Free Consultation
$0 first 20 minutes
While a student at the University of Florida, I served as editor in chief of The Independent Florida Alligator. The experience got me interested in First Amendment and media law issues. After law school, I joined Steel Hector & Davis and had the privilege of working with Talbot "Sandy" D'Alemberte, Donald M. Middlebooks and many other excellent lawyers with that firm. Shortly before I started working with them, Sandy and Don had persuaded the Florida Supreme Court to adopt a new rule allowing television coverage of judicial proceedings. Both were exemplary lawyers, devoting much of their time to public service. Sandy went on to become president of Florida Statute University. Don was appointed a fdeeral judge. I stayed a mere lawyer but have continued over the course of my career to follow the examples that they set.
5
Practice Areas
45 years
45 years
45 years
45 years
Free Consultation
$0 first 20 minutes
Quickly connect with top attorneys through our legal directory to get help with your legal issue.
Chat with a live agent who can match you with the right attorney for your legal needs.
Chat withState: District of Columbia
Acquired: 2011
No misconduct found
State: Florida
Acquired: 1981
No misconduct found
600 Brickell Ave, Suite 3500, Miami, FL, 33131
Showing 1 - 1 of 1 client review from Avvo
Posted by anonymous | November 26, 2016 | Consulted Attorney
Very professional. After our conversation about my potential defamation case he sent me a letter detailing everything to be considered in that case.
Libel and slander lawyer
2015
Top 100 Lawyers in Florida, Super Lawyers
2015
Top 100 Lawyers in Miami, Super Lawyers
2015
First Amendment Litigation Notable Practitioners, Chambers USA
2015
Local Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation
2015
Most Effective Public Interest Lawyer, Daily Business Review
2014
Florida First Amendment Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers in America
2014
Florida Media Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers in America
2014
AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2013
Most Effective Public Interest Lawyer, Daily Business Review
2007
Award of Honor, PEN USA
2005
Most Effective First Amendment Lawyer, Daily Business Review
2016 - Present
Shareholder, Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart
2000 - Present
Partner, Hunton & Williams LLP
1986 - 2000
Partner, Steel Hector & Davis
1981 - 1985
Associate, Steel Hector & Davis
2014 - Present
Union Internationale des Avocats Media Law CommissionMember
1981 - Present
American Bar AssociationMember
2013 - 2015
University of Florida Law Center AssociationBoard of Trustees
2009 - 2010
Florida Bar, Media and Communications Law CommitteeChair
2001 - 2015
Florida BarModerator
1990 - 2015
Media Law Resource Center, Defense Counsel SectionMember
Pending - Interlocutory order requires FBI to submit 80,000 pages of material for in camera review
Summary judgment for defendant,
Order affirming sealing of tape recordings of client’s attorney made without attorney’s consent over opposition of publisher of the San Francisco Bay Guardian.
Award to client of $2.244 million in attorneys' fees and expenses as prevailing party
Affirmance of dismissal of claims for breach of contract and fiduciary duties against Banco Santander arising from Bernie Madoff investments and to invalidate settlement agreement in light of arbitration and forum selection clause in settlement agreement
Declaration in favor of IMS Health, Verispan, and Wolters Kluwer Health that state law prohibiting use of prescriber identifiable information in prescription records violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments
Affirmance of final judgment in favor of ITT Industries
Affirms dismissal of all claims.
Order dismising claim with prejudice on basis of school board member's immunity to suit.
City violated charter by refusing to place referendum on ballot.
Claim dismissed with prejudice.
Order declared Seaman's Wage Act violates Due Process by coercing payment of claims before defenses can be presented.
State laws declared unconstitution and prosecutor enjoined from enforcing the laws.
Order denied due to First Amendment protection of speech.
Case dismissed because defendant had a small number of paid subscribers in Florida and no other contact with Florida.
Consent decree prohibiting sectarian prayers at school board meeting.
Preliminary injunction against protests reversed as violating First Amendment rights of the protesters.
Summary judgment for the defendant.
Affirmance of order allowing photographs to be permanently sealed in accordance with statute passed after commencement of action
Approval of settlement of nationwide class action settlement that requires modification of fleet of 15 passenger cruise ships
Aware reversed.
Reversal of PSC order approving construction of plants that would compete with power plants owned by Florida Power & Light Co.
Affirmance of order dismissing complaint.
Motion fo injunction denied. Video recordings released to the public and press and later used in the making of the motion picture Raw Deal: A Question of Consent
All claims dismissed with prejudice.
Absolute privilege to complain to the Florida Bar recognized.
Preliminary injunction granted and case then settled.
Summary Judgment granted for county on grounds that Public Records Law is preempted by federal Copyright Act.
Summary judgment for defendants affirmed on statute of limitations grounds.
Summary judgment for utility company affirmed.
$25,000 sanction affirmed
All records ordered released.
Case dismissed with prejudice.
Order permits inspection of photographs by the public and the press, but not copying.
Summary judgment for the defendants on ground that plaintiff was a public figure and failed to show actual malice
Reversal of order denying Rule 11 sanctions and requiring imposition of sanction against the importer and its counsel
Jury verdict for defendants.
Ordinance upheld as constitutional.
Judgment for plaintiff reversed in light of D'oench Duhme doctrine preventing liabilities from being created in the absence of a writing
Summary judgment for the defendants.
Stipulation to entry of permanent injunction against secret ballots.
Preliminary injunction denied.
Jury verdict for defendants after remand concluded that actual malice evidence presented triable issues of fact
Affirmance of jury verdict for The Franklin Life Insurance Co. against multi-million dollar libel and tortious interference claims.
Summary judgment for the defendants on ground that plaintiff was public figure who failed to prove actual malice.
Summary judgment for Newsweek due to reliance on wire service report.
University's defense that federal and state privacy laws require names to be withheld rejected.
Injunction against closure of meetings affirmed.
1981
law
1978
BA - Bachelor of Arts
2015
Secret Recordings: How and When They Can be Done
2015
First Amendment Decisions of the US Supreme Court
2015
Peut-On Rire du Tout?
2015
Peut-On Rire du Tout (Can We Laugh at Everything)
2014
Libel: The Scourge of News Reporters
2014
Protection of Journalists and Their Sources
2014
Protection of Journalists and Their Sources
2013
Libel in Elections
2013
Advertising in the Digital Age
2013
The Impact of the Declaration of Chapultepec: A 20th Anniversary Retrospective
2012
The Next Big Thing: First Amendment Protection of Data Mining
2011
Commercial Speech
2015
2014
2012
2012
2012
2012
1987
1983
English