Miami, FL Lawyers

Elder Law

9100 S. Dadeland Blvd., 1620, Miami, FL 33156

Pilar Villaverde Vasquez, Esq. is an associate attorney at Suarez Law focusing in the areas of probate, guardianship, elder law, estate planning, and special needs trusts. Prior to joining the firm in 2014, Pilar served as a judicial intern to: the Honorable Judge Maria Sampedro-Iglesia, 11th Judicial Circuit Court, Juvenile Division and the Unified Family Court/Complex Litigation Division in 2012; the Honorable Judge William M. Hoeveler, U.S. District Court, Southern District Court of Florida in 2013; and the Honorable Judge Michael A. Genden 11th Judicial Circuit Court, Probate Division towards the end of 2013. She earned her B.B.A. degree from Florida International University in 2010, her J.D. degree from St. Thomas University School of Law in 2014 and her Elder Law Certificate in 2014. While in law school, Ms. Villaverde was a member of the Elder Law Society, a Senator to the Student Bar Association and an Ambassador for Student Admissions. Ms. Villaverde also earned an award for providing more than 300 pro bono hours during her time at St. Thomas University School of Law. She is licensed to practice in the State of Florida and is fluent in Spanish.

Personal Injury Law

Ponce de Leon, Miami, FL 33134, USA

Rachel received her A.B. degree magna cum laude from Princeton University. She then received her J.D. from the University of Florida, where she served as an editor of the Florida Law Review and graduated magna cum laude, with admission to the Order of the Coif. Before joining Maderal Byrne & Furst PLLC, Rachel clerked for the Honorable Ursula Ungaro, United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida. She also practiced for five years in the commercial litigation department of the international law firm, White & Case, where she defended corporations against complex claims, including consumer class actions and professional malpractice. Rachel litigates class actions and individual claims of personal injury, wrongful death, professional malpractice, deceptive consumer practices, product liability, and breach of fiduciary duty. She represents plaintiffs in state and federal courts and handles appeals. Rachel has taken a leading role in high-profile class actions and multi-district litigation. She served as Co-Chair Lead Counsel of the Champlain Towers South Collapse Litigation, in Florida Circuit Court, which resulted in a record-setting $1.2 billion settlement, as Liaison Counsel in the January 2021 Short Squeeze Trading Litigation, and on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee of the FTX Cryptocurrency Exchange Collapse Litigation. She presently serves on the Steering Committee of the Takata Airbag Products Liability Litigation, multi-district litigations pending in the Southern District of Florida. She is also putative class counsel in a case against the City of Miami for the imposition of an unconstitutional taxing scheme and in class action against the manufacturer of a defective stroller. Rachel is a respected member of the local and Florida bar, serving on the executive board of the Federal Bar Association and having been appointed to consecutive terms on the federal court practice committee of the Florida Bar by its president. Rachel has also been appointed by the Chief Judge in the Southern District of Florida to serve on numerous Magistrate Judge Selection and Retention Committees for the Miami Division.

Criminal Defense Law

169 E Flagler St suite 700, Miami, FL 33131, USA

Family and Divorce Law

990 Biscayne Boulevard, Suite O-301, Miami, FL 33132

Raymond J. Rafool, II, a partner at Rafool, LLC, is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, all courts in the State of Florida; the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida; and the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida. Mr. Rafool, a Board Certified Attorney in Marital and Family Law, concentrates his practice on domestic and international family law and business and commercial litigation. Mr. Rafool is Board Certified in marital and family law by the Florida Bar, and Nationally Board Certified as an Expert in Family Trial Law by The National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA). Mr. Rafool was named in the Miami Herald?s 2015, 2016 and 2017 list of South Florida?s Legal Leaders, Top Rated Lawyers. He is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell and was selected to the 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 Florida Super Lawyers list which recognizes no more than five percent of attorneys in each state. In addition, Mr. Rafool is rated a Florida Top Lawyer in Family Law by ALM and has a perfect 10 Avvo rating. For 2015, 2016 and 2017 Mr. Rafool is a Top 100 Lawyers, and on the Executive Committee for The National Advocates. He has represented many celebrities and individuals in complex family, same sex, and business litigation and lectures and has authored numerous publications on aforementioned practice areas. Mr. Rafool is a past Vice Chair and member of the Florida Family Law Rules Committee, the past Chair and member of the Florida Criminal Rules Committee, a past Vice Chair and member of the Florida Judicial Administration, Selection and Tenure Committee and a past Representative on the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration Committee.

Criminal Defense Law

10131 SW 80th Ave, Miami, FL 33156, USA