Ed, Co-Chair of the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group, practices in the area of commercial real estate, commercial lending, and transactional matters. Ed regularly represents developers and investors in the purchase, sale, and development of real property. 

Lily focuses her practice on real estate and transactional law, as well as municipal and governmental law. She manages complex transactions, including public and public/private real estate negotiations, acquisitions, and developments. Additionally, she represents private clients in the acquisition, sale, leasing, financing, and development of property, as well as providing guidance on the formation and regulation of condominiums and homeowners’ associations.

The 2024 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​.

To view the full guide, click here.

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The firm is incredibly proud of WSHC+B partners Lily Arango, the Surfside Town Attorney, and Tony Recio, who heads the firm’s private land use and zoning practice, who both dedicated countless hours working with officials on a plan of action in the days, weeks, and months after the catastrophe. And when the impending litigation arose, WSHC+B litigators Eric Hockman and Joe Serota stepped in as part of the team of attorneys who negotiated the nearly $1 billion in settlements, a result that presiding Judge Michael Hanzman called “beyond extraordinary.”

Eric spoke with several media outlets about the stunning settlement result. He told Law360 that Judge Michael Hanzman “was pushing everybody really, really hard. He really did a tremendous job. This case belonged in front of him.”

Judge Hanzman, who had no advanced warning that the victims’ attorneys would announce the resolution of their claims against dozens of entities for $997 million, was “at a loss for words.” But then he added, “The result that has been achieved in this case and the speed with which it has been achieved is beyond extraordinary. If the right people were not running this case, this could have turned into a decade-long slog.”

Eric elaborated to Law360, “This is one of those cases where the last thing in the world you want to happen is to have a jury decide that your client is at fault for this terrible tragedy. It’s far better to buy your peace and deny liability than have a jury say you caused this. For a lot of insurers, keeping their clients’ exposure down within policy limits is a good, strategic choice.”

Once the settlements are approved, the parties’ investigations into the cause of the collapse will cease, although Eric said Surfside will continue its contract with structural engineer and collapse expert, Allyn Kilsheimer. Despite objections from some of the participants, Judge Hanzman concluded that Surfside was entitled to continue its investigation into the cause of the collapse.

Our hearts go out to the families of the victims as we approach the painful anniversary of this tragedy.

Click here to read the full Law360 article.

Click here to read the Miami Herald article.

Click here to see CBS Miami’s coverage of the news.

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A member of the Firm’s Local Government Law Division and Real Estate Group, Lily has more than 20 years of experience handling complex transactions, including public and public/private real estate negotiations, acquisitions, sales, financing, development, construction and leasing of properties. She has represented private clients in a full range of transactional matters, and has extensive experience handling complex title issues. Lily remains active in numerous civic organizations, including the Cuban American Bar Association, the Florida Association of Women Lawyers, and the Dade County Bar Association.

A member of the Firm’s Public Land Use and Zoning Practice Group, Chad has experience representing municipalities in the drafting and adoption of land development regulations. He has successfully defended various governmental entities in administrative hearings, and represents local governments in comprehensive plan amendments and quasi-judicial hearings. As a member of the Firm’s Private Land Use and Zoning Practice Group, Chad has assisted numerous private clients secure development permits and other approvals required for property development. Chad is also a member of the Firm’s Environmental Law Group and co-chairs the Environmental and Land Use Committee of the Dade County Bar Association. Chad has been recognized as a “Rising Star” by SuperLawyers each year since 2009.

As a member of the Firm’s Litigation Division, John focuses his trial practice on complex business, commercial, municipal/governmental, transportation, construction, aviation and real estate law before Federal and State courts. John is also a member of the Firm’s Appellate Practice Group, and has appeared before the Florida Supreme Court, all of the Florida District Courts of Appeal, and before numerous United States Circuit Court of Appeals. John participates in many local professional organizations and civic affairs; he serves on the Board of Trustees for HistoryMiami, and was recently elected President of the Friends of the Miami-Dade Public Library. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Historical Society. Prior to rejoining the Firm in 2012, John served as in-house corporate counsel for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

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A member of the Firm’s Local Government Law Division and Real Estate Group, Lily has more than 20 years of experience handling complex transactions, including public and public/private real estate negotiations, acquisitions, sales, financing, development, construction and leasing of properties. She has represented private clients in a full range of transactional matters, and has extensive experience handling complex title issues. Lily remains active in numerous civic organizations, including the Cuban American Bar Association, the Florida Association of Women Lawyers, and the Dade County Bar Association.

A member of the Firm’s Public Land Use and Zoning Practice Group, Chad has experience representing municipalities in the drafting and adoption of land development regulations. He has successfully defended various governmental entities in administrative hearings, and represents local governments in comprehensive plan amendments and quasi-judicial hearings. As a member of the Firm’s Private Land Use and Zoning Practice Group, Chad has assisted numerous private clients secure development permits and other approvals required for property development. Chad is also a member of the Firm’s Environmental Law Group and co-chairs the Environmental and Land Use Committee of the Dade County Bar Association. Chad has been recognized as a “Rising Star” by SuperLawyers each year since 2009.

As a member of the Firm’s Litigation Division, John focuses his trial practice on complex business, commercial, municipal/governmental, transportation, construction, aviation and real estate law before Federal and State courts. John is also a member of the Firm’s Appellate Practice Group, and has appeared before the Florida Supreme Court, all of the Florida District Courts of Appeal, and before numerous United States Circuit Court of Appeals. John participates in many local professional organizations and civic affairs; he serves on the Board of Trustees for HistoryMiami, and was recently elected President of the Friends of the Miami-Dade Public Library. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Historical Society. Prior to rejoining the Firm in 2012, John served as in-house corporate counsel for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

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