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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Senate Bill 180 restricts local governments from adopting land use regulations deemed more restrictive than those in place as of July 2024. It applies retroactively to August 1, 2024, and allows applicants to challenge ordinances through a pre-suit process, with municipalities facing up to $250,000 in legal fees if unsuccessful. Though framed as a hurricane recovery measure, the law applies statewide and raises concerns about unintended consequences, including inconsistent building standards, insurance challenges, and weakened local planning authority.

Quoted in the article, WSHC+B partner Jamie Cole stated: “Senate Bill 180 significantly limits the authority of local governments to adopt land use regulations considered more restrictive or burdensome than current laws.”

WSHC+B is actively advising municipal clients statewide to review land-use and development regulations adopted since August 1, 2024, to assess potential legal risks under SB 180, and to consider the effect of the bill on their enactments that could be construed as more restrictive or burdensome than current laws.

If your municipality has questions or needs guidance on navigating the implications of Florida Senate Bill 180 and related hurricane recovery laws, please contact Jamie A. Cole (jcole@wsh-law.com) or Susan Trevarthen (strevarthen@wsh-law.com).

Click here to read the full article by the Martin County Press.

The post WSHC+B Mentioned in the Martin County Press on Florida Senate Bill 180 appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

SB 180, now enrolled as Chapter 2025-190 of the Laws of Florida, prohibits local governments from imposing moratoria on redevelopment or enacting land use regulations that are “more restrictive or burdensome” for up to one year after a future hurricane makes landfall, if the community is within 100 miles of the storm track. 

Notably, it also retroactively applies a similar limitation to regulations adopted since August 1, 2024, effectively placing a freeze on local zoning authority across the entire state.  While this provision of the bill purports to affect only certain communities affected by three recent storms, it actually applies to every community in Florida due to the breadth of recent federal disaster declarations.

Jamie noted that the law could prevent local governments from adopting common-sense measures to improve resilience in areas prone to flooding. “We can learn from a hurricane, say, that certain areas flood terribly. So, if a city wants to pass an ordinance that says that if you redevelop, you’ve got to make houses a little higher. Well, now, we can’t do that.”

WSHC+B is actively advising municipal clients statewide to review land-use and development regulations adopted since August 1, 2024, to assess potential legal risks under SB 180, and to consider the effect of the bill on their enactments that could be construed as more restrictive or burdensome than current laws.

If your municipality has questions or needs guidance on navigating the implications of Florida Senate Bill 180 and related hurricane recovery laws, please contact Jamie A. Cole (jcole@wsh-law.com) or Susan Trevarthen (strevarthen@wsh-law.com).

Click here to read the full article by The Gainesville Sun.

The post WSHC+B Partner Jamie Cole Quoted in The Gainesville Sun on Florida Senate Bill 180 appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

To enforce compliance, SB 180 empowers residents and businesses to bring civil actions against local governments to obtain declaratory and injunctive relief, along with recovery of attorneys’ fees and costs, if a local government fails to announce its intent to repeal such ordinance within 14 days of receiving written demand, and proceeds to repeal such ordinance within 30 days.

Although the amendment appears to be limited in its impact and apply only to counties identified in Federal Disaster Declarations for Hurricanes Debby (DR-4806), Helene (DR-4828), and Milton (DR-4834), those declarations collectively cover every county and municipality in Florida.

SB 180 is currently pending presentation to the Governor. Local governments should immediately review all ordinances adopted since August 1, 2024, and assess whether any fall within the scope of this sweeping state preemption. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us to discuss: Jamie A. Cole (jcole@wsh-law.com); Susan Trevarthen (strevarthen@wsh-law.com); Chad S. Friedman (cfriedman@wsh-law.com); or Roger C. Pou (rpou@wsh-law.com).

The post Client Alert: Florida Legislature Retroactively Prohibits Any More Restrictive Regulations on Development from 2024 to 2027 and Beyond appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

Partner Eric Hockman, the lead litigator in this case, and Anthony have worked on behalf of the city to ensure the restaurant honors the terms of their lease as new tenants are set to occupy the location starting November 1st. Quoted in the article, Anthony states, “The city has been successful with the hearings we’ve had thus far, we’ve won every single one.”

Anthony provides counsel to local governments, businesses, and community associations. He serves as City Attorney for the City of Deerfield Beach and Parkland, and Assistant City Attorney for Weston. He has served as counsel on charter review committees, municipal code reviews, and business tax advisory boards and has drafted government contracts, legislative items, and administrative policies.

Eric’s practice focuses on complex and technical litigation matters involving business, government, and individuals. He handles challenging code enforcement matters on behalf of municipalities and has successfully litigated dozens of cases in creative ways.

Read more: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2024/09/13/restaurant-spars-with-deerfield-beach-over-popular-beachfront-spot-heres-the-latest/?share=lbetleetsnh0lite3epi&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

The post Anthony Soroka featured in Sun Sentinel Article Regarding a Dispute Between the City of Deerfield Beach and a Beachfront Restaurant. appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

“The trial court decision and the appellate decision will now permit the bond process to proceed and the very important needs of the Village to improve its infrastructure to be addressed,” Joe said to Islander News.

An accomplished litigator and trial lawyer with dozens of successful trials and appeals to his credit, Joe represents private and public clients across a broad range of subject areas. Laura is a Florida Bar Board Certified attorney in Appellate Practice and represents private and municipal clients in state and federal courts. 

Read more here: 

Islander News (July 20,2022) GO Bond lawsuit once again rejected, clearing path for Village to move on resiliency infrastructure projects

Key Biscayne Independent (July 20, 2022)  Appeals court upholds $100 million resiliency bond

The post WSHC+B team successfully defended the Village of Key Biscayne in Miami’s Third District Court of Appeal appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

The Town of Kenneth City was incorporated in 1957 and has a population of approximately 5,000 residents. As Interim Attorney, WSHC+B will provide legal counsel to the Mayor, Town Council and staff of the Town. WSHC+B is honored to be of service to the citizens of Kenneth City, Florida.

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The six school districts challenging the rule are Miami-Dade, Leon, Duval, Broward, Orange and Alachua. 

According to Jamie, the Florida Department of Health’s latest emergency order does nothing to prevent communicable disease. “A rule that says parents have to have the sole discretion to opt their kids out of a mask mandate does not control COVID,” observed Jamie. “If anything, it results in less children wearing masks, which will result in more spread of COVID.”

“The DOH rule challenged in this petition is actually focused not on controlling COVID-19, but rather on protecting parental rights,” reads the case filed by Jamie, Edward and Richard. “The DOH does not have rulemaking authority in this area and thus exceeded its rulemaking authority.”

The division of administrative hearings has assigned Administrative Law Judge Brian Newman to preside over the rule challenge. A final hearing has been scheduled to begin on October 21, 2021.

To read the full petition, click here. 

Click the links below to see media coverage.

WTXL: https://www.wtxl.com/news/local-news/leon-county-joins-five-other-school-boards-challenging-state-mask-quarantine-rulings?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

WSVN: https://wsvn.com/news/local/miami-dade/m-dcps-to-relax-covid-19-quarantine-rules-for-middle-school-students/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

WJCT: https://news.wjct.org/first-coast/2021-10-07/duval-school-board-sues-state-over-mask-mandate?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

WOFL: https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/six-districts-challenge-rule-on-masks-quarantines?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

Tallahassee Democrat: https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2021/10/07/six-school-districts-including-leon-challenge-florida-rule-on-masks-quarantines/6037810001/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

Jacksonville News: https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/education/2021/10/07/duval-school-board-sues-state-health-department-over-mask-mandate-ban/6034787001/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

Latin Post: https://www.latinpost.com/articles/152291/20211007/florida-school-board-oks-funding-cuts-sanctions-schools-defying-mask.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss 

Florida Politics: https://floridapolitics.com/archives/463271-six-school-districts-file-suit-against-states-school-mask-and-quarantine-rules/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

WFOR: https://miami.cbslocal.com/2021/10/07/six-florida-districts-including-miami-dade-broward-challenge-rule-on-masks-quarantines/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

WLRN: https://www.wlrn.org/news/2021-10-07/six-florida-school-districts-challenge-rule-on-masks-quarantines?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

The post WSHC+B Files Petition on Behalf of Six School Districts, Challenging State COVID-19 Safety Protocols in Schools appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

The previous emergency rule banning universal mask mandates in schools has become moot after Florida’s new surgeon general, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, issued a new emergency rule putting masking and quarantine decisions at the sole discretion of parents.  

The Tampa Bay Times reported that the emergency rule was unveiled to the public in court documents pertaining to a case brought by the school districts in Alachua, Broward, Leon, Miami-Dade and Orange counties. Jamie and Ed, along with firm attorney Richard Rosengarten, are representing the Leon and Miami-Dade School Boards in that matter.

The districts’ challenge to a mask mandate rule ended Wednesday after an attorney representing the state filed a motion to dismiss the case, arguing the case was moot because the new rule had repealed and replaced the earlier challenged rule. The request came two days before the case was set to begin before administrative law judge Brian Newman, who had set aside a week to hear arguments.

The department “did the [new] rule with absolutely no public notice, no hearing, no transparency whatsoever,” observed Jamie. “What is the emergency now that necessitated making this emergency rule?”

Ed raised concerns about the pattern that seemed to be emerging in the state’s approach. 

“What’s going to happen the next time” a legal challenge nears its hearing date, Guedes asked. “Are they going to wait until the last minute and say, ‘Oh, we’ve repealed it and here’s another’?”

If that occurs, he observed, the state agency will have engaged in rule-making in a way that evades judicial review.

Click the links below to see media coverage.

MSN: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/7bf8501c/mghaWBum-EuVJPMmi9GO0g?u=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/florida-issues-new-executive-order-easing-school-covid-rules/ar-AAOIa0p&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

Tampa Bay Times:  https://link.edgepilot.com/s/a99a73ec/thOdU0CUn0WvBTzaT2na4w?u=https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/09/22/florida-issues-new-executive-order-easing-school-covid-rules/&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

Miami Herald:  https://link.edgepilot.com/s/12881c39/gbnEBWJTVkWsMp7iZ2B7yA?u=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article254436773.html&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

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