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Mitchell A.BiermanPartner, Chair of Airports and Aviation Services Group; Miami office Managing Director
Mitchell A.
Bierman

Partner

Chair of Airports and Aviation Services Group; Miami office Managing Director

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

Mitch Bierman is the Miami Office Managing Director. Mitch represents major international companies in the transportation, environmental, solid waste, engineering and construction industries in government affairs and administrative law matters. His work includes winning and negotiating large public contracts, public private partnerships, public infrastructure improvements, affordable housing developments and advocating for industry clients on legislative issues affecting their industries.

Mitch first developed his skills and relationships during his government career as Assistant Dade County Attorney in the 1990s. He continues to serve local governments today as the Town Attorney for the Town of Cutler Bay and the Village Attorney for the Village of Pinecrest in Miami-Dade County, and he advises many of the firm’s other government clients on particular matters.

Mitch chairs the firm’s Airports and Aviation Services Group which represents airports and airport-related businesses including airlines, cargo carriers, car rental companies, airport concessionaires, consultants and construction and engineering firms. As former counsel to Miami International Airport, he has over 20 years of experience in airport finance, airline negotiations, airport concessions, and land leasing and development.

Mitch helps concessionaires win major airport concessions across the United States and negotiates airline-airport use agreements, rental car facility agreements, fuel system lease agreements, management agreements, and other ground transportation agreements including agreements for the development of multi-modal transportation facilities and on-airport hotels. He has also assisted airports in non-aviation development deals, expansions, construction projects, labor agreements and First Amendment issues.

Professional & Community Involvement

  • Immediate Past Chair, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Transportation Committee
  • Founding Member, Eugene P. Spellman Chapter of the American Inns of Court
  • Chairman, Florida Bar Grievance Committee
  • New Works Council, Miami Light Project
  • Chair, Government Relations Committee
  • Secretary of Board of Trustees, Perez Art Museum Miami
  • Past Chairman, Attorneys’ Division Greater Miami Jewish Federation
  • Miami Foundation, Member, Board of Governors
  • Member, Miami-Dade Cultural Affairs Council

Awards & Recognition

  • Daily Business Review Florida Legal Awards, Innovators category – RTWC2026 Focus Group, 2024
  • Florida Super Lawyers, 2017-present
  • Daily Business Review Florida Legal Awards, Innovator, 2023
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating
  • Daily Business Review, Most Effective Lawyers, 2008
  • South Florida Legal Guide, Top Lawyer, 2004-2011, 2013-present
  • Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, 2005-2011
  • South Florida Business Journal, Best of the Bar
  • Best Lawyers in America®, Government Relations Practice, 2012-present; Administrative / Regulatory Law, 2024; Government Contracts, 2024
  •  South Florida Business Journal, Power Leaders in Law & Accounting, 2016-2017
Press Mentions
Presentations
  • Smart Cities: Urban Air Mobility Program, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting of Members, June 2023
  • WSHC+B’s Representation of Government Entities in Florida, Miami Dade County League of Cities, March 2023 
  • Spotlight: Rising to the Challenge in Miami, 6th Annual CoMotion LA, November 17, 2022
  • Build Back Better Act, 11th Annual Construction Law in Florida Conference, October 20, 2022
  • Policy, Programs, and Funding, Part 2: Local Discussion, 2022 SMART Trends Transportation Summit, June 3, 2022
  • Reinventing Miami: From Magic City to Future City, CoMotion Miami, April 21, 2022
  • How to Increase Your U.S. Business by Contracting With Local Government Agencies, Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce of Florida, Inc., March 3, 2022
  • Magic City: The Silicon Valley of the South-East, CoMotion MIAMI, June 2021
  • Smart Cities Mini-Series Part 1: Investment in Tech, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, April 2021
  • Smart Cities Mini-Series Part 2: Miami Tech Education and Talent Development, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, April 2021
  • Annexation/Incorporation, Miami-Dade County League of Cities March Meeting in Cutler Bay
  • Transportation Issues in South Florida, WIOD Radio – The Brian Mudd Show, November 2017
  • Our region’s mobility challenges and opportunities, HNTB THINK Infrastructure Forum, July 2017
  •  Easy 93’s Community Connection, Radio show, July 2017
Representative Experience

Aviation

  • Representation of a regional airport in Colorado in connection with the redevelopment of a general aviation field for commercial passenger services.
  • Representation of American Airlines and Miami-Dade County for the $1.5 billion construction, renovation and financing of the air carrier’s terminal at Miami International Airport.
  • Representation of a long-term ground lease and operating agreement for development of an on-airport hotel and mixed-use business facility at Pensacola Airport.
  • Representation of the Miami Dade Expressway Authority in the development of the Miami Intermodal Center, which links the TriRail, Metrorail, Car Rental Center and all ground transportation to Miami International Airport.
  • The redevelopment of a terminal at Hewanorra International Airport for St. Lucia Air and Sea Port Authority through finance, design, build, operate and maintain (FDBOM) contract.
  • Defended award of $60 million airport construction contract to Skanska Construction against bid protest challenge by disappointed bidder.
  • Co-counsel for American Airlines in the development of the $3 billion North Terminal in Miami International Airport.
  • Representation of the build-out of the consolidated rental car facility at Miami International Airport on behalf of the largest car rental firm in the world.
  • Assisted private passenger rail operator in negotiation of proposed lease and development agreement for mixed-use rail station project at Orlando Airport.
  • Provided legal and government affairs support in acquisition of duty free concession at one of country’s fastest growing airports for Nuance Global Traders, the world’s largest airport duty free concessionaire.
  • Successfully represented Faber Coe & Greg in obtaining news and gift and specialty retail concession with projected sales in excess of $80 million at major international airport and defended award in challenge by disappointed bidder.
  • Represented Areas Comidas, a major international airport food and beverage concessionaire in award of numerous airport concession worth in excess of $500 million.
  • Represented Allied Waste Systems in obtaining and negotiating $25 million contract for disposal of USDA regulated international airport waste and successfully defended bid protest challenge by disappointed bidder.
  • Favorably settled environmental cost recovery claim against Fortune 100 company as part of a multi-defendant, $700 million cost recovery lawsuit brought by owner of major public airport against all historical airport users and tenants.

Governmental Affairs & Procurement

  • Successfully represented the Miami Heat in connection with the American Airlines Arena for over 15 years and played an integral role in the success of the Arena and the community.
  • Handling of legal and government affairs matters related to the public/private/philanthropic funding, development, construction and operation of the Perez Art Museum Miami.
  • Representation of the City of Miramar in connection with the long-term lease and development agreement for the headquarters for the American Tennis Association and tennis court complex at Miramar Regional Park.
  • Handled the negotiation of the original lease with the Miami Dolphins for the existing land for the Dolphins Stadium, now known as Hard Rock Stadium.
  • Representation of major Internet of Things (IOT) innovator in smart city improvement offer to major city.
  • Represents Informa, international exhibition company in connection with relocation of Miami International Yacht Show to downtown Miami along with other new major shows.
  • Representation of Miami Dade County School Board on numerous procurement matters.
  • Representation of Miami Lighthouse for the Blind on issues relating to its educational contract with Miami Dade Public Schools.
  • Representation of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and Trust as General Counsel.
  • Representation of Miami Museum of Contemporary Art.
  • Representation of Cubic Transportation Systems in connection with regional transportation authority request for proposals to provide smart cart program for region and constituent local transit authorities.
  • Representation of an international surface transportation vendor in connection with its contract to design and oversee the overhaul of Miami-Dade County’s Metro-rail and Metro-mover system.

Solid Waste Management 

  • Representation of Miami-Dade County in connection with a third-party agreement to construct and operate a waste to energy plant.
  • Representation of Allied Bank of Texas in a workout scenario involving the transfer of a recycling plant in South Miami-Dade County.
  • Representation of Chambers Development Corp. of Pennsylvania in a transaction involving the Okeechobee Florida County landfill.

Environmental

  • Counseled the world’s largest infrastructure development and engineering firm to negotiate environmental remediation agreement with Miami-Dade County for $150 million.
  • Assisted national environmental engineer in renewal of bond engineering consulting agreement for large government solid waste department.
  • Represented one of the nation’s largest debris removal and environmental remediation firms on major FEMA funded canal dredging program

P3

  • Representation of the City of Miami in connection with the negotiation of a long-term ground lease of the existing Miami River Center building, as well as a long-term ground lease of the City’s new facility to be developed in connection with private P3 developer partners.
  • Representation of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) in connection with a 99-year lease between the FDOT and a limited partnership, managed by the Swerdlow Group, for development of the Cypress Creek Park and Ride facility in Broward County.
  • Representation of the City of Miramar with respect to the proposed Blockbuster Park involving hotel, office and amusement area space and provided all legal services on behalf of the City.
  • Representation of the City of Miramar in the transformative Miramar Town Center Project where a P3 consortium developed government facilities, cultural facilities, public space, and commercial mixed-use providing all public benefits in exchange for development rights on public land.
  • Representation of the long-term lease and development agreement for the headquarters for the American Tennis Association and tennis court complex at Miramar Regional Park.
  • Representation of the City of Homestead in the development and ongoing operation and maintenance of the Homestead Motorsports Complex in connection with P3 partners.
  • Representation of the City of Homestead in the development of a professional baseball complex for minor league and spring training games in connection with the Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Indians.
  • Representation of Cunnard Ocean Lines in connection with a public-private partnership with the cruise line to make Miami the home port for the Queen Elizabeth II.
  • A contract between Miami-Dade County and Montenay Power Corp. for construction of one of the world’s largest resource recovery plants.

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