Steven J. Wernick

Norman J. Benford counsels high-net-worth individuals and families in connection with estate planning and other complex tax issues, as well as business succession and other non-tax family matters. Norm also counsels individuals and institutions serving as fiduciaries of estates, trusts and guardianships in connection with administrative matters and disputes with the Internal Revenue Service.

Nicholas Barshel practices in the area of land use and development, representing clients in all aspects of the development approval process including due diligence review, planning and zoning applications, submerged lands issues, dock and marina permits, historic preservation, code compliance, and other aspects of complex land use and zoning matters with federal, state, and local agencies. He has assisted clients in development of major projects across South Florida and beyond, including the ...

Shareholder, Registered Patent Attorney Nationally recognized as one of Florida’s go-to intellectual property litigation specialists, Robert Thornburg has developed a reputation over the last 15 years in bet-your-business patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret and technology focused litigations on behalf of both international and Florida based businesses. Registered to practice before the United States Patent & Trademark Office, Robert is a Miami Patent Attorney who has filed so...

Andres Mendoza focuses his practice on the areas of mergers and acquisitions, private investment funds, joint ventures, securities, and corporate governance. Andres has represented public and private companies in a broad range of transactions including mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, tender offers, joint ventures, private placements, and private fund formations.

Michael Austin focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation matters, arbitration and regulatory investigation matters, with a particular emphasis in the healthcare industry. Michael serves as co-chair of the firm’s healthcare litigation team, and represents a wide range of healthcare clients, including health systems, hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, diagnostic imaging companies, home health agencies, and medical and physician practice. Mike handles a variety of complex ...

Alex obtained his J.D. degree from the George Washington University in 1996. Currently, Alex handles litigation and arbitration matters in complex commercial disputes, defamation, franchising, real estate, and trade secret disputes in state and federal courts. Alex has also served as an arbitrator in disputes involving other parties. He is a member of the Florida Bar and is admitted to practice in United States District Courts for the Southern District of Florida, Middle District of Florida, ...

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...

Melissa Tapanes Llahues is a nationally recognized land use and zoning attorney, strategic advisor, and civic leader shaping the built environment across South Florida. As a shareholder and Chief Executive Officer of Bercow Radell Fernandez Larkin & Tapanes, PLLC, she operates at the intersection of law, policy, and urban strategy—guiding complex development projects from vision to entitlement to realization. Melissa represents institutional investors, landowners, and developers in ...

Carol Faber has extensive experience representing clients for more than 30 years in a wide range of real estate transactions, including financing, leasing, and acquisition and sale transactions. Her financing experience includes representing borrowers and lenders in mortgage loans, ranging from several million dollars to hundreds of millions of dollars, on vacant land and developed property of all kinds, including industrial property, office buildings, shopping centers, hotels, condominiums, ...

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 ...