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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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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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.

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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. 

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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.

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Super Lawyers recognizes distinguished attorneys who have undergone a rigorous screening process and are ultimately selected for inclusion in their annual list of exceptional legal professionals. Published by Thomson Reuters, Super Lawyers is a rating service of attorneys from more than 70 practice areas and determines its rankings through independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations. Only the top 5 percent of outstanding lawyers in Florida are rated by Super Lawyers, while no more than 2.5 percent of lawyers under 40 years old or who have practiced for fewer than 10 years are selected as Rising Stars.

The firm’s recognized attorneys are listed below.

Miami

Recognized as Super Lawyers

• Mitchell Bierman
• Alan K. Fertel
• Edward G. Guedes
• Joseph H. Serota

Fort Lauderdale

Recognized as Super Lawyers

• Mitchell J. Burnstein
• Jamie A. Cole
• Michael J. Kurzman
• Susan Trevarthen
• Peter D. Waldman

Recognized as Rising Stars

• Chanae Wood

Boca Raton

Recognized as Super Lawyers

• Howard D. DuBosar
• Alen H. Hsu
• Brett J. Schneider

Recognized as Rising Stars

● Jeremey Rosner

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Pou is a member of WSHC+B’s Government practice and represents municipalities on a broad range of matters, including drafting contracts and legislation. He was instrumental in the creation of the firm’s Disaster Recovery practice, in which WSHC+B provides legal guidance to ensure that governments and eligible nonprofit entities have FEMA-compliant disaster response contracts before being stricken by a severe weather event or natural disaster.

A graduate of the Florida International University College of Law, Pou is very involved with the Cuban American Bar Association (CABA) and completed its Leadership, Education, and Development (L.E.A.D.) program in 2024.

Saiz is part of the firm’s Labor & Employment practice, representing management of municipal government agencies. Her previous experience includes a decade of serving as staff counsel at Florida’s largest police union, counseling employees in all aspects of arbitration hearings, disciplinary appeals, collective bargaining grievances and administrative investigations. Saiz also has experience in dependency law.

A graduate of the University of Miami School of Law, Saiz was inducted into the Society of Bar and Gavel and founded the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund organization.

Wood, specializing in land use, zoning, and general government matters, represents developers and governmental entities, guiding them through complex legal landscapes to achieve their goals. She has extensive experience advising municipal clients on public records compliance, sunshine law, ethics, comprehensive planning, procurement, utilities, administrative, and constitutional law. Additionally, she works closely with private property owners and developers to navigate the intricacies of the development review process, including securing approvals for affordable housing developments.

A frequent speaker on land use and affordable housing, Wood is passionate about addressing housing challenges and helping her clients bring transformative projects to life. She is widely recognized for her strategic insights and unwavering commitment to supporting developers and entrepreneurs as they shape thriving communities. In addition to her legal practice, Wood is a strong advocate for wellness in the professional space, emphasizing the importance of fostering a balanced and fulfilling lifestyle, and inspiring those around her to prioritize holistic well-being.

A graduate of St. Thomas University School of Law, Wood’s professional and community involvement includes her current role as the 2026 President-Elect of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Miami-Dade County.

“These three attorneys stand out as talented practitioners and emerging leaders in the legal industry and community,” Firm Managing Director Mitch Burnstein said. “We congratulate Roger, Caroline and Chanae on their well-deserved promotions to Partner and will enthusiastically support them in this new role.”

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As one of the area’s fastest-growing women’s professional organizations, WCC provides businesswomen of all races and nationalities a platform to build momentum, share their thoughts, and promote women’s professional growth through networking events, mentorship programs, and other resources.

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, general municipal, procurement, utilities, administrative, and constitutional law.

Learn more here: https://www.wccmiami.online/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

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Super Lawyers recognizes distinguished attorneys who have undergone a rigorous screening process and who are ultimately selected for inclusion in their annual list of exceptional legal professionals. Published by Thomson Reuters, Super Lawyers is a rating service of attorneys from more than 70 practice areas and determines its rankings through independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations. Only the top 5 percent of outstanding lawyers in Florida are rated by Super Lawyers, while no more than 2.5 percent of lawyers under 40 years old or who have practiced for fewer than 10 years are selected as Rising Stars.

The Firm’s recognized attorneys are listed below.

Miami

Recognized as Super Lawyers

• Mitchell A. Bierman
• Alan K. Fertel
• Edward G. Guedes
• Joseph H. Serota

Recognized as Rising Star

• Justin D. Luger
• Richard Rosengarten

Fort Lauderdale

Recognized as Super Lawyers

• Mitchell J. Burnstein
• Jamie A. Cole
• Susan Trevarthen
• Peter D. Waldman

Recognized as Rising Stars

• Candice Balmori
• Anne Reilly Flanigan
• Alicia Gonzalez
• Chanae L. Wood

Boca Raton

Recognized as Super Lawyers

• Howard D. DuBosar
• Alen H. Hsu
• Brett J. Schneider

Recognized as Rising Stars

• Harrison R. DuBosar

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