Howard J. Berlin

Edward Diaz is in the firm's Litigation Section and primarily practices in the areas of Labor and Employment law. Mr. Diaz has represented numerous employers in non-compete cases and in litigation of employment discrimination claims before federal and state courts, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Florida Commission on Human Relations. Mr. Diaz provides counsel to employers on a wide range of issues, including management training, employment audits, drafting employment cont...

Michael E. Hantman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Michael E., who practices law in Miami, Florida, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael Bruno focuses his practice on domestic and international tax planning for multinational companies, funds, and entrepreneurial families. Michael has written numerous articles on international tax planning and frequently submits comments on statutory & regulatory promulgations. As a strong proponent for pro bono legal services, Michael founded the Transactional Equal Justice Program with Legal Services of Greater Miami, which offers free legal advice to non-profits and low-to-modera...

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...

Carl A. Fornaris is Co-Chair of the firm's Financial Regulatory and Compliance Practice. With 20 years of legal experience, Carl concentrates his practice on the representation of financial services firms in all aspects of their business. In particular, he represents U.S. and non-U.S. firms on finance and corporate matters, and provides supervisory and compliance counseling for institutions regulated by the Federal Reserve, OCC, FDIC, FinCEN, CFPB, SEC, FINRA, Florida Office of Financial Regu...

Jordan B. Taylor is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Jordan B., who practices law in Miami, Florida, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jordan B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Gabriela C. Botifoll is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Gabriela C., who practices law in Miami, Florida, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Gabriela C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

William E. Turner II is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of FinTech Practice. William E., who practices law in Miami, Florida, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which William E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Robert Burlington is Managing Member and co-founder of the firm. In his more than 35 years of practice, he has litigated and tried to completion a wide variety of jury and non-jury trials in state and federal courts. He has served as lead counsel in multiple arbitrations. These cases include business torts, commercial and real estate contract disputes, securities transactions, class actions, as well as many aspects of state and federal employment litigation. He has built his practice by assis...

Dale Hightower was born and raised in Lakeland, Florida, a town between Tampa and Orlando. He grew up loving adventures on the water, paddling a canoe and fishing alone in nearby lakes. His leadership skills became apparent in his youth as he was an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts, Senior Class President at Lakeland High School, and Student Body President at Florida Southern College. He also was elected Student Body President at Cumberland Law School in Alabama. After law school, he began worki...