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Laura K. Wendell
Laura K.WendellPartner
Laura K.
Wendell

Partner

Miami
(305) 854-0800
lwendell@wsh-law.com

As a Florida Bar Board Certified attorney in Appellate Practice, Laura Wendell represents private and municipal clients in appeals and litigation in state and federal courts.

Laura’s appellate victories have helped to clarify and shape the law in matters involving commercial disputes, tort litigation, land use, zoning, code enforcement and eminent domain proceedings.

As a litigator, Laura is a persuasive advocate committed to finding practical and efficient solutions to her clients’ legal issues. She has obtained successful results in zoning and land use disputes, construction disputes, contract disputes, constitutional law challenges, and administrative law proceedings. She also handles insurance coverage disputes, securing favorable coverage determinations for municipal as well as private clients.

Laura is a former President of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers and has served as a Director of the Dade County Bar Association, where she presently co-chairs the Environmental and Land Use Law Committee.

Professional & Community Involvement

  • Dade County Bar Association, Member
    • Past Director, Div. 4
    • Co-chair, Environmental and Land Use Committee, 2018-2020
    • Appellate Court Committee Liaison, 2015-2016
    • Gala Sponsor Oversight Committee, 2016
  • Third District Historical Society
  • Florida Supreme Court Historical Society
  • The Florida Bar, Appellate Practice Section
  • The Florida Bar, Appellate Court Rules Committee, 2008-2014
  • Florida Association for Women Lawyers (FAWL)
    • President, 2012-2013
    • President Elect, 2011-2012
    • Treasurer, 2010-2011
    • Journal Editor, 2009-2010
    • Development Director, 2008-2009

Awards & Recognitions

  • Best Lawyers in America®, Appellate Practice, 2024

Press Mentions

Presentations

  • Alternative Fee Arrangements, Miami-Dade FAWL Corporate Counsel Summit, February 2017
  • Judicial Review of Quasi-Judicial Actions of Local Governments in Circuit Court, First-Tier Certiorari Review, Third District Court of Appeal Fall Seminar, September 2016

Practice Areas

Admissions

Florida, 1995

U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida, 1995

U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit, 2005

Education

Harvard University Law School, J.D., 1991

University of Toronto, Ph.D., 1989

University of Toronto, M.A., 1982

Brown University, B.A., magna cum laude, 1980

Certifications

Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Appellate Practice

Publications
  • Milestones and Statistics: Women Leadership in The Florida Bar, FAWL Journal, Fall Edition, 2009
  • Women Making History, Janet Reno, FAWL Journal, Spring Edition, 2010
  • Mistakes Happen: Fixing Them Through Curative Legislation, Stetson Law Review, Volume 37, Number 2, Winter 2008
  • Florida Law Concerning Local Government Construction Contracts: Overview of Procurement Methods and Project Delivery Systems, The Real Estate Finance Journal, Fall 2008
  • The Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act: Overview and Recent Developments in Florida, Real Estate Finance, Volume 24, Number 6, April 2008
Reported & Unreported Decisions
  • Galaviz v. Publix Super Markets, Inc., 2016 WL 72886 (Fla. 4th DCA, Jan. 7, 2016)
  • Publix Super Markets v. Hernandez, 176 So. 3d 350 (Fla. 3d DCA 2015)
  • Key Biscayne Gateway Partners, Ltd. v. Village of Key Biscayne, 172 So. 3d 499 (Fla. 3d DCA 2015)
  • Castilla v. Publix Super Markets, Inc, 169 So. 3d 1187 (Fla. 4th DCA 2015)
  • Torres v. Publix Super Markets, 166 So. 3d 785 (Fla. 3d DCA 2015)
  • Homestead Land Group, LLC v. City of Homestead, 165 So. 3d 62 (Fla. 3d DCA 2015)
  • City of Boca Raton v. Huisman, 162 So. 3d 1025 (Fla. 4th DCA 2015)
  • Bates v. Islamorada, Village of Islands, 160 So. 3d 435 (Fla. 3d DCA 2015)
  • Gallego v. Publix Super Markets, Inc., 160 So. 3d 428 (Fla. 3d DCA 2015)
  • Taxi USA Palm Beach, LLC v. City of Boca Raton, 162 So. 2d 119 (Fla. 4th DCA 2014)
  • Nalepa v. City of North Bay Village, 152 So. 3d 869 (Fla. 3d DCA 2014)
  • Barnet v. City of Coral Gables, 151 So. 3d 564 (Fla. 3d DCA 2014)
  • Miami Neighborhoods United, Inc. v. Miami City Com’n, 140 So. 3d 593 (Fla. 3d DCA 2013)
  • Pembroke Lake Mall Ltd. v. McGruder, 137 So. 3d 418 (Fla. 4th DCA 2014)
  • Gregg v. City of Miramar, 90 So. 3d 277 (Fla. 1st DCA 2012)
  • Milanese v. City of Boca Raton, 84 So. 3d 339 (Fla. 4th DCA 2012)
  • CMI, Inc. v. Ulloa, 73 So. 3d 787 (Fla. 5th DCA 2011)
  • City of Boca Raton v. Stratford, 73 So. 3d 777 (Fla. 4th DCA 2011)
  • Beizer v. City of Boca Raton, 73 So. 3d 777 (Fla. 4th DCA 2011)
  • Jones v. Publix Super Markets, Inc., 68 So. 3d 422 (Fla. 4th DCA 2011)
  • East Coast Karate Studies, Inc. v. Lifestyle Martial Arts, 65 So. 3d 1127 (2011)
  • Duvall v. Property & Casualty Ins. Co. of Hartford, 56 So.3d 14 (Fla. 4th DCA 2011)
  • Atlantic USA, Inc. v. Lopez, 47 So. 3d 933 (Fla. 3d DCA 2010)
  • Marion v. City of Boca Raton, 47 So. 3d 334 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010)
  • Shubh Hotels Boca, LLC v. FDIC, 46 So. 3d 163 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010)
  • Jones v. City of Sunrise, 44 So. 3d 1185 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010)
  • City of Sunrise v. Zavala, 34 So. 3d 14 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010)
  • United Real Estate Ventures, Inc. v. Village of Key Biscayne, 26 So. 3d 48 (Fla. 3d DCA 2009)
  • Renaissance Charter School, Inc. v. Dep’t of Comty. Affairs, 25 So. 3d 1228 (Fla. 1st DCA 2010)
  • City of Marco Island v. Dumas, 13 So. 3d 108 (Fla. 3d DCA 2009)
  • Gil Erikson Properties, LLC v. Pompano Beach Cmty Redev. Agency, 997 So. 2d 522 (Fla. 4th DCA 2009)
  • Reuter Recycling of Florida, Inc. v. City of Hallandale, 993 So. 2d 1178 (Fla. 4th DCA 2008)
  • Smith v. Islamorada, 990 So. 2d 1080 (Fla. 3d DCA 2008)
  • Hames v. City of Miami Firefighters’ and Police Officers’ Trust, 980 So. 2d 1112 (Fla. 3d DCA 2008)
  • Swerdlow et al. v. Islamorada, Village of Islands, 3 So. 3d 335 (Fla 3d DCA 2009)
  • Pernas v. TMM Lines Ltd., LLC, 980 So. 2d 406 (Fla. 3d DCA 2008)
  • Pompano Beach Comty. Redev. Agenc v. Phillipsy, 981 So. 2d 1218 (Fla. 4th DCA 2008)
  • Skeel v. Dep’t of Comty. Affairs, 979 So. 2d 224 (Fla. 1st DCA 2008)
  • Collections USA, Inc. v. City of Homestead, 953 So. 2d 536 (Fla. 3d DCA 2007)
  • Garcia v. Federal Ins. Co., 508 F. 3d 1331 (11th Cir. 2007)
  • Garcia v. Federal Ins. Co., 473 F. 3d 1131 (11th Cir. 2006)
  • We’re Associates VI, Ltd. P’ship v. Curzon Dev. Corp., 738 So. 2d 440 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999)
  • FDIC v. Stahl, 89 F. 3d 1510 (11th Cir. 1996)
  • Providence Journal Co. v. Clerk of Family Court, 643 A. 2d 210 (R.I. 1994)

Unreported Decisions

  • Gretzner v. Islamorada, Village of Islands, Monroe County Circuit Court, Appellate Division, Case No. 13-CA-972-P (May 12, 2015)
  • Morris Miramar Associates v. City of Miramar, Broward County Circuit Court, Appellate Division, Case No. 14-013153 CACE (April 28, 2015)
  • Oceantime, LLC v. Town of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Broward County Circuit Court, Appellate Division, Case No. 13-027301 CACE (March 5, 2015)
  • Walgreen Co. v. City of Dania Beach, Broward County Circuit Court, Appellate Division, Case No. CACE 13019586 (May 16, 2014)
  • The Realty Associates Fund IX, L.P. v. Town of Cutler Bay, Miami-Dade County Circuit Court, Appellate Division, Case No. 13-250 AP (Sept. 24, 2014)
  • WPG I, LLC v. Islamorada, Village of Islands, Monroe County Circuit Court, Appellate Division, Case No. 10-CA-427-P (Nov. 22, 2013)
  • Red Dragon Sands, Ltd. v. Village of Key Biscayne, Miami-Dade County Circuit Court, Appellate Division, Case No. 11-568 AP (July 18, 2012)
  • Torres v. Dania Beach Housing Authority, Broward County Circuit Court, Appellate Division, Case No. 08-61031(11) (July 9, 2009)
  • City of Boca Raton v. Palm Beach County, Florida Supreme Court, Case No. SC09-202 (May 6, 2009)
  • Machado Investments, Inc. v. City of Homestead, Miami-Dade Circuit Court, Appellate Division, Case No. 08-145, Case No. 09-145 AP (January 23, 2009)
  • United Real Estate Ventures v. Village of Key Biscayne, Miami-Dade Circuit Court, Appellate Division, Case No. 09-210 AP (April 3, 2009)
  • Las Balmeras, Inc. v. Town of Golden Beach, Miami-Dade Circuit Court, Appellate Division, Case No. 08-149- AP, Case No. 04-04-12 (July 16, 2009)
  • Gibbs v. Homestead Housing Authority, Miami-Dade Circuit Court, Appellate Division, Case No. 07-570 AP (October 28, 2008)
  • Cirilo v. City of Hallendale Beach, Broward County Circuit Court, Appellate Division, Case No. 07-26078 (08) (November 29, 2007)
  • Spetsiosis v. Town of Miami Lakes, Miami-Dade Circuit Court, Appellate Division, Case No. 07-332 AP (November 6, 2008)
  • Padilla v. Village of Key Biscayne, Miami-Dade Circuit Court, Appellate Division, Case No. 07-259 AP (January 15, 2008)
  • Swerdlow v. Islamorada, Village of Islands, Monroe County Circuit Court, Appellate Division, Case No. 06-CA-345-AP (April 30, 2008)
  • Two Martini’s LLC v. Islamorada, Village of Islands, Monroe County Circuit Court, Appellate Division, Case No. 2007-CA-69-P (August 14, 2007)
  • Oli Development, LLC v. Islamorada, Village of Islands, Monroe County Circuit Court, Appellate Division, Case No. 2007-CA-510-P (June 27, 2007)

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