First and foremost, I am a trial attorney who fights for people. I represent women and men who have suffered as a result of unlawful employment practices, such as discrimination or retaliation, are facing criminal charges, or have been victims of sexual abuse. I have represented clients in state and federal court and have taken cases to trial in state court, federal court, and arbitration. In challenging unfair employment practices, I have represented executives and employees suing for defamation, age discrimination, national origin discrimination, sexual harassment, and whistleblower claims. In fighting for victims sexually abused by teachers, pastors, therapists, and coaches, I have sued the school board, private entities, churches, religious associations, and athletic associations that employed them and failed to protect the individuals they served. I have held numerous insurance companies to account for failing to pay property damage claims for hard-working, decent people who simply want to fix their homes and live in a clean and habitable place. I truly believe that more than the money, for many of my clients, seeing that they were not helpless and having their rights enforced brought them great satisfaction. I am privileged to have helped to bring that about.

 

I have tried nearly thirty cases to juries in state and federal courts as well as before arbitrators and have both civil and criminal trial experience. I have also tried a number of cases to a judge in "bench" trials. While not every case must go to trial, I believe each case must be prepared as if it will. Only by doing that can you achieve optimal results. My criminal trial successes include three full acquittals in a single month of three separate clients all facing prison time on felony charges, including a full acquittal of a client facing two counts that each carried a twenty-year mandatory prison sentence. Nothing has given me as much satisfaction as watching my client leave the courtroom through the front door, acquitted and with dignity. I am proudest of my work as a public defender, representing people who need help the most and are facing the loss of their liberty, often due to unfair and illegal stops and searches, gross overcharging, and disproportional sentencing. Before becoming a public defender, I was a federal law clerk, and an associate at an international law firm in New York practicing corporate bankruptcy and litigation. Before starting my own firm, I was a partner in a boutique plaintiff's firm here in Miami.

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My passion is helping people get justice against powerful interests and restoring their belief in our legal system.

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Education

Georgia Institute of Technology, with highest honors (B.S. 2003)

Emory University School of Law, with honors (J.D. 2007)

 

Bar Admissions

Florida

New York

North Carolina (inactive)

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Court Admissions

Florida (all courts)

District Court, Southern District of Florida

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Clerkship

The Honorable Robert E. Gerber, Southern District of New York Bankruptcy Court

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