Experience

Avatar Property & Casualty Insurance

• United States
• Insurance
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Corporate Counsel

  • Jun 2019 - Present

  Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area • Investigate, evaluate, negotiate and resolve disputed insurance claims, applying construction law and real property development knowledge to ensure fair resolution of claims • Appear as corporate representative in depositions, mediations, hearings, and trials on behalf of Avatar Property and Casualty Insurance Co. or Avatar Management, LLC. • Draft denial letters, Reservation of Rights and other insurance-related correspondence. • Work with Avatar's legal team to develop… Show more • Investigate, evaluate, negotiate and resolve disputed insurance claims, applying construction law and real property development knowledge to ensure fair resolution of claims • Appear as corporate representative in depositions, mediations, hearings, and trials on behalf of Avatar Property and Casualty Insurance Co. or Avatar Management, LLC. • Draft denial letters, Reservation of Rights and other insurance-related correspondence. • Work with Avatar's legal team to develop litigation strategy. Show less



Martinez Law, P.A.

• United States
• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Associate Attorney

  • Apr 2018 - Aug 2018

  Wesley Chapel, FL • Conducted due diligence of properties, including the evaluation of development entitlements, reviewed title for easements and other encumbrances, assessed zoning/land use restrictions on commercial and residential transactions. • Evaluated local government processes and provided assessments on matters like likelihood of re-zoning/land use plan amendments and proposed development applications for various real estate transactions. • Participated in real estate litigation… Show more • Conducted due diligence of properties, including the evaluation of development entitlements, reviewed title for easements and other encumbrances, assessed zoning/land use restrictions on commercial and residential transactions. • Evaluated local government processes and provided assessments on matters like likelihood of re-zoning/land use plan amendments and proposed development applications for various real estate transactions. • Participated in real estate litigation proceedings. • Drafted commercial and residential deeds and leases. • Conducted residential remote closings. Show less



City of Clearwater

• Government Administration
• 500 - 600 Employee

• Assistant City Attorney

  • May 2007 - Feb 2018

  Clearwater, Florida Represent the legal interests of a multitude of Enterprise Fund city departments and the planning/development services department on legal issues ranging from land use, zoning, long-range development, procurement, and contract review. • Prosecute violations of the City’s Community Development Code, requiring extensive knowledge of local zoning/land-use regulation and processes; including defending a $450K appeal for reduction of a code enforcement fine, largest in city history. •… Show more Represent the legal interests of a multitude of Enterprise Fund city departments and the planning/development services department on legal issues ranging from land use, zoning, long-range development, procurement, and contract review. • Prosecute violations of the City’s Community Development Code, requiring extensive knowledge of local zoning/land-use regulation and processes; including defending a $450K appeal for reduction of a code enforcement fine, largest in city history. • Represent the City in quasi-judicial, legislative, and administrative hearings before the City's Community Development Board, City Council, or Department of Administrative Hearings. • Review and help draft modifications of the City’s Development Code, Comprehensive Plan, and Code of Ordinances. • Ensure legal compliance with local ordinance and Florida statutory procurement regulations; represent the City during bid protests. • Aid in guiding the City’s complex development/redevelopment issues, like the US 19 Corridor rezoning, Imagine Clearwater bluff master plan, Reed-related sign code revisions, and medical marijuana dispensary regulation. • Collaboratively drafted several complex leases between Clearwater and two major restaurant groups, a private ferry system, and Saint Petersburg College (joint-use library). Show less



Office of the Public Defender, 6th Judicial Circuit, Florida

• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Assistant Public Defender

  • Sep 2006 - May 2007

  Clearwater, Florida • Defended the legal rights of individuals facing criminal charges where incarceration was an imminent possibility.



Law Office of Daniel Riveiro, Jr., P.A.

• Law Clerk/Associate

  • Oct 2005 - Jul 2006

  Tampa, Florida • Attend and assist with examinations under oath and depositions; help market a thriving multi-lingual law firm. • Translate complex legal documents from English to Spanish and vice versa.



Arnstein & Lehr LLP (f.k.a Cohn and Cohn, P.A.)

• Legal Intern

  • Jan 2005 - May 2005

  Tampa, Florida • Produced commercial/residential lease modifications and consulted with commercial real-estate developers. • Attended bankruptcy and foreclosure hearings, and developed trusting relationships with clients.