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.

The post WSHC+B Partner Marlon Hill Interviewed by Law.com on Legal Issues Surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

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.

The post WSHC+B Promotes Daniela Cimo to Partner appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

Applicants have reported receiving fraudulent letters and invoices sent on what appears to be official municipal letterhead, demanding payment of additional fees before their applications can be heard. These letters have looked highly convincing and, in some cases, directed recipients to wire funds to an unauthorized account. Unfortunately, some applicants have made substantial payments in response.

We strongly advise all municipalities to remain vigilant and remind applicants that any request for payment or documentation should always be verified directly with the municipality through official contact channels.

If your municipality becomes aware of similar correspondence or suspects fraudulent activity, please notify our office or law enforcement immediately.

The post Client Alert: Fraudulent Letters Targeting Municipal Planning and Zoning Applicants appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

Jamie was recognized for his leadership at Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman since 1999, helping guide the firm—known for being “at the crossroads of business, government, and law”—in representing governments, individuals, and private entities across Florida. As Chair of the Broward County Bar Association’s Law Firm Committee, he also spearheaded the development of a special magistrate program aimed at enhancing professionalism and civility among attorneys in Broward County.

Florida 500 is a special annual publication that highlights executives across various economic sectors in Florida. Florida Trend editors pick the state’s most influential business leaders after a year-long research initiative.

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

The post Jamie Cole Recognized in Florida Trend’s 2025 Florida 500 List appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

Hosted by partner Chanae L. Wood, the series brings together the legal minds of WSHC+B alongside leaders from business, government, and the community. Through candid conversations, The Intersection offers a behind-the-scenes look at the people, projects, and power dynamics shaping South Florida as a global hub to live, work, play, and invest.

From the AI revolution to the housing crisis and high-stakes real estate, the podcast examines how law, government, and business intersect. Each episode features bold, insightful conversations with policymakers and decision-makers driving change in our cities—designed to inform, influence, and spark change.

The Intersection is designed for anyone who wants to stay informed on the legal, political, and commercial trends impacting the future of our communities and economies.

Episodes are available on all major streaming platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. 

The post WSHC+B Launches The Intersection Podcast appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

Hosted by WSHC+B partner Marlon Hill, the series brings together lawyer from across North America, including Aarij Wasti (partner at Gowling WLG, Toronto), Juan Carlos Partida (partner at EC Rubio, Mexico City), and other WSHC+B attorneys who focus their practice on governmental affairs, sports and entertainment, immigration, intellectual property, business transactions, labor & employment, and real property.

The series breaks down the complex issues stakeholders face—from immigration and border protocols to sponsorship, licensing, and venue operations. Each episode delivers actionable guidance and real-world examples, equipping in-house counsel, sponsors, venue operators, government liaisons, and other professionals to navigate challenges and turn them into opportunities.Sideline Conversations: Road to ’26 is designed for anyone looking to stay informed on the cross-border legal and commercial trends shaping the FIFA World Cup 2026 experience.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to catch each monthly episode and stay ahead of the conversation.

Watch the first episode here: https://youtu.be/LTELlMfUbsQ?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

The post WSHC+B Launches New Series: Sideline Conversations: Road to ’26 appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

Senate Bill 180 restricts local governments from adopting land use regulations deemed more restrictive than those in place as of July 2024. It applies retroactively to August 1, 2024, and allows applicants to challenge ordinances through a pre-suit process, with municipalities facing up to $250,000 in legal fees if unsuccessful. Though framed as a hurricane recovery measure, the law applies statewide and raises concerns about unintended consequences, including inconsistent building standards, insurance challenges, and weakened local planning authority.

Quoted in the article, WSHC+B partner Jamie Cole stated: “Senate Bill 180 significantly limits the authority of local governments to adopt land use regulations considered more restrictive or burdensome than current laws.”

WSHC+B is actively advising municipal clients statewide to review land-use and development regulations adopted since August 1, 2024, to assess potential legal risks under SB 180, and to consider the effect of the bill on their enactments that could be construed as more restrictive or burdensome than current laws.

If your municipality has questions or needs guidance on navigating the implications of Florida Senate Bill 180 and related hurricane recovery laws, please contact Jamie A. Cole (jcole@wsh-law.com) or Susan Trevarthen (strevarthen@wsh-law.com).

Click here to read the full article by the Martin County Press.

The post WSHC+B Mentioned in the Martin County Press on Florida Senate Bill 180 appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

Elizabeth Coppolecchia, Fabio Giallanza, and Chanae L. Wood have been named to the 2025 Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation guide.

Elizabeth was recognized for her work in construction, transactions, and litigation; Fabio for his focus on corporate and real estate matters; and Chanae for her work in real estate, zoning, land use, and government law.

This annual guide recognizes rising legal talent who, as Lawdragon describes, “provide a forecast of the fascinating future of global law practice.”

Honorees are selected through a combination of independent research and submissions, focusing on lawyers who have made a significant impact and consistently demonstrated excellence,  typically within 15 years of graduating from law school.

View the full guide here.

The post Three WSHC+B Partners Recognized in Lawdragon 500 X: The Next Generation 2025 appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

SB 180, now enrolled as Chapter 2025-190 of the Laws of Florida, prohibits local governments from imposing moratoria on redevelopment or enacting land use regulations that are “more restrictive or burdensome” for up to one year after a future hurricane makes landfall, if the community is within 100 miles of the storm track. 

Notably, it also retroactively applies a similar limitation to regulations adopted since August 1, 2024, effectively placing a freeze on local zoning authority across the entire state.  While this provision of the bill purports to affect only certain communities affected by three recent storms, it actually applies to every community in Florida due to the breadth of recent federal disaster declarations.

Jamie noted that the law could prevent local governments from adopting common-sense measures to improve resilience in areas prone to flooding. “We can learn from a hurricane, say, that certain areas flood terribly. So, if a city wants to pass an ordinance that says that if you redevelop, you’ve got to make houses a little higher. Well, now, we can’t do that.”

WSHC+B is actively advising municipal clients statewide to review land-use and development regulations adopted since August 1, 2024, to assess potential legal risks under SB 180, and to consider the effect of the bill on their enactments that could be construed as more restrictive or burdensome than current laws.

If your municipality has questions or needs guidance on navigating the implications of Florida Senate Bill 180 and related hurricane recovery laws, please contact Jamie A. Cole (jcole@wsh-law.com) or Susan Trevarthen (strevarthen@wsh-law.com).

Click here to read the full article by The Gainesville Sun.

The post WSHC+B Partner Jamie Cole Quoted in The Gainesville Sun on Florida Senate Bill 180 appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

SB 180, now enrolled as Chapter 2025-190 of the Laws of Florida, prohibits local governments from imposing moratoria on redevelopment or enacting land use regulations that are “more restrictive or burdensome” for up to one year after a future hurricane makes landfall, if the community is within 100 miles of the storm track.

Notably, it also retroactively applies a similar limitation to regulations adopted since August 1, 2024, effectively placing a freeze on local zoning authority across the entire state.  While this provision of the bill purports to only affect certain communities affected by three recent storms, it actually applies to every community in Florida due to the breadth of recent federal disaster declarations.

Jamie A. Cole, who has substantial experience regarding home rule matters, described the legislation as an unprecedented overreach into municipal autonomy.

“It’s not just development regulations related to hurricane recovery. It’s anything. So it just kind of opens the complete door to development,” Cole told Law360. “It’s an unbelievable intrusion into home rule authority for cities, because cities basically can no longer pass things that they think are in the best interest of their community.”

Susan Trevarthen, who leads the firm’s local government land use practice, emphasized that the law’s provision for future storms undermines the very foundation of municipal home rule power. “So what that creates is a perpetual situation where it’s chaotic and unpredictable when local governments will ever have their land-use powers again,” she said. 

The article also highlights concerns from local governments that broad, undefined terms like “more restrictive” or “burdensome” could invite lawsuits from developers, potentially discouraging necessary regulation even when public safety is at stake. Trevarthen noted that effectively, “you don’t have power if you can only use it to say yes.”

WSHC+B is actively advising municipal clients statewide to carefully review land-use and development regulations adopted since August 1, 2024, to assess potential legal risks under SB 180, and to consider the impact of the bill in their future enactments. The firm is collaborating with several cities considering constitutional challenges and is analyzing viable legal strategies to protect local authority.

Cole noted that Florida “cities are in a tough spot right now. And they’re going to have to decide whether to just abide by it or try to challenge it.”

If your municipality has questions or needs guidance on navigating the implications of Florida Senate Bill 180 and related hurricane recovery laws, please contact Jamie A. Cole (jcole@wsh-law.com) or Susan Trevarthen (strevarthen@wsh-law.com).

Click here to read the full article by Law360. 

The post WSHC+B Partners Featured in Law360 Article on Florida’s New Land Use Restrictions in Hurricane Legislation appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.