Shutts & Bowen LLP is pleased to announce that the firm was named “Best Mid-Size Law Firm” and Miami partners Aliette DelPozo Rodz, Rene Gonzalez-LLorens, Heidi H. Tandy, Bernard “Bernie” Pastor and Sara Levy were selected as recipients of the “Florida Legal Luminaries” Awards during the Annual 2026 Florida Bench and Bar Conference: Superstars in Trial hosted by St. Thomas University College of Law. The event took place on October 29, 2026, at the Rusty Pelican in Key Biscayne, Florida.
During the conference, Bernard “Bernie” Pastor presented the session titled “Ethical Concerns for Trial Lawyers,” which addressed the ethical responsibilities and professional considerations attorneys must navigate throughout trial preparation and courtroom proceedings, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and legal ethics.
“Florida Legal Luminaries” award recipients included:
- Aliette DelPozo Rodz in the category of Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Rene Gonzalez-LLorens in the category of Labor and Employment Law
- Heidi H. Tandy in the category of Intellectual Property Law
- Bernard “Bernie” Pastor in the category of "Bet-the-Company" Lawyer or Law Firm
- Sara Levy in the category of Class Action.
Other finalists include Julissa Rodriguez (Appellate Law), Jennifer Perez (Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Private Equity), Steven M. Ebner (Commercial and Business Litigation) and Jodi-Ann Tillman (Intellectual Property Law).
In addition to individual attorney recognitions, Shutts & Bowen LLP's selection as "Best Mid-Size Law Firm" further highlights the firm's presence within Florida's legal community. Together, these honors recognize the contributions of the firm's attorneys and its continued involvement across a broad range of legal disciplines.
The Legal Luminaries Awards, presented by St. Thomas University College of Law, is an annual recognition program honoring top practitioners in South Florida, as voted by members of the legal community. The awards recognize excellence, professionalism, leadership, and outstanding achievement across 34 legal practice area categories. The program employs a competitive peer-nomination and voting process, with three attorneys and/or law firms identified as finalists in each category. Members of the legal community determine award recipients through voting, reflecting recognition from fellow legal professionals.
Shutts & Bowen LLP sponsored the Annual 2026 Florida Bench & Bar Conference: Superstars in Trial, hosted by St. Thomas University College of Law. The event brought together distinguished members of Florida’s legal community, including approximately 70 federal and state jurists and leading practitioners, for a program featuring educational panels and a live mock trial. As part of the program, 14 of Florida’s most experienced trial lawyers presented a case before an actual jury. The conference offered 17 continuing legal education (CLE) credits, including 7.5 ethics credits and five technology credits, and was expected to draw up to 1,000 judges and attorneys.
About Shutts & Bowen LLP
Shutts & Bowen LLP, established in 1910, is a full-service business law firm with approximately 280 lawyers in offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Tampa and West Palm Beach. Learn more about Shutts & Bowen at www.shutts.com.