STEARNS WEAVER MILLER WEISSLER ALHADEFF & SITTERSON, P.A. - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Shareholder in the Litigation Department
Abby Corbett is a Shareholder in the Litigation Department. Her national legal practice encompasses a wide variety of complex commercial litigation matters, including defending and prosecuting class actions in both federal and state court. Abby also regularly advises local governments, as well as other public and private entities, on constitutional law and other government affairs issues, including the legal considerations and policy options associated with efforts to adapt to the effects of climate change.
In her commercial litigation practice, Abby has extensive experience in antitrust class actions, complex contract disputes, deceptive and unfair trade practice cases, defamation and libel lawsuits, RICO actions, and False Claims Act cases. She has also served as primary defense counsel in class actions involving the Electronic Funds Transfer Act and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. And she has experience successfully litigating appeals in federal and state appellate courts.
Before joining the Firm, Abby served as a law clerk for the Honorable Paul C. Huck of the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida. Prior to her clerkship, she was an associate in the Washington, D.C. office of an international law firm.
Adrienne Love is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Intellectual Property Law. She devotes her practice to patent, copyright, and trademark matters, including litigation of such intellectual property cases in federal courts throughout the United States. In over 18 years of practice, she has also litigated trademark opposition and cancellation proceedings and appeals before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, and patent appeals and proceedings in front of the Patent Board of Examiners. She also handles domain name dispute arbitration proceeding under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy and matters arising under the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act.
Additionally, Adrienne counsels clients on effective and cost efficient solutions for their individual trademark and patent portfolios. She drafts and prosecutes patent and trademark applications to secure intellectual property rights for her clients, and routinely assists in drafting and negotiating intellectual property contracts including licensing agreements.
Adrienne also assists clients with technology transactional work, including drafting and negotiating technology contracts, domain name and website transfer agreements, end-user licenses, and software/Software as a Service ("SaaS") licenses.
Alan Fein is a Shareholder in the Litigation Department and a member of the Firm's Board of Directors. For over three decades, Alan has successfully handled complex business litigation in South Florida and in the leading business courts in the nation, including the Delaware Court of Chancery, the Delaware Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Eleventh Circuit and the District of Columbia. At the same time, he has developed one of the region's most vibrant sports law practices, and brought vision and leadership to a number of community leadership roles.
In particular, Alan focuses his practice on complex civil litigation, professional sports representation and litigation, defamation and libel law, corporate governance disputes, directors' and officers´ liability, accountant malpractice, architect malpractice and banking litigation.
Prior to joining Stearns Weaver Miller, Alan was Assistant to the White House Domestic Policy Staff, and Aide to the Special Assistant to President Carter for Government Reorganization. Alan also served as Legislative Assistant to the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. He has been a proud member and shareholder of Stearns Weaver Miller, joining the firm as its tenth lawyer in 1979, and helping guide the firm's growth over the following decades.
Albert routinely advises foreign and domestic clients on a variety of cross-border U.S. tax matters, including U.S. income tax planning, transactional tax matters, corporate tax and structuring matters, acquisition and sale of U.S. real estate, voluntary disclosures, and tax controversy and compliance matters. He also advises high net worth individuals, family offices, and other private clients on U.S. estate planning matters, including wealth preservation, trust issues, succession planning, and related matters.
Prior to joining the firm, Albert was a partner at an AmLaw 200 law firm. He also worked in the transaction tax group of a Big Four accounting firm, where he advised corporate and private equity clients on a variety of transactional tax matters. Albert is a New York Certified Public Accountant.
Albert D. Lichy is a Shareholder in the Litigation group. He represents businesses of all sizes in various stages of litigation and regularly provides transaction-related strategic advice. He also helps businesses assess the risk and opportunities in pursuing and defending a lawsuit, which often involves crafting bespoke transactional solutions.
Prior to joining the firm, Albert was an investment banker at a restructuring advisory boutique in New York City. There he worked on several distressed transactions and corporate restructurings. Albert was also an associate at an international law firm in New York City and has experience as an Assistant County Attorney at the Miami-Dade County Attorney's Office.
Albert clerked for the Honorable Thomas L. Ambro, United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, the Honorable Paul C. Huck, United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and was a judicial extern for the Honorable Alex Kozinski, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Alex Rodríguez handles complex commercial litigation matters at the trial and appellate levels in state and federal courts as well as private arbitrations. He has represented business entities and individuals in matters relating to contract, business tort, and statutory claims involving a wide array of subject matters, including real property, commercial leases, sales contracts, creditors' rights, corporate governance, professional liability, defamation, and ad valorem tax assessments.
Prior to joining the firm, Alex clerked for the U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Organized Crime and Gang Section. He was also a Judicial Intern for the Honorable John J. O'Sullivan, United States Magistrate Judge, Southern District of Florida and for the Honorable Rudolph Contreras of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
Alex received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and his B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Miami.
Alice Huneycutt is a Shareholder in the Litigation Department. She has served as lead trial counsel for three decades in state and federal courts in Florida (both jury and non-jury cases), as well as in arbitrations and administrative hearings. Alice has briefed and argued appeals to Florida appellate courts and in the federal system to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Alison Miller is a corporate and securities lawyer with over 40 years of experience advising individuals, companies and financial institutions on all aspects of business activities and transactions, mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance. Alison brings a pragmatic approach to business issues and offers creative solutions to complex problems. Her clients are engaged in a wide range of industries, including banking and financial services, life sciences, real estate and hospitality.
Alison joined the firm in 1976 and became a name partner in 1985-a time when few women lawyers were practicing in Florida, and even fewer held leadership roles in law firms. Over the past four decades as a member of the firm's Executive Committee, she has been instrumental in the growth and management of the firm.
Amanda "Mandy" L. Spencer is an Associate in the Litigation Department. Her practice focuses on medical malpractice defense for healthcare institutions and practitioners, as well as premises liability defense.
Prior to joining the firm, Mandy worked at a large law firm in Coral Gables and served as a legal intern to the Honorable Robin S. Rosenbaum, United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. During law school, she was a Senior Articles Editor and member of the Editorial Board for the St. Thomas Law Review.
Amanda Bennis is a Shareholder in the firm's Corporate & Securities Department. Her practice focuses on mergers & acquisitions, commercial and asset-based lending, banking and financial institutions, capital markets, commercial transactions, life sciences, corporate law, securities and compliance and corporate governance.
Amelia Savage's practice focuses primarily on Environmental & Natural Resources law. Her clients and projects range from mining operations, to single-family docks, to energy facilities, to wetland mitigation banks, to large scale developments, to water supply matters and beyond.
Amelia helps clients obtain regulatory environmental permits from federal, state and local agencies, including consulting with supporting agencies on wildlife issues. She frequently guides clients through the permitting process with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Florida's water management districts. She assists clients and agencies on issues related to threatened and endangered species as well as participates in rulemaking regarding imperiled species and other environmental rules.
Amelia also represents clients in obtaining proprietary authorizations to use lands owned by the state of Florida, both with regards to upland and submerged land parcels. She is highly skilled in defending environmental permits from challenges before federal and state courts as well as the Division of Administrative Hearings.
Prior to joining the Firm, Amelia worked at a boutique law firm in Tallahassee, Florida. In addition to her experience in the environmental arena, she has also provided counsel on matters involving real estate, property taxation, health law, and adoptions.
Amy E. Jellicorse is a Shareholder in the Corporate & Securities Department. Her practice focuses on representing clients in the real estate and hospitality industries in structuring and drafting joint venture arrangements, structuring and offering interests in pooled investment funds, and sophisticated debt, equity and mezzanine financing transactions. Her experience also includes representing businesses and non-profit entities in general corporate transactions, including entity formation and structuring, sales and acquisitions, and debt and equity transactions. Amy also has experience assisting clients with commercial leases, business and regulated industry permitting, including alcohol licensing, and intellectual property matters, including the registration of trademarks and wordmarks.
Amy's pro bono activities include the representation of abused and neglected children in court, through a county level legal aid guardian ad litem program, and the representation of small and/or minority-owned businesses with respect to their general corporate needs.
Amy McPherson represents clients in a variety of multifaceted land use permitting and entitlement issues. She guides clients from the initial phases of development, through the public hearing approval process, throughout the permitting process, and in litigation. Amy also has experience working with federal and state agencies on environmental permitting matters.
For nearly two decades Amy practiced in South Florida, and successfully secured development approvals for various large-scale projects, including shopping center redevelopments, educational and religious institutions, and residential and commercial developments. Prior to joining the firm, Amy maintained her own practice in Dunedin, Florida servicing clients throughout Pinellas County.
Anastasia "Annie" Barnes is the Firm's Associate Planner. She serves firm clients as an in-house planner supporting private development projects and related entitlement applications.
Prior to joining the firm, Annie had over eight years of planning experience in the public sector, including as a planner for the City of Tampa, City of St. Cloud, Hillsborough County, City of Bradenton, and Hardee County. Her intimate understanding of local regulations is invaluable when navigating complex land use, zoning, and environmental projects across the state. She is also particularly familiar with historic preservation matters.
Andrea Nathan is a trial and appellate lawyer with significant experience representing clients in complex commercial disputes in state and federal courts throughout the country. Andrea's practice includes all areas of commercial litigation, with an emphasis on class actions, contract disputes, and securities and corporate litigation. She also routinely advises clients on compliance issues relating to marketing messages, advertisements, and other promotional communications.
Andrew D. Rosenthal is a Shareholder in the Real Estate Department. In Florida and throughout the country, Andrew has significant experience in a wide range of commercial real estate transactions, including the purchase, sale, leasing and construction of properties, financings, and joint ventures. He has represented owners, investors and operators in the acquisition and disposition of retail centers, office buildings and other types of commercial properties. He also represents landlords and tenants in leasing of all types of commercial, office and industrial properties. Prior to joining the firm, Andrew worked at an international law firm.
Andrew Stearns is a Shareholder in the Litigation Department. Andrew practices in all areas of commercial litigation including appellate practice, and has an extensive background in massive-scale document production and e-discovery project management. He assists banks, financial institutions, and NBFIs with Bank Secrecy Act/anti-money laundering compliance matters and has deep knowledge of complex computer systems, computer networks, cloud and edge infrastructure, server virtualization, and data storage and data backup systems and schemes.
While attending Florida State University College of Law, Andrew served in a fellowship position in the Florida House of Representatives in the House Council for Ready Infrastructure, master committee for the House Utilities and Telecommunications, Transportation, Information Technology, and Natural Resources and Environmental Protection committees. Prior to law school, he worked for the Criminal Justice and Corrections Council of the Florida House of Representatives.
Andrew is an airplane pilot with instrument, commercial single-engine, and commercial multi-engine ratings, instrument-rated helicopter pilot, USCG licensed captain, and licensed Florida real estate broker.
Andrew focuses his practice in all aspects of construction law and litigation. He represents contractors, subcontractors, architects, engineers, and property owners in private development and public construction projects. Andrew also has experience with matters involving the construction of hotels, commercial buildings, shopping centers, industrial facilities, transportation structures, apartments, airports, educational institutions, and more.
His transactional practice entails the drafting and negotiation of contracts and project management agreements. His dispute resolution practice includes mediation, arbitration and litigation in federal and state courts, as well as before administrative agencies.
Andrew Rodman is a Shareholder in the Firm's Labor & Employment Law Department and a member of the Firm's Board of Directors. Andrew's labor & employment law practice encompasses both counseling and litigation on behalf of employers.
On the counseling side, Andrew takes pride in developing working partnerships with his clients to analyze problems and implement practical solutions to the broad range of issues that executives and Human Resource professionals regularly encounter. Those issues include the hiring process, background screening and Fair Credit Reporting Act compliance, drug testing and Drug-Free Workplace issues, compliance with federal, state and local EEO laws, discipline, termination, reduction in force, workplace safety, conducting internal investigations and audits, drafting personnel policies, drafting severance and release agreements, drafting employment contracts, independent contractor agreements and non-compete agreements, managing leave-related issues under the FMLA, ADA and USERRA, wage and hour compliance, and protecting confidential and proprietary information.
On the litigation side, Andrew defends clients before administrative agencies (such as the EEOC and Florida Commission on Human Relations, and U.S. Department of Labor), federal and state courts, and arbitration panels against claims of employment and housing discrimination, harassment, retaliation and whistleblower retaliation, unpaid wages (including overtime, minimum wage, and commissions), OSHA compliance, defamation, and family, medical and military leave. Andrew has litigated claims under Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, FLSA, USERRA, OSHA, Sections 1981 and 1983, the Fair Housing Act, and their state and local counterparts.
Andrew is always very professional and understands the issues.
Andrew W. McLaughlin assists clients in a variety of employee benefits matters including their 401(k) plans, ESOPs, health benefits, executive compensation, Code Section 409A, and other matters arising under ERISA, the Affordable Care Act, and similar laws. Andy has successfully assisted clients in resolving matters involving the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
Aubrey Burris is a Real Estate Shareholder in the firm's Tampa office.
Aubrey has experience in myriad aspects of real estate law. She represents developers, home builders, property owners, lenders, and borrowers with respect to commercial real estate transactions, including the acquisition, disposition, financing, leasing, and development of real property, as well as resolving title matters and preparing various types of contracts. Her experience includes negotiating, structuring and closing transactional matters related to residential and commercial real estate development projects. Aubrey also handles routine developer issues for homeowners' associations and master property associations.
Prior to joining the firm, Aubrey was an associate in the Tampa office of an international law firm. Her internship experience includes positions at a major insurance company and at the United States Attorney's Office, Criminal Division.
Aubrey received her law degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida, where she was an editor for the Florida Law Review and elected to the Order of the Coif.
Bailey Spade focuses his practice on transactional real estate matters, representing clients in the acquisition, disposition and development of various types of commercial property, including multi-family and affordable housing developments. He also represents lenders and borrowers in complex financing transactions.
While earning his J.D., Bailey worked as a law clerk assisting the firm's affordable housing group.
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Shareholder in the Firm 's Real Estate Department and Bank
Barbara Ferrer is very able to get deals done for clients.
Barbara J. Ferrer is a Shareholder in the Firm's Real Estate Department and Banking and Finance group. Barbara's extensive experience in real estate, with a focus on development work, has enabled her to represent buyers, sellers, lenders and developers in connection with the acquisition, financing, development, construction and disposition of various large-scale commercial real estate projects. She also represents institutional lenders in all aspects of real estate-secured and asset-based loans, including construction loans, factoring arrangements, public-private financing, low income housing tax credits (LIHTC) and affordable housing equity, and debt financing. Barbara is also serving as national outside general counsel for AHS Residential d/b/a ReSia.
Barry M. Wayne is a Shareholder and the Head of the Marital & Family Law Department. His experience spans over 37 years representing clients in virtually all facets of marital and family law matters, including complex divorces, prenuptial and post-nuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements, paternity claims, and disputes that cross state and international borders. Barry's background enables him to guide his clients through the family law process of income and net worth analysis, business and other valuation matters, asset structure and debt analysis, division of complex marital estates, as well as all other issues unique to persons of financial means. His practice also includes protecting the rights of parents and their children, working proactively to conclude matters recognizing the paramount objective of their children's best interests. Barry has built a reputation for problem solving and affording clients the privacy and discretion required for successful completion of the issues facing their family.
Barry's clients have included corporate officers from a variety of endeavors, business owners, physicians, attorneys, financial and other professionals, professional athletes, investors, and their spouses.
Barry has been Florida Bar Board Certified in Marital and Family Law since 1994. He has achieved Board Certification as a Family Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, which certifies attorneys based upon demonstrated substantial trial experience, submission of judicial and peer references, continuing education and quality of legal writing. Best Lawyers in America® has named Barry as the "Lawyer of the Year" for Family Law in Miami in 2020 and 2024, a recognition awarded to one lawyer per year with the highest overall peer-feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region. Barry has also been AV® Preeminent™ Rated by Martindale Hubbell for over 25 years.
Hannah Murphy is a litigator who focuses her practice on privacy law, consumer protection, and elections. She has earned the ANSI-accredited Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US) credential through the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).