Nine weeks ago, we walked through Bilzin Sumberg’s doors eager to learn what it meant to practice law at one of South Florida’s leading firms. Since then, we’ve had the opportunity to work on challenging assignments, learn from exceptional attorneys, and build relationships with people who have made this summer as rewarding personally as it has been professionally. Looking back, it’s remarkable how much can happen in just one summer.

As this chapter comes to a close, it seems fitting to end with what is becoming a Bilzin Sumberg summer tradition. For the past several years, each summer associate class has celebrated the people who made the experience memorable by handing out a few unofficial superlatives. With a tradition now beginning to take shape, the Summer Associates of 2026 are excited to carry it forward. To that end, we are honored to present the recipients of the prestigious 2026 Summer Associates’ Superlative Awards:

  • Associate GPT: Sanika Nanda
  • Best Barista: Marie Chavarri
  • Best Dressed (Even on Fridays): Al Dotson
  • Best Emergency Contact: Jessica Buchsbaum
  • Best Storyteller: Sarah Melore
  • Bougiest Lunch: The Davids (David Resnick & David Seifer)
  • Honorary Summer Associate: Lucas Pizzutti
  • Least Capable of Frowning: John Trach
  • Master of the Mock Deal: Brittany Chung-Blair
  • Most Likely to Reply Before You Hit Send: Betsi Guerrero
  • Most Spirited: The Tax Department
  • Most Trusting of the Summer Associates: Adrian Felix & Sara Herald
  • Office Athlete: Jennifer Wioncek
  • Office Comedian: Maria Febles
  • Open Door Policy Hall of Fame: Ken Duvall
  • Red Pen Royalty: Kelly Melchiondo

While these superlatives celebrate just a few of the people who made this summer memorable, they represent the countless individuals who contributed to our experience along the way. Thank you for trusting us with substantive work, investing in our development, and creating an environment where we felt supported from day one. We leave with new skills, lasting friendships, and memories that will stay with us throughout our careers. We are grateful for every opportunity and every person who made this summer so special.

Sincerely,

The Summer Associate Class of 26’

I was very involved in the summer program at my former accounting firm. I assigned work, gave evaluations, and led tax preparation trainings for interns in different practice groups. Just last year I was a tax professional mentoring others; now I am a student being mentored.

Having been on the other side of things, I can see how Bilzin Sumberg designs its summer program with intentionality. Most of the posts on this blog are about the events that each practice group has taken us to this summer, but the events are more than just a fun night out with food and drinks. The real value is that the events are a topic of conversation between summer associates and attorneys throughout the summer, in hallways and at lunches, that helps us build relationships with each other.

Summer associates are also encouraged to take at least one assignment outside of their area of interest during the summer. This isn’t to convince us to switch to another practice area, but it’s to meet and build connections with all attorneys at the firm. To the other transactional-minded summer associates reading this blog, I promise that litigation assignments aren’t as scary as they sound!

The summer program is ending in a few days, and I’m very thankful to the recruiting team for designing a program that integrates us summer associates so well into the firm. Swapping my window office overlooking Brickell for a cubicle on the second floor of my school library will be a tough trade to make when I return to campus in a few weeks, but it will be comforting to remember that I’ll be returning to Bilzin Sumberg next summer. And to the law students who will be joining us as summer associates next year- we look forward to meeting and working with you!

I still remember walking into the office on my first day, pen and paper in hand, ready to soak up all the information I could. Now, somehow, I’m sitting down to write my final blog post of the summer. Eight of our nine weeks have already gone by. Where did the time go?

Looking back, a few things stand out about what made this summer at Bilzin Sumberg so memorable.

Substantive Work

One of the greatest things about your summer at Bilzin Sumberg is how involved you get in real projects. The firm pushes us to get broad exposure across practice areas, and allowed me to jump into assignments involving real estate, corporate, affordable housing, and litigation. Most of my summer focused on real estate projects, where I spent a significant amount of my time drafting and reviewing leases, performing due diligence on properties, attending client calls, and following deals with partners from start to finish. It was the kind of hands-on experience that made law school reading feel like a distant memory.

Trainings

Of course, we didn’t just get thrown into the ring without warming up first. The first few weeks were packed with trainings — with a mix of practical sessions teaching us things like how to bill, alongside sessions directly applicable to our daily work, like how to effectively use new AI systems to assist our work. Those early weeks gave us the foundation to make the most of the assignments that followed.

Social Events

From firm happy hours and lunches (see my last post), to department events (see almost every blog post before this one), to events at client offices, us summers were treated to a great time. These moments not only gave us more insight into the level of work that gets done at Bilzin Sumberg but gave us insight into the quality of people who do it.

Between the deals, the deadlines, the trainings, and the social events, this summer flew by faster than I ever expected. As a rising 3L, this was my one opportunity to experience being a summer associate at Bilzin Sumberg, and it was unforgettable. Thank you to all who made this summer so memorable, I’ll miss it dearly.

 

One of the first things I heard about the Bilzin Sumberg summer program was that it flies by. With my second summer now winding down, I can confirm that this is true. Somehow, my second summer went by faster than my first, and while I’m excited to begin the last chapter of my law school career, I will certainly miss the people I had a chance to spend time with over the last couple of months.

There is an oft-said joke at Bilzin that being a Summer Associate is the best job at the firm. Certainly, this point has merit, because no other position at this firm provides you with free food and a schedule packed with fun events. However, the single best part of the summer program is the lasting and meaningful connections you make with both your summer class as well as attorneys throughout the firm. The opportunity to spend two summers here has allowed those connections to grow into something more than professional acquaintance. Attorneys who were assigning me projects last year now feel like colleagues and mentors — people who know my strengths, push me to improve, and take a genuine interest in where my career is headed.

The work followed the same trajectory. Spending most of my summer with the Land Use & Government Affairs team, I briefed City Commission agenda items, worked through Miami 21 entitlement questions, and saw firsthand how the firm operates at the intersection of law, government, and the city itself. I also took on environmental and regulatory research in a transactional context — the kind of assignment where you start with a question nobody has a quick answer to and end with a memo a partner will actually rely on. That’s a very different kind of pressure than a law school exam, and a far better one.

Two summers in, my takeaway is simple: the work here is substantive, the mentorship is genuine, and Miami isn’t just a backdrop — it’s part of the practice. I’m grateful to everyone who invested their time in me, and I’m looking forward to what comes next.

When most people think of the Miami Dolphins, they probably picture touchdowns, packed stadiums, and Sundays during football season. What they don’t usually picture? Lawyers.

One of the highlights of our summer was getting a behind-the-scenes tour of the Miami Dolphins Training Facility, where we had the opportunity to meet with the team’s General Counsel and see firsthand what happens long before the players ever take the field.

Our visit kicked off with a conversation about the Dolphins’ longstanding relationship with Bilzin Sumberg and the wide variety of legal matters the firm handles for the organization—from real estate development to litigation. It was a great reminder that behind every successful sports franchise is an equally impressive business operation, supported by teams of professionals working behind the scenes.

After that, it was time to explore.

One of the coolest stops on the tour was the draft room—the NFL equivalent of a war room. With draft boards displayed across the monitors and strategy taking center stage, it wasn’t hard to imagine the intensity of draft night and all the preparation that goes into every pick. Seeing the room where those decisions are made gave us an entirely new appreciation for just how much planning happens before a player’s name is ever called.

We also visited the team meeting room where players review game film, the dining hall where they refuel, and the position-group meeting rooms where game plans come to life. Every space had a purpose, and every detail reflected the preparation required to compete at the highest level.

Then there were the things that made us stop and laugh.

First, the famous metal slide in the weight room. Naturally, everyone wanted to know if we could try it. The answer? Not until the Dolphins win a Super Bowl ring. Whether it’s superstition or simply team tradition, we’ll leave that one to the experts.

Then came the 175-pound dumbbells, which raised one very important question: what exercise possibly requires those? I’m not sure I want to know the answer.

And perhaps the biggest takeaway of the day: everything is… well, bigger. The locker room chairs, the medical treatment chairs, even the booths in the dining area had taller backs and larger seats. It makes perfect sense when you remember these spaces were designed for NFL players, but seeing it in person really puts into perspective just how massive these athletes are.

We wrapped up the afternoon with a happy hour overlooking the practice fields and Hard Rock Stadium. With FIFA underway, the stadium was in the middle of its own transformation, as Dolphins branding had been covered to prepare for one of the world’s biggest sporting events. It was a fitting reminder that great venues—and great organizations—are constantly adapting for what’s next.

From learning about the legal work that supports an NFL franchise to getting an inside look at where players train, prepare, and strategize, the day offered a unique perspective on the business behind the game. And while I’ll happily leave the 175-pound dumbbells to the professionals, I wouldn’t mind another visit to the draft room.

One of the things that has impressed me most about Bilzin Sumberg‘s summer program is that it doesn’t just introduce us to the firm’s practice—it introduces us to Miami itself. Last week, the firm’s Government Relations and Land Development Practice Group organized one of my favorite summer associate events of the summer: a guided walking tour through the heart of Little Havana.

The Guayabera and the Garage

Our afternoon began on the iconic Calle Ocho, where our guide introduced us to one of Cuba’s most recognizable traditions: the guayabera. At the Havana Shirt Store, we learned about the history of the shirt, from its origins in Cuba to the practical inspiration behind its signature four-pocket design, which was created so workers could carry freshly picked guavas while harvesting. The real surprise came when our guide took us around the back of the store, where the owner keeps a personal collection of antique vehicles, the kind you’d expect to see cruising down the streets of Havana.

Fuel for the Walk

No visit to Little Havana would be complete without experiencing its food, and our next stop delivered exactly that. At Party Cake Bakery, we enjoyed a classic Miami pairing: a crispy croqueta alongside a sweet guava pastry, all accompanied by a strong cafecito. It was the perfect mid-tour pick-me-up and a reminder of how deeply Cuban culture has shaped Miami’s culinary identity.

Cigars, History, and Art

We continued on to Cuban Style Cigars, where we learned about the painstaking craftsmanship behind hand-rolled cigars. Before the tour, I had never considered how much time and precision goes into producing a single cigar. From selecting and aging the tobacco to rolling, pressing, and curing, the process can take months before a cigar is finally ready to enjoy.

As we explored Calle Ocho, it became clear that Little Havana is far more than its restaurants and storefronts. Colorful murals, public art, and the neighborhood’s iconic rooster sculptures lined the streets, celebrating the culture, resilience, and creativity of the Cuban community. We also visited the Bay of Pigs monument, where we learned about an important chapter in Cuban history and discussed the political and religious traditions that continue to shape the Cuban-American community today.

One phrase appeared throughout the neighborhood on murals and artwork: Patria y Vida—”Homeland and Life.” More than just a slogan, it has become a powerful symbol of hope, freedom, and the aspirations of the Cuban people for a brighter future. Seeing those words woven throughout Little Havana was a reminder that the neighborhood is not simply a place to experience Cuban culture—it is a community that preserves its history while continuing to shape its future.

The Grand Finale: Food (and More Food)

For lunch, we stopped at Old’s Havana Cuban Bar & Cocina, where we sampled several Cuban favorites. Between the ropa vieja, congri, sweet plantains, and the iconic Cuban sandwich, there was no shortage of incredible food. To complete the experience, we toasted with two equally classic Cuban cocktails: a mojito and a Cuba Libre.

Of course, no food tour would be complete without dessert. We wrapped up our culinary adventure at Azúcar!, one of Little Havana’s most beloved ice cream shops. Named after the famous catchphrase of Cuban music legend Celia Cruz, the shop celebrates Cuban culture through both its name and its creative flavors, making it a fitting final stop on the tour.

More Than a Tour

Our afternoon in Little Havana offered much more than great food and memorable sights. It provided a deeper appreciation for the history, traditions, and people that have made Miami the vibrant, multicultural city it is today. Experiences like these are one of the many reasons this summer has been so rewarding, and I am grateful to Bilzin Sumberg for creating opportunities to connect with both my colleagues and the community we serve.

As we move on to the Round of 32 in this year’s World Cup, the frequency of matches is slowing down, but the intensity is picking up. Draws are out, shootouts are in, and if a team doesn’t win, they’re out. Just as Team USA will be giving it their all this Wednesday in their match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the 2026 Bilzin Sumberg Summer Associate Class is taking no prisoners when it comes to our in-office festivities.

As my fellow summers and I have previously written about, Bilzin Sumberg is holding a number of raffles and competitions to win tickets to World Cup games and VIP access to the FIFA Fan Festival at Bayfront Park. While office bingo and the summer associate scavenger hunt were both fun and lighthearted, the competition for best decorated office is way more serious. Each department has decorated a desk, hallway, or an office, and the bar was set high for the Summer Associate class as we looked to jointly enter the competition.

Nicole Shaked was our fearless leader in taking this task and making it her own. As the creative one in the group, she took charge of getting all the decorations and even volunteered her office as the one we would use in our entry to the competition. The rest of us helped with the legwork by unwrapping everything and helping set Nicole’s office up as she saw fit.

My job was to hang streamers on the ceiling. People walking by definitely saw me stepping all over Nicole’s desk, but it will all have been worth it if we end up winning this contest. I wiped down Nicole’s desk afterwards so she doesn’t have to review case law while staring at a bunch of Cole Haan shoe marks- Nicole, let me know if I missed a spot.

Our finished product was better than what we thought we would have when we started this journey. To all of this blog’s dedicated followers, please let us know how we did. If the next post you read is about our experience at Miami’s next World Cup game, you’ll know who won this competition.

At Bilzin Sumberg, between the substantive assignments, attorney tag-alongs, and packed calendar of firm events, one unwritten rule quietly reigns supreme: lunch.

While nobody will hand you a checklist or mandate it, the firm advocates for summer associates to grab lunch with as many attorneys as possible throughout the program. With two-thirds of the summer behind me, I can happily report that I have not gone a single day without sitting down for lunch with at least one attorney (and from what I can tell, my fellow summers are holding the same streak). That’s no accident; it’s a reflection of the kind of culture Bilzin Sumberg actively cultivates.

So, if you’re an incoming summer associate, a law student considering the firm, or just curious as to what it’s like to be well fed, here’s a simple, two-step guide.

Step 1: Reach out.

It sounds obvious, and at first it may feel intimidating to blindly reach out, but don’t overthink it. Every attorney I’ve approached has been genuinely enthusiastic about getting lunch. A quick email or a stop by someone’s office and to introduce yourself is all it takes. Just plan the lunch!

Step 2: Pick a spot.

Summer in the Magic City means you’re spoiled for choice. Here are the two standout stars from the rotation:

Felice — practically attached to the building, Felice is the neighborhood anchor of Bilzin Sumberg lunches. The first lunch I scheduled with an attorney was here, so thanks for starting me off strong, Karyl Argamasilla. The fresh pasta and salads are excellent, and you’ll spot about ten familiar faces every time you walk in. A word of advice: if you’re grabbing lunch with Melissa Pallett-Vasquez, ask her about her favorite Italian spot, Mamo. She’s a big fan of their Diet Coke.

Paper Fish — The firm’s go-to for sushi. My first mentor lunch with Sean Gleason was here, and I’ve probably been back about 5 more times. Simple, solid sushi. Fair warning: they recently changed the lunch menu and threw everyone for a loop. We’re still adjusting. However, I’ve been converted to a huge Obba fan over the last two weeks (thanks to Mike Morgan and Ethan Schwab). Sorry not sorry to all the Paper Fish loyalists out there.

Of course, Miami has more restaurants than we know what to do with, but given how good these two are and how close they are to the office, they’re where you’ll be enjoying a lot of your time.

Why We Love Lunch

What ties all of these meals together is something that goes well beyond the food. Each lunch is an opportunity to learn about a practice group you haven’t worked with yet, about someone’s path to the firm, or about what a career in real estate, litigation, or land use actually looks like day to day. More often than not, these conversations lead to new assignments, which deepen those relationships further. By the time the summer wraps up, the attorneys you lunched with won’t just be names on a firm directory, they’ll be people who know your work, your interests, and your potential. That, more than any single deal or memo, might be the most valuable thing a summer associate walks away with.

With the World Cup in full swing, and Miami serving as one of the host cities, soccer fever has officially taken over the office.

The transformation has been hard to miss. Decorations have been steadily going up around the office, turning ordinary hallways and common areas into a celebration of the beautiful game we all become fans of every four years. The crown jewel, without question, is the mini soccer field on the 23rd floor. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just passing through, you’ll almost certainly have to repress the urge to take a penalty kick when you come across it.

The summer associates have been especially fortunate beneficiaries of all the excitement. We were lucky enough to receive our own World Cup merch bags filled with a hat, scarf, miniature soccer ball, and more. But the festivities haven’t stopped there. The firm has been running raffles for game tickets, giving lucky winners the chance to experience the tournament in person. Unfortunately, I have not yet been selected, but I am not giving up!

This week, the summers also took on a labor of love: we spent a full hour decorating fellow summer Nicole Shaked’s office in full World Cup spirit—our entry in the firm’s office decorating competition, where the best room takes home a prize. Nicole assures us that we all stand to gain from the prize, but I personally think she may have enlisted us to her own exclusive benefit – time will tell! Jokes aside, if you find yourself with a free moment, make your way up to the 24th floor and appreciate our handiwork in person.

Between the decorations, the merch, the raffles, and the general air of friendly competition, World Cup fever has made for an unforgettable few weeks at Bilzin. It’s just one more reminder that the summer program here is about more than the work—it’s about being part of a community that knows how to celebrate together.

Many of us arrived at Wynwood Padel Club on June 16 believing that an hour of instruction would be enough to turn us into competent padel players. By the end of the evening, the summer associates had learned two important lessons: padel is much harder than it looks, and the attorneys in Bilzin Sumberg’s Tax, Trusts & Estates Group have been quietly hiding some serious athletic talent.

The group gathered for an evening of padel, friendly competition, and plenty of laughs. Set against the backdrop of a classic Miami summer night, the event gave summer associates the opportunity to spend time with attorneys outside the office while testing our skills on the court. As it turned out, some members of the TT&E Group were far more skilled than many of us anticipated.

To get us started, the instructors led a warm-up and introduced the fundamentals of padel. During the drills, many of us began feeling surprisingly confident. At one point, after a few successful shots, I jokingly told the instructor that if I practiced every day for two weeks, I could probably become really good at padel. Without hesitation, he laughed and informed me that I was simply “not a natural.” The comment quickly became one of the funniest moments of the evening and, in hindsight, a fairly accurate assessment.

The lesson gave us a chance to learn the basics and sharpen our skills, but once the matches began, we quickly realized that returning practice shots is very different from competing in a live game. Ellina and I spent time practicing with the coach and entered the matches feeling ready to dominate. Unfortunately, our confidence may have developed faster than our actual padel abilities.

One of the highlights of the evening was a doubles match featuring Alex Denault and me against Ellina and Nellie. The match was competitive, energetic, and full of laughs. While our team managed to come away with a victory that round, everyone on the court was having too much fun to worry too much about the score.

Of course, as the evening went on, it became increasingly clear that the attorneys had been holding out on us. Jenn Wioncek was undoubtedly one of the stars of the night. Watching her play was honestly intimidating. Her athleticism was impossible to miss, and I personally decided it was best to admire her game from a safe distance rather than find myself on the opposite side of the net. If her Division I basketball days are behind her, her athletic career is certainly not.

Not everyone spent the evening on the court. Jessica once again embraced her role as the group’s premier spectator, cheering everyone on from the sidelines and helping keep the energy high throughout the event. Between matches, attorneys and summer associates had the opportunity to catch up, share stories, and enjoy spending time together outside of the office.

If the event taught us anything, it is that the attorneys of the Tax, Trusts & Estates Group are far more athletic than they let on. Should a future showdown between the attorneys and summer associates ever take place, the smart money would almost certainly be on the attorneys.

Overall, the event was a fantastic opportunity to connect with colleagues, enjoy some friendly competition, and experience one of Miami’s fastest-growing sports. It was an evening filled with laughter, new connections, and memorable moments both on and off the court—a perfect example of the camaraderie that makes Bilzin Sumberg such a special place to spend the summer.