AXS LAW GROUP - Key Persons
Aleida is a litigator with substantial business experience and a broad skill set. Through the years she has gained highly specialized experience in niche practices and industries, including hospitality, aviation and maritime law, which overlap with her core financial reorganization practice. She also serves as a Subchapter V Trustee in the Southern District of Florida and as outside general counsel to various highly successful businesses.
Alice Férot is an attorney specializing in complex civil and corporate matters. She has gained significant experience in the resolution of business disputes and high-profile litigation through her experience as a federal clerk, as litigator at premier boutique litigation firms, and as corporate counsel for a defense contractor. Alice is trained both in the US and in France and is admitted to practice law in the states of Florida and New York.
Allen is a highly accomplished lawyer with over 30 years of law experience advising on highly sophisticated, cross-border Latin American and Caribbean financing and corporate transactions, most notably having represented the government of Belize in five separate sovereign bond transactions totaling over $1 billion.
Allen Moreland is a highly accomplished lawyer with over 30 years of law experience advising on highly sophisticated, cross-border Latin American and Caribbean financing and corporate transactions, most notably having represented the government of Belize in five separate sovereign bond transactions totaling over $1 billion.
Moreland's work includes providing legal counsel on high-yield eurobonds and sovereign bond issuances, structured finance transactions (including future-flow receivables and pre-export transactions), and all types of lending transactions. Additionally, Moreland advises on mergers and acquisitions and private equity transactions.
A naturalized Brazilian who speaks fluent Portuguese, Moreland also has over 10 years of experience practicing law in Brazil where he is registered with the Order of Attorneys of Brazil (OAB). Moreland brings his expertise to AXS LAW where he will work with the team-many of whom are former colleagues-to establish a cutting-edge Brazil and Latin American practice.
Some of Moreland's career accomplishments include structuring and negotiating export receivable securitizations in excess of $1 billion involving the Brazilian steel industry; advising a Brazilian upstream oil and gas company on the institution of Chapter 15 proceedings in New York requiring the exchange of $230 million of global notes; representing a major Brazilian aircraft manufacturer in a $100 million monetization of an aircraft sale agreement; helping the largest investment bank in Brazil to domesticate and execute a Brazilian final judgment in Florida worth over $30 million; and representing the purchasers/borrowers in a leveraged buyout worth $370 million involving security located in 16 separate Caribbean jurisdictions.
Moreland graduated summa cum laude from Northwestern University where he received a bachelor's degree in German studies. He received his Juris Doctor from Columbia University School of Law where he was recognized as a Harlan Fisk Stone Scholar, an award given to students in recognition of superior academic achievement.
In addition to being fluent in Portuguese, Moreland speaks fluent German and is proficient in Spanish. An avid movie buff, Moreland can also be found enjoying anything related to the history of rock and roll in his free time.
Anthony Narula is a passionate, practical, and proven litigator. He frequently represents mortgage lenders and developers, as well as provides counsel to technology, transportation, and construction firms. Anthony's clients consider him to be a strategic partner, and in each case, he develops meaningful client relationships.
Anthony is a passionate, practical, and proven litigator with a track record of success representing plaintiffs and defendants in high-stakes litigation. He has been counsel in disputes involving the Virgin Group, Vonage, 1-800-Flowers, Carnival Cruise Lines, Samsung, The Standard Hotels, Lehman, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, CitiMortgage, GL Homes, Lennar, Taylor Morrison, PrimeLending, Bayview, and Ackman Ziff, as well as successful start-up companies and local artists, chefs, and restaurants.
Anthony's clients consider him to be a strategic partner, and in each case, he develops meaningful client relationships. He is constantly learning about the underlying economics of his client's industry, making Anthony uniquely able to shape strong business deals.
Starting his career by serving as an Assistant Public Defender prepared Anthony to effectively handle cases from inception through trial. This invaluable experience armed him with an entirely different skill set to frame key issues, craft a persuasive story, develop a high-level winning strategy, and think quickly on his feet. What differentiates Anthony from other attorneys is that he has more practical experience, having tried over 25 jury trials. Anthony thrives in situations where the odds are seemingly stacked against his client.
Prior to joining AXS LAW, Anthony practiced litigation for several years at one of Miami's top law firms - Bilzin Sumberg - where he gained extensive experience handling a broad range of complex commercial litigation. There he developed expertise in defending home builders and loan originators in mortgage buy-back cases and securities litigation, achieving significant victories through favorable settlements and dismissal of cases. He also frequently provides counsel to real estate, technology, hospitality, transportation, and construction firms, as well as represents clients in criminal defense and personal injury cases.
After developing a reputation as a confident and relentless trial lawyer, Anthony was awarded with the Hat Trick Award in 2011 by the Broward Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers for three consecutive felony jury trial acquittals. The Dade County Bar Association and Dade Legal Aid also awarded Anthony with the Advocate of Pro Bono Commitment Award in 2016.
Anthony received undergraduate degrees in Economics and Legal Studies, graduating with honors in three years from the University of California, Berkeley in 2005, and his law degree from Florida International University's College of Law in 2008. During law school, he was a two-time recipient of the school's Book Award and won awards for Best Oral Advocate and Best Team at the Susan J. Ferrell Intercultural Human Rights Moot Court Competition in 2008. He served on the FIU Law Alumni Association's Board of Directors from 2015 to 2018.
Anthony is a prolific writer on topics related to the mortgage industry, providing insight into business and legal issues affecting loan repurchases, mortgage-backed securities, and mortgage insurance. His thought leadership has been featured in the Daily Business Review, Inside Mortgage Finance, JD Supra, the Lawyer's Desk Book and the California Legal Studies Journal.
Bernardo is a Brazilian attorney specializing in cross-border disputes and complex civil litigation in the United States and Brazil. Bernardo's career started at a leading Brazilian law firm, and culminated in the establishment of his own boutique law firm, in Brasilia, Brazil, with a focus on tax litigation.
Courtney is an experienced advocate in high-stakes litigation and arbitration. She focuses her practice on plaintiff's commercial cases.She also handles transactional work, including advising start-ups and female-owned businesses on employment, intellectual property, and corporate matters.
Jeff Gutchess leads the AXS LAW Trial & Litigation Teams. He has 30 years of experience trying cases and advising businesses in all types of disputes. Over the past 10 years he has prosecuted a number of plaintiffs' business to business cases recovering hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved business owners.
Joanna has joined the firm as its newest associate and will work closely with the firm's litigation team as she begins her legal career at AXS LAW Group. She received her B.A. from the University of Miami, cum laude, in 2018 and her Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law, summa cum laude, in 2021
Josh Shore excels at legal research and writing and focuses his practice on complex trial and appellate litigation in state and federal court. He has successfully represented both individual and institutional clients in a variety of high stakes matters, including corporate divorces, contract disputes, and the civil implications of white-collar criminal investigations.
Lina has over 12 years of experience in various areas of the law, with the last 7 years primarily focused on intellectual property litigation working in NYC boutique firms.
As a paralegal, Lina works behind the scenes to ensure that her colleagues always have what they need to represent clients.
Michelle White brings over 10 years of experience to the firm which she now uses to help grow the title and closing real estate division within AXS LAW's Real Estate Law practice representing buyers, owners, developers, lenders and brokers involved in commercial and residential real estate in South Florida.
Rossana is a Miami native and speaks fluent Spanish. She is on the Board of Directors of the Friendship Circle of Miami and is a co-chair of the Legal Panel and Police Practices Committee of the ACLU of Florida's Greater Miami Chapter.
Rossana practices civil litigation and criminal defense in both federal and state court. Her extensive and varied litigation experience, negotiation skills, and trial tactics have resulted in a track record of exceptional outcomes over many years of practice.She excels at organizing and leading trial teams comprised of lawyers, expert witnesses, consultants, investigators and paraprofessionals. She works closely with the trial team to analyze voluminous discovery, identify key witnesses, and to brainstorm themes - all with an eye toward developing a successful trial strategy. At the core of Rossana's practice is her thoughtfulness, diligence and ability to coordinate the efforts of professionals at all levels when litigating a complex case.
Rossana views her client as the most important member of the trial team. She always strives to develop strong client relationships and a complete understanding of her clients' business. Rossana's clients have included businessmen and women working in industries such as healthcare, real estate, finance, hospitality and technology. Rossana encourages her clients to ask questions, actively participate in the litigation, and to assist her in determining the litigation strategy that best suits their needs and circumstances.
Rossana has experience litigating general business disputes, unlawful competition claims, tortious interference claims, employment disputes, and a variety of individual and business tort claims. In addition to her civil litigation practice, Rossana has experience defending a broad range of criminal law matters, including cases involving federal charges of healthcare fraud, bank fraud, insurance fraud, and wire fraud as well as state charges ranging from misdemeanors to first degree felonies.
Notably, in 2019, Rossana was one of the lead attorneys defending the then-largest healthcare fraud case in the nation in a trial that lasted seven weeks. Rossana developed the theory of defense on the principal count of health care fraud conspiracy. The jury deadlocked, and so her client avoided a conviction, on that count. In just this one case, Rossana cross-examined 7 witnesses, identified and subpoenaed 27 out of the 33 defense witnesses who testified, and performed the direct examination of 12 of those defense witnesses.
Rossana honed her trial skills as a Miami-Dade Assistant Public Defender. In that position, she tried a wide variety of cases ranging from first degree murder, burglary and insurance fraud to driving under the influence. Rossana also successfully argued a Stand Your Ground Motion obtaining the dismissal of an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge. Additionally, Rossana successfully argued motions to suppress, for severance, in limine and for judgment of acquittal, as well as defended clients in pre-trial detention and alleged probation violation hearings.
Rossana served as a Law Clerk to U.S. District Judge Marcia G. Cooke and U.S. Magistrate Judge Edwin G. Torres of the Southern District of Florida.She also worked at boutique and large civil litigation firms. Immediately prior to joining AXS LAW, Rossana was a Partner at Black, Srebnick, Kornspan & Stumpf, P.A. Rossana also taught legal research and writing for three years at the University of Miami School of Law.
Josh has spent his entire legal career honing his skills by working with-and against-some of the most feared and respected litigators in the country.
After law school internships at the Office of President William J. Clinton in New York and the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida in Miami, Josh began his legal career handling trial and appellate matters at the prestigious boutique law firm, Podhurst Orseck, P.A.
From there, he served as a law clerk to federal judges-United States Magistrate Judge Andrea M. Simonton and United States District Judge Jose E. Martinez.
Prior to joining AXS LAW, Josh was a partner at Black Srebnick Kornspan & Stumpf, P.A., where he successfully represented both individual and institutional clients in a variety of high‑stakes matters, including corporate divorces, contract disputes, and the civil implications of white-collar criminal investigations at all levels of state and federal court, including the United States Supreme Court.
Josh specializes in conveying complex concepts in simple, persuasive terms. Drawing from his extensive experience handling a broad array of civil and criminal matters, Josh is uniquely qualified to devise creative solutions to seemingly intractable problems. He is committed to employing a hands-on, collaborative approach to achieve the right result for every client in every case.
For several years, Josh has been recognized by his peers for his exceptional results, including his most recent rankings as a 2019 Florida Super Lawyer, a 2019 Florida Trend Magazine ‘Florida Legal Elite' and a 2019 South Florida Legal Guide ‘Top Up and Comer.' In 2016, after contributing to an important win in the United States Supreme Court, Josh was named one of Daily Business Review's Most Effective Lawyers in the Appellate category.