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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“We try to embrace technology that enables us to work remotely and to transition to paperless offices,” Mitch says in the article. 

WSHC+B hasn’t mandated in-person requirements even since before COVID-19. Instead, the firm focuses on four essential pillars that help retain talent and keep them invested in the firm: guidance on business generation, work-life balance, path to partnership, and education. 

A litigator who has handled over 80 jury trials and appeals involving land disputes throughout Florida, Mitch is one of the state’s most influential lawyers in property rights lawsuits involving eminent domain, inverse condemnation and constitutional takings. Mitch has been the Firm’s Managing Director since 2018 and was included in Florida Trend’s Notable Managing Partners list earlier this year. 

Read more: https://www.law.com/pro-mid-market/2024/09/06/midsize-firms-claim-attorney-disengagement-has-yet-to-hit-them-even-as-some-offer-remote-options/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

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Florida Trend’s editorial review team vetted and selected individual managing partners who qualified for inclusion by meeting and exceeding specific methodology and criteria parameters that were put in place for its nomination process. The state’s most influential managing partners were selected after a year-long research initiative by the editors of Florida Trend. 

Mitch specializes in property rights, eminent domain, and takings litigation, and has been recognized in numerous publications for his expertise.  He has served as lead counsel in more than 80 jury trials during a 35-year career.  Mitch is about to celebrate his 25th anniversary with WSHC+B and has been the Firm’s Managing Director since 2018.

To view Mitch’s full Florida Trend profile, click here.

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“We’re very closely monitoring last year’s tort reform legislation, but we never modeled out what that was going to do to the industry,” said Mitch. “We just knew that this industry has been around for a long time, and it’s going to continue to be around for a long time.” 

WSHC+B recently welcomed partner Diana Weller, along with of counsel Jarrod Etengoff and Michael Park, to the firm’s insurance defense practice.

Read more: https://www.law.com/dailybusinessreview/2024/04/17/florida-defense-firms-adapt-as-insurers-exit-and-tort-reforms-limit-claims/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

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WSHC+B also hired several new non-attorney staff members to support the Weller-led team, which will work closely with attorney Jonathan C. Brown, a Partner in the firm’s Boca Raton office.

“These are tremendous additions that create a formidable insurance practice at our law firm,” Firm Managing Director Mitch Burnstein said. “Diana and her team bring a vibrant existing client roster and will leverage our firm’s strong relationships across related practice areas to quickly expand their client reach and depth of service. It is no secret that Florida businesses of all sizes are navigating a challenging – and constantly changing – insurance environment.”

Weller has more than a decade of experience in insurance representing insurers, companies and individuals, both domestically and in the London markets. Her practice is focused predominantly on litigating insurance coverage issues related to property and casualty, general liability, marine, bad faith, and breach of contract claims in state and federal courts. Weller’s practice also focuses on the rapidly growing gig economy sector, including representing in personal injury lawsuits independent contractors affiliated with some of the largest gig economy companies.

A strategic partner for her clients, Weller advises them on potential liability and provides legal recommendations through extensive litigation reports and coverage opinions. In 2019, she spent six months on secondment in London with a Lloyd’s syndicate learning about the intricacies of the London market and advising claims adjusters and underwriters on U.S. law, including policy wording, coverage issues and regulatory matters.

“I am thrilled to embark on this new professional chapter with my colleagues Jarrod and Michael,” Weller said. “WSHC+B has earned an outstanding reputation over the past three-plus decades of its existence. We collectively see an opportunity to position WSHC+B as a go-to for representing insurers, along with companies and individuals that have claims and coverage issues.”

Weller is admitted to practice in Florida, California and the U.S. District Court’s Central, Northern and Southern Districts of California, and Middle and Southern Districts of Florida. As an undergraduate, she was valedictorian of her class and graduated summa cum laude from the University of Florida. Weller went on to graduate cum laude from the University of California Hastings College of Law.

Etengoff is admitted to practice in state and federal courts in Florida. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University and graduated from Wake Forest University School of Law.

Park is also admitted to practice in state and federal courts in Florida. He earned his bachelor’s degree cum laude from Lewis University and graduated cum laude from the University of Illinois College of Law.

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