Bio
Experience
EXPERIENCE
Dispute Intervention and Prevention Services, LLC
Miami, Florida
Owner/Mediator/Arbitrator/Conflict Consultant, January 2023
through current
- Mediate disputes between parties prior to and during litigation;
- Mediate workplace disputes;
- Arbitrate disputes between parties and render awards;
- Provide ombudsman services on a contractual basis for organizations;
- Provide conflict consultation and coaching services on a contractual basis for individuals and organizations;
- Provide professional development coaching for individuals and organizations;
- Provide leadership coaching for individuals and organizations;
- Develop and support mentorship programs for organizations;
- Develop and provide continuing legal education programming as requested.
Bressler, Amery & Ross, P.C.
Fort Lauderdale and Miami, Florida
Associate, December 2016 – December 2019;
Principal, January 2020 through April 2022
- Conducted litigation and pre-litigation investigation and handling of first-party property insurance claims;
- Researched, drafted, and argued motions;
- Deposed witnesses and conducted discovery;
- Researched and drafted appellate motions and briefs;
- Drafted and edited articles regarding legal issues in the insurance industry; and
- Conducted live continuing education training for insurance carriers.
Broward County Office of the Public Defender, Seventeenth Judicial Circuit
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Assistant Public Defender, June 2010 – November 2016
- Prepared and tried circuit-court cases (lead attorney in division, first-chair on life offenses, and first, second, and third degree felonies, trial team on capital cases from indictment through trial, and penalty phase if necessary);
- Researched and drafted appellate briefs;
- Researched, drafted and argued motions (for individual clients and on behalf of the entire office);
- Deposed witnesses;
- Handled daily calendars before circuit-court judge; and Average monthly case volume between 100-130.
Toyne & Mayo, P.A
Miami, Florida
Associate, August 2009 – March 2010
- Researched and drafted documents for filing, including Complaints, Answers, Motions, and Proposed Orders;
- Gathered and organized evidence and discovery;
- Edited and revised documents before filing; and
- Substantially researched and drafted in-house memoranda on state and federal issues.
Bressler, Amery & Ross, P.C.
Fort Lauderdale and Miami Florida
Practice Group Manager, April 2022 through January 2023
- Develop and implement training programs for new and experienced attorneys re: substantive and procedural issues in first party property insurance claims;
- Onboard attorneys, including provision of initial training on group practices and procedures, provision of training on systems and software used by practice, and assignment of caseload;
- Oversee training of staff assigned to practice group; Develop and implement processes and procedures for handling cases within practice group;
- Receive and address complaints or questions from practice group members;
- Oversee and work with attorneys, assistants, case managers, and paralegals to ensure firm and practice group practices and procedures are being followed (and updated as needed) Develop strategies for individual cases with practice group attorneys, including strategies for additional discovery, strategies for depositions, strategies for motion practice, and strategies for trial;
- Edit and improve documents drafted by practice group attorneys, including responses to Civil Remedy Notices, Motions, Client Reports, etc.;
- Build and maintain “banks” of sample documents for use by practice group attorneys;
- Review and analyze new case law as released to assist practice group attorneys in using same to litigate cases;
- Build and maintain “banks” of case law on various topics re: property insurance;
- Review and analyze rule and statute changes to assist practice group attorneys and staff in using and complying with the same;
- Oversee and conduct various administrative tasks, including liaising between practice group and various departments within the firm, including billing, human resources, information technology, and executives;Attend weekly staff meetings, and prepare and distribute outline of topics discussed to memorialize same;
- Review and appeal short-paid bills;
- Conduct interviews of potential attorney, law clerk, and staff candidates;
- Assist in obtaining software and instituting use of same to increase efficiency of practice group;
- Assist with implementation of and training for use of new software;
- Liaise with clients re: administrative issues.
Miami-Dade Office of the State Attorney, Eleventh Judicial Circuit,
Miami, Florida
Certified Legal Intern, Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Unit,
May 2008 – August 2008
- Prepared and investigated cases from bond hearings to final outcome (plea or trial);
- Researched statutes, rules and case law, and drafted memoranda for appeals;
- Interviewed and took statements from victims, witnesses and police officers; and
- Drafted motions and researched statutes and case law for written responses to motions.
SPEAKING AND OTHER ENGAGEMENTS
Florida Insurance Fraud Education Committee
Orlando, Florida
Presenter, June 2019
- Florida Insurance Fraud Education Committee
Florida Insurance Fraud Education Committee
Orlando, Florida
Presenter, June 2019
- Coach students to prepare them to participate inter-school moot court competitions;
- Attend competitions with students; and
- Judge oral arguments during on-campus competitions.
