Eleanor T. Barnett

Jason Vaupen focuses his practice on complex commercial real estate transactions, including the acquisition, disposition, development, financing, and leasing of properties nationwide. He represents some of the nation’s largest and most sophisticated private equity funds, developers, operators and family offices in their retail, multi-family, hotel, office, industrial, and self-storage deals. Additionally, he specializes in representing fund partners, investors and sponsors in real estat...

Eduardo Leal is a corporate partner in the Miami office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. His practice focuses on complex corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions and private equity investments.

Marbet Lewis focuses her practice on the laws governing the alcohol industry and the manufacture, importation, and sale of alcohol beverage products. She represents clients in all aspects of alcohol and business licensing, alcohol licensee mergers and acquisitions, negotiation of asset purchase agreements and required alcohol use provisions, license transfers and licensing due diligence, trade practices, alcohol product advertising and review of marketing agreements, importation agreements, l...

Velvel is a founding partner of Freedman Normand Friedland LLP. Vel is an experienced litigator known for finding creative solutions to complex problems. His practice focuses on high-risk litigation that includes consumer class actions, international disputes, and cryptocurrency/blockchain lawsuits. Vel’s clients value his responsiveness, creative solutions, and ability to achieve successful outcomes while balancing the needs of running a business. Vel’s practice spans a diverse a...

Stephen focuses on complex litigation and appeals. He has tried cases to verdict in state and federal courts and has argued more than 50 appeals. His practice spans class actions, personal injury, aviation accidents, complex commercial disputes, defamation, professional malpractice, and whistleblower claims. His abilities have been recognized in numerous publications. Benchmark Appellate observed that Stephen “possesses the rare skill set allowing him to excel at both trial and appellat...

Melissa Tapanes Llahues has made her mark not only in the legal profession but also in the greater Miami community. She became a named partner at Bercow Radell Fernandez Larkin and Tapanes, PLLC in 2020. Melissa represents the interests of landowners, institutional clients, and developers seeking real estate licensing and regulatory approvals from governmental boards and agencies at the local, state and federal levels. She specializes in managing complex and politically sensitive legislative ...

Paul F. Penichet is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Paul F., who practices law in Miami, Florida, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Paul F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Chris Hammon practices in the areas of labor and employment litigation, arbitration, counseling, and investigation. He represents management in all variety of employment disputes before federal and state courts and administrative agencies and before various arbitral tribunals. Mr. Hammon also provides human resources counseling advice to employers on compliance and employee management and relations issues.Mr. Hammon has experience representing employers in a wide range of industries, with par...

Scott J. Bakal develops tax-planning strategies for closely held family businesses, partnerships, and publicly held corporations with significant domestic and international operations. Scott works closely with high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and entrepreneurial companies to develop elegant, tax-sensitive approaches to their complex business transactions, financial situations, estate planning matters, and real estate investments, as well as to pursue tax efficiency throughout their ...

Carl Roston serves as Co-Chair of Akerman’s Corporate Practice Group. Ranked by Chambers USA, which notes Carl does “very sophisticated, high-level deals,” he represents private equity funds, public and private companies and large family offices in domestic and cross border acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, joint ventures, co-investments, growth capital investments, debt and equity financings, and securities offerings. He represents portfolio companies of p...