The Miami-Dade Bar, one of the largest voluntary bar associations in Florida, today announced the honorees of its 2026 Circle of Excellence Awards. The awards recognize the attorneys who set the standard for skill, integrity, and professionalism in their practice areas across Miami-Dade County. This year’s honorees were chosen after a rigorous selection process lasting more than two months. The Bar gathered input from the general public, its members, and its committee leadership before a selection committee of past Circle of Excellence recipients made the final picks. “The Circle of Excellence is a recognition by peers who know the Miami-Dade legal community best,” said Scott Merl, Chairman of the Circle of Excellence selection committee. “Every honoree on this list earned it through the respect of colleagues, clients, and the public. We can’t wait to celebrate them together at the Biltmore.” A Rigorous, Peer-Driven Selection Process Now in its fifth year, the Circle of Excellence continues a tradition the Miami-Dade Bar established in 2022 to honor legal professionals who demonstrate exceptional performance in Florida’s legal profession. As a leading authority on the qualifications and professionalism of lawyers in Miami-Dade County, the Bar offers a uniquely reliable, peer-reviewed form of recognition. Highlights of the 2026 selection process: Open nominations. Anyone could nominate a deserving attorney, and nominees could submit additional supporting information. Nominations closed August 19, 2026. Broad community input. The Bar collected input from the general public, from its members, and from its committee leadership. Rigorous Evaluation. Each practice area was reviewed to identify the attorneys who best exemplify skill, integrity, and professionalism. Judged by past honorees. Final selections were made by a committee composed entirely of previous Circle of Excellence Award recipients. The Miami-Dade Bar extends a special thank you to the 2026 Circle of Excellence Selection Committee lead by Scott Merl: Jordan Benatar · Clayton Chin Quee Jr. · Christopher Drury · Todd Ehrenreich · Adam Finkel · Melissa Jordon · Amber Kornreich · Dagmar Llaudy · Michael Mayoral · Scott Merl · Mahesh Nanwani · Maria Papasakelariou · Brittney Polo · Monique K. Pope · Alex Saiz · Alexander I. Tachmes Learn more about the award at miamidadebar.org/circleofexcellence. 2026 Circle of Excellence Honorees Alternative Dispute Resolution Lance August Harke, Upchurch Watson White Max John S. Freud, Mediation Solutions, Inc. Lewis Jack, Law Office of Lewis N. Jack, Jr., P.A. Jose M. Rodriguez, JAMS Scott R. Schomber, Upchurch Watson White Max Caroline Soret, Diamond Mediation Appellate Kimberly Boldt, Ratzan, Weissman Boldt Jenna Fischman, Dinsmore Shohl LLP Thomas Kroeger, Colson Hicks Eidson Eugene “Gene” Lindsey III, Gunster Catherine McManus, 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida William D. Mueller, Kula Associates, P.A. Rodolfo “Rudy” Sorondo, Private Resolutions, Inc. Bankruptcy Eric N. Assouline, Assouline Berlowe, P.A. Daniel Nagler, Dinsmore Shohl LLP Luis Salazar, Cole Schotz P.C. Amanda Vasquez, Bast Amron LLP Business Corporate Elisa D’Amico, D’Amico Law Firm PLLC Samuel Ludington Ian Illych Martinez, BMR Law Group Eric Paul Gros-Dubois, EPGD Attorneys At Law Maria Piva, Goldstein Company Alexis Sverdlik, Holland Knight LLP Brett Trembly, Trembly Law Firm Business Litigation Jacqueline Arango, Akerman LLP Mark S. Auerbacher, Buchanan Ingersoll Rooney PC Mark Cheskin, Hogan Lovells US LLP Ariella Gutman, Haber Law Elizabeth B. Honkonen, Sperling Kenny Nachwalter, LLC Utibe Ikpe, Meland Budwick, P.A. Julian A. Jackson-Fannin, Duane Morris Russell Landy, Damian Valori Culmo Jordi Martinez-Cid, Martinez-Cid Law Veronica A. Meza, GrayRobinson, P.A. Bernard Pastor, Shutts Brandon Sadowsky, Kozyak Tropin Throckmorton Ashley Saul Robinson, Mark Ferrer Hayden Daniel Tropin, Heise Suarez Melville Civil Litigation Andrew S. Brenner, Boies Schiller Flexner LLP Stephanie Casey, Colson Hicks Eidson Reginald Clyne, Quintairos, Prieto, Wood Boyer, P.A. Alan T. Dimond, Greenberg Traurig, P.A. Douglas E. Horelick, Clyde Co. US LLP Jeffrey Leavitt, Vedder Price Romy Miller, Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard Smith LLP Katie Mitchell, Kozyak Tropin Throckmorton Fernando A. Prego, Perez Mayoral, P.A. Tania Varela, Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman Construction Litigation Jackeline “Jackie” Rodriguez, Hamilton, Miller Birthisel Criminal Law Dianne Carames, Puglisi Carames Law Cristina Diamond, Office of the State Attorney Susan Dmitrovsky, Kuehne Davis Law, P.A. Howard Srebnick, Black Srebnick Daniela Torrealba, Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office Entertainment, Arts and Sports Ivan Parron, Parron Law Environmental and Land Use Carlos L. Diaz, Greenberg Traurig, P.A. Ben Fernandez, Bercow Radell Fernandez Larkin Tapanes Michael Goldstein, The Goldstein Environmental Law Firm, P.A. Carter N. McDowell, Bilzin Sumberg Family Law Jordan B. Abramowitz, Abramowitz Associates Laura Davis Smith, Davis Smith Jean, LLC Gerald Kornreich, Kornreich Associates Andy Leinoff, Leinoff Lemos, P.A. Alexandra Mesa, Dade Legal Aid Vanessa Vasquez de Lara, Vasquez de Lara Law Group General Counsel / In-House Counsel Alix Apollon, UPS Michel Morgan, Universal Property Casualty Ins. Co. Government / Nonprofit Lotoya K. Brown, Dade Legal Aid Joseph “Joe” Egozi, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Florida Jeffrey Pierce, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Florida Geoffrey Valdes-Alba, Dade Legal Aid Health Law Sabrina Gallo, Greenberg Traurig, P.A. Immigration Law Maggie Arias, Arias and Pereira, PLLC Isadora Velazquez-Rivas, Isa Law PA Insurance Law Ingrid Benson-Villegas, Walton Lantaff Schroeder Carson LLP Jae Lynn Huckaba, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP Joshua D. Lerner, Rumberger Kirk John Murray, The Murray Law Firm, P.A. Geoffrey M. Schuessler, Cole, Scott Kissane, P.A. Intellectual Property Tiffany-Ashley Disney, University of Miami Tyler J. Litwak, Malloy Malloy, P.L. Elizabeth Milian, Brand Builder Legal David R. O’Steen, Assouline Berlowe, P.A. International Law Peter Quinter, Gunster Labor and Employment Law April Boyer, KL Gates Nina Teresa Martinez, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Mark Neuberger, Foley Lardner LLP Kelly Pena, Littler Mendelson Audrey-Jade Salbo, Jackson Lewis P.C. Mergers Acquisitions Kyle Bady, White Case LLP Eli D. Gordon, Holland Knight LLP Jessica Rivero, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP David E. Wells, Winston Taylor LLP Personal Injury Tiffany Batten Andris, Cole, Scott Kissane, P.A. Garret Biondo, The Biondo Law Firm, P.A. Robert “Beau” Blumberg, Deutsch Blumberg Caballero, P.A. Sean Cleary, The Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary Dan Dolan, Dolan Dobrinsky Rosenblum Bluestein, LLP Alaina Fotiu-Wojtowicz, Brodsky Fotiu-Wojtowicz, PLLC Igor Hernandez, Cornish Hernandez Gonzalez, PLLC Michael Levine, Stewart Tilghman Fox Bianchi Cain, P.A. Douglas McCarron, The Haggard Law Firm Guy Kamealoha Noa, SteinLaw Skip Pita, Pita Weber Del Prado Jocelyn Santana, Goldberg Rosen Andrew Yaffa, Grossman Yaffa Cohen, P.A. Probate and Guardianship Giovanna “Gia” Abreu O’Connor, Fowler White Leslie Marenco, Trust Counsel, P.L. Dale Noll, Akerman LLP Real Property Erik Andrew Perez, Perez Mayoral, P.A. Manuel Crespo, Greenspoon Marder LLP Securities Litigation Josh Bautz, Nelson Mullins Matthew C. Dates, Stearns Weaver Peter Homer, Homer Bonner Tax Law Megan D. Ferris, Cole Schotz P.C. Transportation / Maritime Law Scott Mebane, Mase Mebane, P.A. J. Michael Pennekamp, Fowler White Workers’ Compensation Ivan P. Morales, Morales Cerino, PA Barry A. Stein, De Cardenas, Freixas, Stein Zachary, P.A. Join Us at the Biltmore on November 18 The honorees will be celebrated at the 2026 Circle of Excellence Awards Ceremony, the Miami-Dade Bar’s biggest event of the fall. It brings together the county’s legal community, judiciary, and leaders for an evening of recognition at one of South Florida’s most iconic venues. Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2026 Time: 5:30 p.m. Location: The historic Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables Tickets: Purchase tickets Sponsorships: View sponsorship opportunities Tickets and sponsorships are still available but expected to go quickly. This is an evening you will not want to miss. About the Miami-Dade Bar The Miami-Dade Bar is one of the largest voluntary bar associations in Florida. It serves the legal profession and the public in Miami-Dade County through continuing legal education, professional development, its Lawyer Referral Service, and support of Dade Legal Aid. Learn more at miamidadebar.org. The post 2026 Circle of Excellence Awards appeared first on Miami’s Community News. ...read more read less