Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A.

Chairman: Eugene Stearns

Managing Partner: Rick Schatz

Number of partners/shareholders: 113

Number of other lawyers: 33

Stearns Weaver Miller is a Florida-based law firm with more than 150 attorneys and offices in Miami, Coral Gables, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Tallahassee. For over 40 years, our multidisciplinary team of attorneys and professionals have worked collaboratively to help our clients understand and resolve complex legal issues and disputes. Our clients range from small start-ups to large multinational corporations, as well as some of the country’s most successful individuals and entrepreneurs. Our team of lawyers is aided by a full-range of support staff and facilities which include a state-of-the-art on site courtroom used to moot arguments and prepare witnesses for trial and an in-house multimedia department dedicated to producing high-level presentation materials and audiovisual aids. We are of course proud of the landmark legal victories achieved for our clients but we are equally proud of our firm’s commitment to philanthropy and public service. Our Firm provides financial and leadership support to a myriad of not-for-profit organizations impacting the arts, children and families, education, health centers, and legal services in our community and nationally.

Main Areas of Practice:

Banking & Finance:

The firm represents federal and state commercial banks, savings banks and other financial institutions ranging from local independent banks and thrifts to national and large "super-regional" banks and holding companies on matters including commercial and asset-based financing, commercial real estate lending, mergers and acquisitions and securities and regulatory issues, as well as Intercreditor, default and forbearance arrangements.

Business Restructuring:

The firm represents parties in the extension, restructuring and working out of secured and unsecured credit facilities and handles financings secured by assets, including commercial real estate. Experience also includes representing debtors, creditors, trustees, receivers, landlords, asset purchasers, and other parties in bankruptcies, court receiverships, assignment for the benefit of creditors proceedings, and out-of-court workouts. The team handles the defense and prosecution of director and officer liability cases and has litigated complex insolvency-related cases in federal and state courts.

Corporate & Securities:

The firm provides counsel to clients in virtually all areas of business transactions, including formation, day-to-day commercial operations, corporate governance, public and private securities offerings, acquisitions, mergers, sales and liquidations. It quickly identifies business and legal issues and offers clear, practical advice to achieve optimal solutions.

Labor & Employment:

The firm provides employers with practical, business-oriented counseling and works closely with clients to educate and train their managers and employees on workplace issues, audit employment practices, comply with wage-and-hour laws, draft employment agreements, protect trade secrets, realign workforces, and comply with EEO and affirmative action requirements and plans. The firm counsels employers on employee benefits and executive compensation and provides representation in ERISA litigation and before the IRS and DOL on plan audits. Services also include representation at mediation and trial.

Land Development, Zoning & Environmental:

The firm represents clients at federal, state, regional, and local levels on issues involving wetlands, coastal development, greenfields, comprehensive plan amendments, protected species and habitat, property rights, water quality, brownfields, rezoning, contaminated sites, sovereign submerged lands, marinas/docking facilities, due diligence reviews, water use, developments of regional impact, mining, toxic torts, utilities, stormwater management, beach nourishment, variances, platting, development rights transfers, and climate change/coastal resilience. It also provides legal and planning services, related litigation and government affairs representation.

Litigation:

The Litigation team has some of Florida’s most experienced trial lawyers, supported by a deep bench of exceptional young lawyers. The firm represents clients in state and federal trial and appellate courts, before administrative agencies, and in alternative dispute resolution proceedings, including mediation and arbitration. Clients include Fortune 500 corporations, financial institutions, professional firms, life science, insurance, telecommunication, media and entertainment companies, sports franchises, business enterprises, municipalities, and individuals. It represents both plaintiffs and defendants in large high-profile cases across the nation. It has tried to conclusion nearly every kind of business and commercial case, including securities fraud, construction defect, business tort, antitrust, competition, consumer protection, intellectual property, product and lender liability, commercial foreclosure, breach of contract and insurance, and appeals from those cases, including before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Real Estate:

The firm has extensive experience representing buyers, sellers, lenders, investors and developers across commercial and residential real estate transactions, including contract preparation and negotiation, acquisition, financing, project planning and development, construction, leasing, and disposition of real estate and corporate assets. It assists clients with sale-leaseback transactions, 1031 exchanges, loan defeasances, restructurings, and foreclosures, and dispositions of non-performing and distressed loans.

Tax:

The firm represents clients seeking to form, acquire, reorganize, and liquidate public and private business entities and is experienced in guiding clients through tax issues that confront corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, individuals, trusts, and estates. The firm handles tax litigation, representing clients in controversies with the IRS and Florida Department of Revenue.

OFFICES:

CORAL GABLES: 2020 Salzedo Street, 6th Floor, FL 33134

305-461-7400

FORT LAUDERDALE: 200 East Las Olas Boulevard, 21st Floor, FL 33301

954-462-9500

MIAMI (Headquarters): 150 West Flagler Street, Suite 2200, FL 33130

305-789-3200

TALLAHASSEE: 106 East College Avenue, Suite 700, FL 32301

850-580-7200

TAMPA: 401 East Jackson Street, Suite 2100, FL 33602

813-223-4800