• Milton R. Collins (Labor & Employment, Employee Benefits)
• Michael Kantor (Labor & Employment Litigation)
• Caroline G. Saiz (Labor & Employment, Government Agencies)
• Brett J. Schneider (Labor & Employment, Litigation, Collective Bargaining)
• Alison F. Smith (Labor & Employment, Litigation, Collective Bargaining)

According to Lawdragon, this annual guide recognizes “the nation’s best advisors on the world of employment and labor law – from employee benefits and executive compensation; to traditional labor matters; immigration; and, of course, all matter of litigation and arbitration – from wage and hour class actions, to discrimination, trade secrets and non-compete agreements.”

Honorees are selected through a proprietary process, combining journalistic research and vetting, as well as submissions from peers, competitors and firms. This is the 19th edition of the guide to the nation’s best advisors on the world of employment and labor law – from employee benefits and executive compensation; to traditional labor matters; immigration; and, of course, all matter of litigation and arbitration – from wage and hour class actions, to discrimination, trade secrets and non-compete agreements.

View the full guide here.

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Miami, FL – Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman (WSHC+B) welcomed two new attorneys to the growing law firm: Jessica Goodman and Philip Schuss. Goodman joins the firm’s Boca Raton office, while Schuss is based in its Miami office.

Goodman is part of WSHC+B’s Litigation Practice Division, focusing on complex commercial litigation in state and federal courts, including trade secret disputes and directors’ and officers’ liability. She also has experience prosecuting and defending governmental claims in the public sector.

Prior to joining WSHC+B, Goodman worked as a judicial intern for the Honorable William D. Matthewman in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Goodman obtained her Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law.

In WSHC+B’s Miami office, Schuss focuses on real estate and business transactions, banking, and representation of financial institutions. Before joining the firm, he interned in the financial services sector and in a New York law firm’s real estate group. During his internships, he analyzed commercial agreements and conducted legal research of securities regulations.

Schuss earned his Juris Doctor from Brooklyn Law School.

“Jessica and Philip are talented attorneys who strengthen multiple practices at our firm,” said Firm Managing Director Mitch Burnstein. “We look forward to helping them grow as professionals and as leaders within the community.”

About Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman, P.L.:

Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman, P.L. is a prominent Florida law firm serving corporate, governmental and individual clients with an integrated array of professional services including commercial litigation, land-use and real estate law, construction law, telecommunications law, labor and employment law, government law and governmental relations. The firm has offices in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and Boca Raton. For more information, visit www.wsh-law.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss.

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Ed is Board Certified in Appellate Practice by the Florida Bar and is Chair of the firm’s Appellate Practice Group. He has litigated dozens of appeals before the Florida Supreme Court, Florida’s district courts of appeal, and the U.S. Courts of Appeals in a wide variety of matters, including medical malpractice, premises liability, probate, First Amendment and constitutional litigation, family law, state and federal administrative rule-making and regulation, home rule authority and preemption, election law, civil rights, land use and zoning, intellectual property, and labor and employment issues.

Howard is the chair of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Practice Group and focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation matters. He has extensive experience in corporate and partnership litigation, business divorce, business torts, trade secret litigation, intellectual property, and commercial real estate recovery disputes.

Anne is a civil litigator, representing both public and private clients in a wide range of cases. Her litigation practice includes federal civil rights matters, personal injury, contract disputes, and real property claims. She actively practices in both federal and state court.

Ronald is a commercial litigator and Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Mediator with over two decades of experience. His practice focuses on contracts, corporate and commercial litigation, construction litigation, professional liability, and insurance defense litigation. Ronald has handled complex matters at the state, federal, and appellate levels. 

The Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America guide showcases top U.S. litigators across a wide range of practice areas. The litigators were chosen through an extensive study of which lawyers and law practices have had a significant impact in the practice of litigation, including an emphasis on recent matters handled. 

To view the full guide, click here.

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Congratulations to Milton R. Collins, Howard D. DuBosar, Alan L. Gabriel, Rana M. Gorzeck, Alen H. Hsu, Michael Kantor, Michael J. Kurzman, Ronald S. Nisonson, Matthew T. Ramenda, Lindsey Ryder, Brett J. Schneider, Marc I. Solomon, Anthony C. Soroka, David N. Tolces for being recognized in the Top Lawyers of 2025 list.

The Boca Raton Observer’s Top Lawyers list is compiled in partnership with DataJoe, a leading national research firm. The selection process is based exclusively on peer review, with lawyers across Broward and Palm Beach counties nominating colleagues they believe exemplify excellence in their respective practice areas.

To view all of the 2025 Top Lawyers, please click here.

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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

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Florida Trend Media Company’s editorial review team vetted and selected individual attorneys who qualified for inclusion by meeting and exceeding specific methodology and criteria parameters that were put in place for its nomination process. To qualify for the list, lawyers must have been nominated by peers and business associates for their experience and impact on their field of law, as well as their influence within the community while demonstrating strong leadership in professional organizations and civic/community service initiatives. The state’s most influential attorneys were selected after a year-long research initiative by the editors of Florida Trend.

Representing WSHC+B’s real estate and land use practices, these attorneys play a key role in advancing the firm’s work throughout South Florida. Their commitment and leadership has earned them recognition in the profession, while they continue to mentor within their teams and advocate for their communities.

To view all of the Notable Real Estate / Land Use Attorneys, please click here.

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• Lillian M. Arango (Real Estate, Transactions, Finance, Leasing)
• Maria Victoria Currais (Real Estate Transactions, Public Finance)
• Fabio Giallanza (Real Estate Transactions)
• Rana M. Gorzeck (Real Estate Transactions)
• Eduardo M. Soto (Commercial Real Estate, Lending, Transactions)
• Susan Trevarthen (Real Estate, Zoning, Land Use)
  

According to Lawdragon, this annual guide recognizes legal “advisors who specialize in a vast range of skills – development, finance, leasing, litigation, REIT structuring – on a range of property.”

The 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Real Estate Lawyers guide is a respected publication that recognizes lawyers who have shown exceptional skill in real estate-related practices. Their selection process involves rigorous research, including submissions from peers and analysis by Lawdragon’s editorial team. The guide is an essential resource for identifying top legal professionals in the real estate sector, highlighting those who excel in areas such as transactions, development, and finance​. Honorees are selected through a proprietary process, combining journalistic research and vetting, as well as submissions from peers, competitors and firms. The winners were selected from a pool of thousands of lawyers considered for this guide.

View the full guide here.

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Thirty-eight lawyers were recognized across nineteen distinct practice areas, and thirteen attorneys were recognized as Ones to Watch.

Two of our attorneys received “Lawyer of the Year” honors. Miami Office Managing Director Mitchell A. Bierman was recognized for his work in Administrative / Regulatory Law in Miami, and Partner Michael J. Kurzman was recognized for Litigation – Construction in Fort Lauderdale.

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, FL

• Lillian Arango (Real Estate Law)
• Mitchell A. Bierman (Administrative / Regulatory Law, Government Contracts)
• Maria Victoria Currais (Real Estate Law)
• Jeffrey Decarlo (Commercial Litigation, Public Finance Law)
• Alan K. Fertel (Sports Law)
• Chad S. Friedman (Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law)
• Jessika Arce Graham (Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law)
• Edward G. Guedes (Appellate Practice)
• Stephen J. Helfman (Land Use and Zoning Law)
• Juan P. Loumiet (Litigation – Real Estate, Real Estate Law)
• Justin Luger (Commercial Litigation)
• Edward O. Martos (Land Use and Zoning Law)
• Anthony L. Recio (Land Use and Zoning Law)
• Paul Ryder (Employment Law – Management)
• Joseph H. Serota (Commercial Litigation)
• Eduardo M. Soto (Real Estate Law)
• Richard Jay Weiss (Government Relations Practice)
• Laura K. Wendell (Appellate Practice)
• David M. Wolpin (Employment Law – Management, Government Relations Practice)
• Daniela Cimo (Ones to Watch: Land Use and Zoning Law)
• Kelsie M. Elmer (Ones to Watch: Real Estate Law)
• Stephanie Herbello (Ones to Watch: Land Use and Zoning Law)
• Judelande Jeune (Ones to Watch: Municipal Law)
• Pooja Patel (Ones to Watch: Litigation – Labor and Employment)
• Emma Rodgers (Ones to Watch: Real Estate Law)
• Katharine Rodriguez-Wilson (Ones to Watch: Real Estate Law)
• Roger C. Pou (Ones to Watch: Municipal Law)
• Blayne Yudis (Ones to Watch: Commercial Litigation)

Fort Lauderdale, FL

• Daniel L. Abbott (Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning)
• Candice Balmori (Land Use and Zoning Law)
• Mitchell J. Burnstein (Commercial Litigation, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law)
• Jamie A. Cole (Commercial Litigation, Government Relations Practice, Municipal Law)
• Anne R. Flanigan (Commercial Litigation)
• Alicia Gonzalez (Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Real Estate Law)
• Michael J. Kurzman (Construction Law, Litigation – Construction)
• Matthew H. Mandel (Commercial Litigation)
• Matthew J. Pearl (Community Association Law)
• Lori Smith-Lalla (Municipal Law)
• Eric L. Stettin (Commercial Litigation)
• Susan L. Trevarthen (Land Use and Zoning Law, Municipal Law)
• Peter D. Waldman (Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law)
• Bryan C. Siddique (Ones to Watch: Commercial Litigation) 
• Michael A. Weitzner (Ones to Watch: Litigation – Labor and Employment

Boca Raton, FL

• Howard D. Dubosar (Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – Bankruptcy)
• Rana M. Gorzeck (Real Estate Law)
• Andrew S. Maurodis (Land Use and Zoning Law, Municipal Law)
• Debra Reese (Land Use and Zoning Law)
• Brett J. Schneider (Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Union, Litigation – Labor and Employment)
• David N. Tolces (Municipal Law, Real Estate Law)
• Erica Hausdorff (Ones to Watch: Commercial Litigation)
• Jeremy S. Rosner (Ones to Watch: Commercial Litigation)

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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.

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“Job Posting: Will pick mangoes for FREE. Highly professional and efficient.”  

I was not fully prepared for what came next. I was inundated with offers from friends and family to visit their humble collection of mango trees scattered across Miami-Dade County. Usually at dusk when the weather was more pleasing, I’d venture out to mango land. Thus “We The People Mango Services” was born. After all, every mango tree needs a community friend. 

In the tropical heart of Miami’s summer season, when the sun lingers a little longer and hotter and the air hangs ripe with possibility, something beautiful unfolds among our local foliage: mangoes blush with a red and golden glow, hung on branches heavy with promise. For me, this mango season has sparked not just a harvest, but a quiet revolution in how we can show up for one another. I call it mango as a community currency with no exchange rate.

During each visit with friends, there was no money exchanged, no formal agreements — just a willing hand and shared joy. For some, their deathly fear of lizards, iguanas and other crawling neighbors of nature was enough to put me on speed dial. For others, the sheer volume of mangoes, battles with squirrels or an aversion to rotten fruit were sufficient reasons to welcome my farmer hand. 

From these community harvests, we gifted mangoes to others in the community: co-workers, elders, children, newcomers and friends we have not connected with in months and less so during the pandemic. And with every handoff of a sun-warmed fruit, something extraordinary happened: We connected. We slowed down. We exchanged smiles and stories of our mutual love.

In a world often overrun with transactional exchanges, mangoes remind us that generosity can be deeply simple and wildly powerful. A mango is never just a mango — it’s a gesture. A story. A smile between strangers. A memory waiting to be made. To pick one from a tree, still sticky with sap, and offer it freely is to say, “I see you. You matter. Let’s share this moment.”

There’s something anciently and soulfully special about this fruit. It grows effortlessly in our Caribbean and South Florida yards, provided by nature with abundance. Yet we rarely stop to honor its magic. Mangoes feed not just the body but the spirit. They ask nothing of us except to be gathered and shared. In doing so, they become symbols of reciprocity, humility and joy.

The act of harvesting together is sacred, too. It slows us down, requires cooperation, and invites storytelling. Someone always has a memory to share — the mango tree planted by a grandfather, the childhood games played beneath its shade, the recipe passed down through generations, the joy from the mango juice dripping down the crease of your palm to your elbow. These conversations, woven between branches and over buckets of fruit, root us deeper in the soil of our shared humanity.

This experiment of mine has grown into a movement, one sweet exchange at a time. As we turn mangoes into meals, gifts and gestures of connection, we rewrite what community care can look like. We build new traditions. We learn that sometimes the most radical thing we can do is offer something beautiful and ask nothing in return. For the people, by the people, of the people.

For this summer and other seasons to come, let’s remember to ignore the noise of the world and extend the open door of this gift of nature. Because when we share mangoes, we share more than fruit — we share love, belonging and the delicious truth that we are all connected.

To read the original blog post in The Miami Times, click here.

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