News & Publications

On September 7, 2021, El Salvador became the first sovereign nation to adopt bitcoin as legal tender. The “Bitcoin Law” was widely and vocally promoted by President Nayib Bukele, who first announced the concept at a cryptocurrency conference in Miami in June. To generate interest, President Bukele also declared that El Salvador would create its own commission-free “wallet” to receive, store, and transmit bitcoin – the “Chivo” – and that the government would “airdrop” (i.e., load) the wallet with the equivalent of $30 of bitcoin for each Salvadorian citizen who downloads the wallet and registers as a user.

James P. Terpening, a partner in the Tampa office of Shutts & Bowen LLP, will serve as a faculty member for the Institute for Paralegal Education (IPE) for the upcoming seminar, “Discovery in Construction Litigation for Paralegals.”

On September 8th, Miami partner Frank Zacherl co-presented an AM Best Webinar titled “Insurance Defense 101: What Insurers Need from Today’s Counsel.”

The September 2021 edition of SRQ Magazine recently recognized two Shutts & Bowen LLP attorneys among the “Elite Top Attorney” honorees, including Charla M. Burchett and Erik M. Hanson, from the firm’s Sarasota office.

Shutts & Bowen LLP’s Orlando Commercial Real Estate Team, including partners Michelle L. Humes, James F. Johnston and Karen W. Wankelman, are facilitating a local philanthropist’s $4.8 million purchase of a 15,468 square foot warehouse, for what will be transformed into Renaissance Theater Company’s new headquarters.

The Biscayne Times recently reported on Miami’s goal of making itself the “global center of crypto trading and mining.”

Ella A. Shenhav, a partner in Shutts & Bowen LLP’s Tampa office, has completed the required training and is now a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court Civil Mediator.

Erik Matheney, a partner in Shutts & Bowen LLP’s Tampa office, was recently appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit’s Lawyers Advisory Committee.

Shutts & Bowen LLP partner James Timko facilitated a successful settlement on behalf of client Mark Healy, the Receiver for the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, resulting in millions of dollars to be utilized for the benefit of certified domestic violence shelters in the State of Florida. This settlement resolved multiple lawsuits resulting from a yearslong scheme by the organization’s ex-CEO to defraud the agency primarily funded by taxpayer dollars.

A federal court Judge in the Southern District of Florida recently ruled that a multimillion-dollar lawsuit filed against Giorgio Armani by its former exclusive home furnishing dealer must be arbitrated, siding with the Italian fashion designer in rejecting arguments that the dealer’s claim for enforcement of an oral agreement and other claims are not arbitrable.

CBS 4 News reports that Miami Beach’s Ocean Drive has been completely closed to vehicles since last year, originally as a way for many of the businesses to spread out and mitigate the effects of COVID-19.

Law360 recently ranked Shutts & Bowen LLP among the most diverse law firms in the country among its tiered group, according to the publication’s 2021 Diversity Snapshot. Shutts was also recognized among the top five firms with the highest minority representation among equity partners.