Although I have enjoyed all of my summer assignments at Bilzin Sumberg, I have particularly enjoyed my Corporate & Securities assignments. During last week’s mid-summer review, I expressed this interest to Jessica and Marshall. The next day, I was able to involve myself in two assignments that have given me an amazing exposure to what day-to-day Corporate work may entail.

In one assignment, Michael Levine and I are working with Steve Lear on the sale of a company. Steve and Ruben have been particularly welcoming to Michael and I and really make us feel a part of the “team.” Specifically, we are working on the due diligence aspect of the deal. This means that we are reviewing several agreements and analyzing them for specific clauses. In my other assignment, I am working with Andy Mendoza and Marshall Pasternack. Like Steve and Ruben, Andy and Marshall have been patient with all of my questions. However, in this assignment, instead of working on due diligence, I am helping to draft various forms that need to be produced in order to close the deal.

From the first day of the summer program, we were encouraged to take assignments from all of the practice groups. Doing so has allowed me to narrow down my interests. I would definitely encourage future summer associates to keep an open mind regarding practice areas. You never know, you just may end up liking Corporate work!

Last Tuesday, the summer associates had mid-summer reviews to discuss our experiences and work products thus far.  I am happy to report that we all lived to tell the tale, despite Michael’s joking throughout the day that he had been ordered to pack up and go (after finishing his latest assignment, of course).
 
The review process was remarkably painless.  With less than half of our time here remaining, the main focus of the meeting was to ensure that, going forward, we have the tools and experiences that we need from the firm to make decisions about which departments we hope to be placed in and which partners we would prefer to work with.
 
Our supervisors immediately set about meeting the requests we voiced during our reviews.  During my meeting, I requested to sit in on a deposition and to work on a litigation-focused Insolvency project.  The next morning, I was presented with two deposition tag-along opportunities for next week.  By Thursday, I was assigned my litigation-focused Insolvency project, which I completed today.
 

Bilzin Sumberg‘s attention to what we summers want for ourselves is one of the greatest strengths of the program.  We have a great deal of flexibility to forge our own paths here and experience the type of work that most interests us.

King Lear, My Fair Lady, Hootie & the Blowfish. Although these three things probably have very little to do with each other, they were each noted last night when the summer associate class, thanks to Amy Podolsky’s suggestion, decided to partake in trivia night at Fado in Mary Brickell Village after work. Although we spend time together at the office, from working side-by-side for projects to lunches and firm events, it has become clear how much the summer class enjoys each other’s company. Not to mention how much we enjoy playing trivia!

It was not our first time getting together outside of work, but, it was definitely one of our most fun. We had a great time identifying famous movies, songs, and random facts, while munching on mini-burgers, fish tacos, and fries. It was another chance for the group to get to know each other outside of work and bond.

Bilzin Sumberg  is a very collegial place to work and that same atmosphere translates outside the workplace as well, which is something I definitely appreciate. Even though we did not win the ultimate prize, the Bilzin Bunch still had a great time—besides, there is always next week.

 

Our view from the suite

I was invited to watch a Marlin’s game with attorneys from the Real Estate Department and employees from Rialto, a real estate investment and management company with whom our firm works closely.  Eager to see the new stadium and become acquainted with a client that I’ve heard much about, I quickly accepted the invitation.

As anticipated, I was able to spend meaningful time with attorneys from the Real Estate Department, get to know employees from Rialto, and enjoy all the Miami Marlin’s Stadium has to offer.  Many employees from Rialto shared my South Florida upbringing, background in finance, and were in my peer group.  We were able to enjoy an indoor box that opened up onto private outdoor seating.  The set-up provided us the opportunity to cheer on the Marlins from the stands and return inside for food and drinks during breaks in action.  I could not think of a better way to enjoy the sport while spending time with coworkers and clients.

Although Bilzin Sumberg is located in Miami, Bilzin’s clients come from across the state, nation, and around the world.  A few weeks ago, I learned just how far Bilzin’s reach is.  I was assigned a project which spans the course of July assisting Marty Steinberg, Jeff Gutchess and Rafael Ribeiro with an international arbitration involving multinational companies.  Each week I meet with the attorneys to receive my assignments for the case.  Luckily for me, the week-long arbitration will take place right here in Miami and I will have the opportunity to assist and observe the attorneys throughout the week.

The fact that the arbitration is in Miami is no surprise as the city has become a hotspot for international matters.  Miami’s unique culture and location make it especially desirable for commercial disputes pertaining to Latin America.

Last week I had the opportunity to talk about this trend at lunch with Jose Ferrer, a partner in litigation with a significant amount of international experience.  Jose and I spoke about his practice as well as the article which he had just written, featured on Law360, titled: “South Florida: Latin America’s International Arbitration Destination.”

Notably, as Jose explained, many large Latin America companies have regional headquarters in South Florida.  Additionally, Florida’s Arbitration Act allows foreigners to act as arbitrators and participate as attorneys, encouraging parties to arbitrate in the state.  It’s no surprise that the International Council for Commercial Arbitration will hold its legal conference here in Miami in 2014.  Speaking with Jose  made me even more excited to be working on an arbitration assignment and to be working in Miami.  I am certainly looking forward to attending the arbitration in a couple of weeks.

This past Monday, I had the opportunity to accompany a senior associate in the litigation department, on a tag-along to the 17th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida for a hearing on a motion to compel arbitration. Prior to going to the hearing, I helped him research key issues regarding the motion, as well as finding and taking advantage of weaknesses in opposing counsel’s response to our motion. Overall, working with him was a great experience. Not only did he give me great latitude in developing my own arguments, he also incorporated my feedback and research in our response.

The day of the hearing we had lunch with Judge David Haimes, a judge in the criminal division. It was great getting to know him and learning his perspective on the legal market, legal education, and the intricacies of state and federal judgeships.  His hearing began soon after lunch was over. Observing him in action turned out to be a great learning opportunity, and his calm demeanor in front of the judge is a style I plan to emulate. Overall, this was an amazing experience.

As a law student, I am regularly asked, “So, what kind of law do you want to practice?”. Between my classes, co-curriculars, and last summer’s experience, I think I have an idea. But really, I’m not yet certain. Studying law is so different than actually practicing it. 

For this reason, one of the many things that I have found impressive about Bilzin’s summer program is how much we are encouraged to take assignments from a variety of practice groups. So far, I’ve done assignments in Litigation, Land Use, Bankruptcy, Corporate & Securities, and Real Estate. In fact, when I mentioned to Jessica that I had not yet taken a Real Estate assignment, she was very helpful in ensuring that I had the opportunity to work on one. That afternoon, I was offered a “tag-along” Real Estate opportunity and worked on a management agreement.

Additionally, I’ve enjoyed how different the work for each assignment has been. Not only have I researched and written memos, but I’ve also helped to review depositions, edit contracts, contact state agencies, and file merger agreements. The variety of work has exposed me to a large number of the Bilzin attorneys and even though all of the Summer Associates work on the same floor, I feel welcome at any of the other ones.

I cannot believe that we’re about half-way through the summer. I’m starting to get a better feel for what kind of work I like, but we’ll see how it develops over the next few weeks.

Mary Brickell Village offers shops and restaurants

During orientation, we were told to seek out opportunities to meet with as many attorneys at the firm as possible. We were encouraged to invite attorneys to lunch.

Four weeks later, no one in the summer associate class has ever had lunch by themselves because, although we have been reaching out individually and as a group, attorneys at the firm have been extremely welcoming and have sought us out.

Lunch is a great opportunity to ask valuable questions about the firm and particular areas of interest. However, it also gives us a chance to get to know different attorneys on a personal level and to develop stronger relationships.  Just this week, we learned about Rafael Ribeiro‘s international legal experience, Marty Steinberg‘s experience as a prosecutor, and Eric Singer‘s family farm, among others. 

We have had the chance to explore many of the budding restaurants in the area and some Brickell staples with attorneys who are willing to spend the time answering our questions, talking about our interests, and giving us advice that will not only serve us this summer but throughout our careers. 

 

On Tuesday night, we held our trivial pursuit challenge.  It’s a not-so-annual summer associate program tradition, where we team up summer associates, summer associate mentors and some of our most senior attorneys to compete against each other in trivial pursuit.

 

This year’s team captains were:

The audience particularly enjoyed heckling the teams and bore witness to the lively banter – boderline teasing – between team captains.  In the end, the Sternbaum team (Marc Sternbaum, Lori Lustrin and Veronica Gordon) were the victors. 

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Special thanks to our moderator, Jeff Snyder, who perfectly managed a crowd of unruly partners!

Confetti flies at the Miami Heat victory parade

So far this week, contention has been the name of the game.  Monday, Miami celebrated the Heat’s victory with a parade and parties throughout the city.  Meanwhile, the summer associates were experiencing a different sort of heat as we commenced negotiations for a Letter of Intent as part of our Mock Real Estate Transaction.  I have heard it said that after a fair negotiation, everyone walks away feeling like his or her opponent got the better end of the deal.  I think after Monday’s negotiations, ‘Pitbowl’, ‘Kim Card Ashian’ and their “attorneys” would tend to agree with that sentiment. 

Our summer associate class is full of fiery, determined individuals, which made negotiations trying at times.  That said, the brief tensions convinced me that these are individuals I would rather have on my side of the table or courtroom in the future than on the other side.  Furthermore, the two teams made up over drinks and sushi at Sushi Siam.  

The next day, there would be no reconciliatory sushi following a colorful multi-party mediation I sat in on.  The case has been dragging on for nearly fourteen years, and tensions run deep.

After roughly ten hours of negotiations, the parties reached a partial settlement, but it seems that lingering issues will have to wait for the judgment of the appellate court for closure.  This tag-along was my first real exposure to the mediation process, and I am looking forward to implementing what I learned in my Mediation course at BC Law this fall.