advisor, Daniela counsels municipalities on day-to-day government functions while also advising on high-profile and strategic initiatives. Her experience includes public property matters, procurement and contracting, ethics and sunshine law compliance, legislative drafting, public-private partnerships, and community development projects. She helps public entities mitigate risk, maintain transparency, and implement policies that support sustainable growth.

Daniela also represents 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and advises private and disadvantaged business entities navigating public procurement and contracting processes, giving her a comprehensive understanding of both the public and private perspectives in government-related matters.

Prior to joining WSHC+B, Daniela served as a staff attorney in the Community Economic Development Unit at Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc., where she represented nonprofit and small business clients on a broad range of issues and advised on general governance, commercial, and compliance matters.

“Daniela has earned the confidence of clients and colleagues alike through her thoughtful counsel, deep understanding of government operations, and unwavering commitment to the public interest,” said Chad S. Friedman, Chairman of WSHC+B. “Her promotion to Partner reflects not only her exceptional legal skills, but also her leadership within the firm and the value she delivers to the public and nonprofit institutions we serve.”

Daniela is fluent in Spanish. She earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from The George Washington University, where she majored in Political Communication and minored in Spanish & Latin American Languages. She is admitted to practice law in Florida and Washington, D.C.

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The award honors young lawyers exemplifying “the highest standards of professionalism and ethics, whose character and integrity remain unwavering even in the most trying times, and whose dedication to raising the bar in the legal profession is unmatched.”

Chanae represents developers and governmental entities in land use, zoning and general government matters. She counsels municipal clients on compliance with public records, sunshine law, and ethics, and matters dealing with comprehensive planning, procurement, utilities, as well as administrative and constitutional law.

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The article explores the ongoing efforts to preserve the old courthouse’s complex history as judges transition into the newer modern facility.

Joe, who helped lead the renovation efforts, discussed the importance of acknowledging the courthouse’s full history and explained decisions to preserve features such as a Jim Crow–era water fountain.The plaque over the fountain was dedicated for Black History Month along with another one across the hall marking the election of Barack Obama in 2008. 

“I mean, that’s really history,” Serota said. “That was our justice system, and if that wasn’t hypocrisy, I don’t know what is.”

Joe recently made his first legal argument in the new, modern courthouse, describing the building in one word: “utilitarian.” Even so, he remains optimistic that the old courthouse will continue to be valued and he is hopeful that a new owner will preserve its unique architectural and historical features in an adapted space that honors its legacy for generations to come.

Joe is a founding partner of WSHC+B and serves as the firm’s General Counsel. He has long been a leader in Miami’s legal community and remains deeply connected to the history and evolution of the Miami-Dade court system.

Click here to view the article.

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Haydee is a partner in the firm’s Government Division, where she serves as lead City Attorney for Miami Springs and North Bay Village. She also represents private developers on land use and zoning matters. She has been deeply involved with CABA for over a decade, previously serving as Vice President, Secretary, Co-Chair of the Young Lawyers and Judicial Committees, and Co-Chair of the Art in the Tropics annual fundraiser supporting CABA’s Pro Bono Legal Services.

Candice represents municipalities on a broad range of issues, including contracts and compliance with public records, sunshine, and ethics laws. She is also a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator, and applies her alternative dispute resolution training to her practice. A CABA member since 2013, Candice has previously served two terms as CABA’s Secretary, has Co-Chaired the CABA on Cuba Committee for seven years, and provides pro bono representation for Cuban political prisoners before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

Together, Haydee and Candice were involved in CABA’s efforts to name Miami-Dade County’s new civil courthouse the Osvaldo N. Soto Miami-Dade Justice Center, honoring the late civil rights advocate and past CABA president. Candice also helped secure significant artwork for the courthouse’s jury room, a testament to the collaborative efforts that brought this project to life.

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In this role, Tania will help lead initiatives that promote engagement and strengthen connections within our legal community. The Miami-Dade Bar’s mission is to be the voice of Miami-Dade County’s legal profession, serving the public and the bar by promoting equal justice, professionalism and civility, and excellence and respect for the law.

Tania has more than 16 years of experience representing clients in complex litigation cases throughout the state of Florida. She currently handles various civil trial and appellate matters for her clients, including complex commercial disputes, civil rights claims, and torts.

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