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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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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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The discussion focused on legal considerations for foreign direct investment in the U.S. and Florida, including compliance with SB 264, managing cross-border regulatory risk, and business immigration considerations. Delegates represented ministries and agencies from Germany, Poland, Sweden, Portugal, Estonia, Spain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Netherlands.

WSHC+B thanks Global Ties Miami and the Miami-Dade Beacon Council for the opportunity to contribute to this timely conversation on international investment cooperation.

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Our firm has experience assisting businesses in establishing production lines in the U.S. by entering into manufacturing supply agreements with local manufacturers. These supply chain agreements require careful consideration of the parties’ respective obligations, particularly concerning expected volumes, warranties, and logistics management. These agreements should also include safeguards to protect the foreign manufacturer’s intellectual property rights and establish quality standards consistent with those normally employed in their country of origin. By leveraging our experience, foreign manufacturers can ensure a smooth transition of their production operations.

For manufacturers of products that are incorporated into construction projects, establishing production lines in the U.S. offers additional benefits beyond potential tariff savings. It may also make products eligible for selection in federally-funded construction projects. Two key frameworks to consider are the Buy American Act (BAA) and the Buy America regulations.

The Buy American Act (BAA) applies to direct federal procurement, such as contracts for federal building construction. Under the BAA, products must be manufactured in the U.S., with at least 55% of the cost of components sourced domestically. It is important to note that these thresholds may vary based on recent policy changes. 

Buy America regulations are more restrictive and apply to federally funded transportation projects, such as highways and rail systems. Under the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) rules, all steel, iron, and manufactured products must be produced in the U.S. without reliance on a component cost threshold. This stringent requirement ensures that transportation projects funded by the federal government prioritize domestic production.

Foreign manufacturers would typically learn of these requirements if their goods are being specified by a U.S. architect or contractor that is handling the procurement for a project with federal funding. Typically, the manufacturer would be required to provide a certificate of compliance with the project’s country of origin requirements.

In conclusion, the tariffs introduced by the Trump administration present challenges for foreign manufacturers, but they also create opportunities for those willing to adapt their production strategies. By partnering with local manufacturing providers, foreign manufacturers can seek ways to stay competitive in the U.S. market. Compliance with regulations such as the Buy American Act and Buy America can provide access to federally-funded projects. 

Our firm has assisted foreign businesses in navigating these complexities and establishing successful production lines in the U.S.

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New Deadline: The deadline for most reporting companies to file their initial, updated, or corrected BOI reports is now extended to March 21, 2025. This extension provides an additional 30 days from the original deadline of February 19, 2025. Companies that were previously granted a later deadline due to specific circumstances, such as disaster relief, should adhere to their original extended deadlines.

Future Modifications: During this 30-day extension, FinCEN will evaluate options to further modify the deadlines, particularly for entities posing lower national security risks. FinCEN also plans to initiate a process to revise the BOI reporting rule to reduce the regulatory burden on lower-risk entities, including many small businesses.

Action Required: Reporting companies should utilize this extension to ensure compliance with the BOI reporting requirements. Reports can be submitted directly to FinCEN through their E-Filing system, available at FinCEN’s BOI E-Filing System.

Happening in the Background: This extension comes amidst ongoing discussions and legal challenges regarding the implementation of the Corporate Transparency Act. Recently, the U.S. House passed H.R. 736, the Protect Small Businesses From Excessive Paperwork Act of 2025, with a unanimous vote of 408–0. This bill extends the deadline for an estimated 32 million small businesses to report their beneficial ownership information (BOI) to January 1, 2026. The previous deadline was January 1, 2025, but the reporting requirements have been delayed due to numerous court cases. A companion bill has been introduced in the Senate.

There are now 6 different cases pending in front of federal judges that challenge the CTA’s constitutionality.

Our Recommendation: Newly formed companies (after Jan. 1, 2024) need to comply with the obligation to file a report within 30 days after their formation. As to “existing” reporting companies (formed prior to Jan. 1, 2024), there is a possibility of a further extension of the BOI filing date if the bill approved by the House of Representatives is also approved by the Senate in the coming weeks. However, our recommendation is that, unless you care to continue following this never-ending saga, existing companies should also file their report prior to the March 21 deadline and avoid being caught by surprise.

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On December 3, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued a nationwide preliminary injunction in the case Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc. v. Garland, temporarily halting the enforcement of the CTA and its beneficial ownership reporting obligations. The court also suspended all related compliance deadlines.

Then, on December 23, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reversed the injunction, ordering that reporting companies must once again submit their beneficial ownership information to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Companies were given a new, extended deadline of January 13, 2025, to file their reports.

This development was short-lived. On December 26, 2024, the Fifth Circuit vacated its order to stay the injunction, meaning companies were no longer required to submit beneficial ownership reports while the Court continued to consider the merits of the case.

In a further reversal, on January 23, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court intervened, issuing a stay on the injunction (24A653 McHenry v. Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc. (01/23/2025).

However, on January 7, 2025, a separate nationwide injunction was issued in the case of Smith v. United States Department of the Treasury, also pending in the Eastern District of Texas, further blocking the enforcement of the CTA’s beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements. This means that, despite the Supreme Court’s recent ruling, the BOI reporting obligations remain unenforceable for now. FinCEN has clarified on its website that “[r]eporting companies […] are not subject to liability if they fail to file [beneficial ownership] information while the Smith order remains in force.”

We continue to monitor the ongoing litigation closely. For the time being, the filing of BOI reports remains voluntary.

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The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network has announced that the reporting of certain stakeholder information is voluntary, pending the resolution of the federal government’s appeal of an injunction by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. This injunction barred enforcement of the CTA and its beneficial ownership reporting requirements, citing potential unconstitutionality.

Fabio pointed out the difference between the Texas court’s decision and an earlier decision by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama: “This case in Texas goes a step further, and a big step further, because it imposed the injunction, which is not limited to the plaintiffs in the case, but it’s a nationwide injunction.”

Fabio is a corporate and real estate attorney, representing businesses and investors in the acquisition and financing of property, along with business transactions and corporate matters. He specializes in cross-border transactions involving clients based in the United States, Europe, and Latin America.

Read the full article in the Daily Business Review here: https://www.law.com/dailybusinessreview/2024/12/10/nationwide-injunction-halts-corporate-transparency-act-reporting-requirements/?slreturn=20241218103920&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

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In response, FinCEN issued guidance stating that, while the injunction is in effect, businesses are not required to file their beneficial ownership information. The court also stayed all deadlines for compliance. However, FinCEN also clarified that companies may still voluntarily submit their reports during this time. This guidance ensures businesses are clear on their obligations during the ongoing litigation.

The Department of Justice filed a Notice of Appeal on December 5, 2024, challenging the injunction. While several district courts have upheld the CTA’s constitutionality, including those in Virginia and Oregon, FinCEN will comply with the injunction as long as it remains in effect. Therefore, businesses are not required to submit beneficial ownership reports and will not face penalties for non-compliance during this time, though they may still voluntarily submit the reports.

Given this uncertainty, reporting companies should make a determination as to whether to submit their BOI report voluntarily or await an appellate decision on the injunction. For those companies that decide to wait, completing the analysis to identify their beneficial owners under the CTA may facilitate filing in the event enforcement of the law is reinstated. 

For those reporting companies that choose to file voluntarily or need assistance in determining their beneficial owners, our Firm remains ready to assist them in navigating the process and ensuring compliance with the requirements.

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