Academy Fellows follow a curriculum tailored to enhance their professional development, knowledge base, and experience, including attending Florida Bar events and special educational programs.

Judelande counsels municipalities in general government matters involving land use and planning, short-term rentals, transportation, and affordable housing issues.

The post WSHC+B Attorney Judelande Jeune Selected as Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Leadership Academy Class XIV 2026-2027 Fellow appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

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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The bill exempts unions that represent law-enforcement officers, correctional officers, and firefighters (“Public Safety Employees”) from most of the bill’s substantive changes and, therefore, will primarily impact public-employee unions that represent general or civilian employees (“Civilian Unions”). SB 1296 amends the Public Employees Relations Act in the following material ways:

• At least 50 percent (50%) of civilian bargaining unit employees must vote in certification, recertification, and decertification elections. If fewer than 50% of employees in the bargaining unit vote, the union will not be certified, recertified, or decertified, respectively. 
  
• Public employers cannot compensate or provide paid leave to general or civilian employees for the purpose of engaging in organization activities, such as promoting/soliciting union membership, seeking certification as a bargaining agent, or engaging in political activity, unless the union reimburses the employer pursuant to the operative collective bargaining agreement.  
  
• Public employers cannot compensate or provide paid leave to general or civilian employees for the purpose of engaging in representational activities, such as participating in collective bargaining, addressing grievances, or representing other employees in disciplinary proceedings, unless specifically agreed to in the operative collective bargaining agreement.
  
• Civilian Unions must be granted “equal access” to communal spaces or internal communications systems during certifications, recertifications, or decertification proceedings. Public employers must allow employee organizations access to their communal spaces and internal communications systems during petition proceedings, and such access must be equally granted (e.g., an incumbent union is allowed access to employee breakrooms and, therefore, a rival petitioning union must also be granted the same access to the facility).
  
• Impasse proceedings related to changes to a collective bargaining agreement due to financial urgency must be “fast-tracked” in accordance with an expedited impasse resolution process.
  
• PERC is required to conduct mail ballot elections if any party to the election so requests.
  
• PERC may use a combination of election methods (mail or on-site) for certifications, recertifications, or decertifications, based on specified considerations such as the number of available on-site polling locations, the commission’s workload, and the size of the bargaining unit.
  
• A showing of interest form submitted with a union’s application for certification or recertification must be signed by bargaining unit employees within the last 12 months of the application filing.
  

What are the practical implications for employers with Civilian Unions once SB 1296 is effective?

• A marked increase in onsite organization activities by unions will likely occur. Because the new law requires at least 50% participation in elections, Civilian Unions will likely need to solicit employee participation. On-site solicitation is not unfettered and can be regulated by employers. Please contact competent labor counsel for guidance.
  
• Civilian Unions will likely request equal access to communal worksites and the employer’s email system or intranet for organization activities.  
  
• Collective bargaining proposals will likely include requests by a Civilian Union to explicitly allow for time off without loss of pay for representational activities. Without an express agreement, union members will need to use their own time or lose pay to address matters like grievances, collective bargaining, etc. 
  
• Employers will likely need to monitor timekeeping related to time off requests for civilian employee organization activities. Because it is unlawful for organizational activities to occur while on employer time (unless reimbursed), employers will need to ensure that they are complying with the law.  
  

Please be advised that the above reflects most of the substantive changes to state law regarding public sector labor law, but is not exhaustive. Should you have any questions about this legislation, please feel free to reach out to any member of the WSHC+B Labor and Employment Team.

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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.

The post WSHC+B Partner Chanae L. Wood Receives Florida Bar YLD’s 36 Under 36 Professionalism Award appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

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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