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Richard Segal Application PackageOD MIAMI BEACH NAME: Segal Richard Last Name HOME ADDRESS: 1450 Stillwater Dr. Apt No. Home No./Street City State Zip Code PHONE: n/a 305.379.9000 rsegal@kkskl.com Home Work Email Address Business Name: Kluger Kaplan Position: Partner / Attorney Address: 201 S. Biscayne Blvd. Fir. 27 Miami FL 33131 First Name Miami Beach 9 CITY OF MIAMI BEACH BOARD AND COMMITTEE APPLICATION FORM I FL Middle Initial 33141 Street City State Zip Code Pursuant to City Code section 2-22(4) a and b: Members of agencies, boards, and committees shall be affiliated with the city; this requirement shall be fulfilled in the following ways: a) an individual shall have been a resident of the city for a minimum of six months; or b) an individual shall demonstrate ownership/interest for a minimum of six months in a business established in the city. • Resident of Miami Beach for a minimum of six (6) months Yes • Demonstrate an ownership/interest in a business in Miami Beach for a minimum of six (6) months: Yes • Are you a registered voter in Miami Beach: Yes • (Please circle one): I am now a resident of: North Beach • I am applying for an appointment because I have special abilities, knowledge and experience. Please list below: Partner and practicing attorney at Kluger Kaplan's commercial litigation and family law groups, assisting clients in a range of b • Are you presently a registered lobbyist with the City of Miami Beach? No Please list your preferences in order of ranking [1] first choice [2] second choice, and [3] third choice. Please note that only three (3) choices will be observed by the City Clerk's Office (Regular Boards of City) Choice 1: Board of Adjustment Choice 2: Choice 3: Note: If applying for Youth Advisory Board, please indicate your affiliation with the Scott Rakow Youth Center: 1. Past service on the Youth Center Advisory Board: No Years of Service: 2. Present participation in Youth Center activities by your children No if yes, please list the names of your children, their ages, and which programs. List below: • Have you ever been convicted of a felony: No If yes, please explain in detail: • Do you currently have a violation(s) of City of Miami Beach codes: No If yes, please explain in detail: • Do you currently owe the City of Miami Beach any money: No If yes, please explain in detail: • Are you currently serving on any City Boards or Committees: No If yes, which board? Executive Board of Governors Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce • What organizations in the City of Miami Beach do you currently hold membership in? Name Title Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce L1M bf,>' Mount Sinai Foundation 76 r,:6 S� d t�✓I e List all properties owned or have an ir` -•est in, which are located within the City of Miami ' ich: Property 1450 Stillwatei Drive, Maimi Beach, FL 33141 e I am now employed by the city of Miami Beach: No Which department? The following information is voluntary and is neither part of your application nor has any bearing on your consideration for appointment. It is being asked to comply with federal equal opportunity reporting requirements. Gender: Male Race/Ethnic Categories What is your race? Mark one or more races to indicate what you consider yourself to be. White Other Description: Are you Spanish/Hispanic/ Latino? Mark the "No" box if not Spanish / Hispanic / Latino. No Physically Challenged: No NOTE: If appointed, you will be required to follow certain laws which apply to city board/committee members. These laws include, but are not limited to, the following: o Prohibition from directly or indirectly lobbying city personnel (Miami Beach City Code section 2-459). o Prohibition from contracting with the city (Miami -Dade County Code section 2-11.1). o Prohibition from lobbying before board/committee you have served on for period of one year after leaving office (Miami Beach Code section 2-26). o Requirement to disclose certain financial interests and gifts (Miami -Dade County Code section 2-11.1). (re: CMB Community Development Advisory Committee): prohibition, during tenure and for one year after leaving office, from having any interest in or receiving any benefit from Community Development Block Grant funds for either yourself, or those with whom you have business or immediate family ties (CFR 570.611). Upon request, copies of these laws may be obtained from the City Clerk. "I hereby attest to the accuracy and truthfulness of the application and have received, read and will abide by Chapter 2, Article VII — of the City Code "Standards of Conduct for City Officers, Employees and Agency Members." I Richard Segal agreed to the following terms on Received in the City Clerk's Office by: l Z 1A Name of Deputy Clerk Control No. Date Richard Ian Segal is a partner and practices in Kluger Kaplan's commercial litigation and family law groups, assisting clients in a range of business and corporate litigation matters, and matrimonial disputes. Richard has extensive experience handling disputes with large financial institutions in real estate, wealth advisory, investment management, and trust relationships and transactions. Richard specializes in fiduciary duty disputes and punitive damages claims. Richard's philosophy centers around aggressive tactics and innovative legal theories aimed at reaching a quick, favorable result for his clients at a reasonable cost. Richard prides himself on meeting potential new clients and giving them the individual attention that they deserve and following through by providing devotion and detail to their cases. Education University of Miami School of Law, J.D., cum laude • University of Michigan, BA Noteworthy • Florida Trend Legal Elite, 2013 As proud University of Michigan alum, Richard is a diehard University of Michigan football fan. As an English major, Richard studied in detail fellow University of Michigan famous alum, the playwright Arthur Miller. "If I see an ending, I can work backward" — Arthur Miller. Like Miller, Richard always begins by envisioning the ending, the best outcome for his client, and then works backwards to get the most favorable result as quickly as possible. As a third generation Miami Beach native, Richard grew up in a family that is deeply ensconced in the local community. KLUGEit KAP( AN • Florida Trend Legal Elite, Up and Comer, 2011-2012 • Florida Super Lawyers Magazine, Rising Star, 2012-2014 Community Activities • Board Member of the Executive Board of Governors of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce • Board Member of the Board of Governors of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce • Board Member of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce Law Council • Co-chair of the Emerging Leadership Council of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce Board Member of Mount Sinai Medical Center Foundation, Young President/Founder • University of Miami Law School Alumni Group • Member, Miami Beach Bar Association Publications (a sample of which are enclosed herein) • Step Away from the Computer: Divorce, Internet Don't Mix, Daily Business Review, 3/23/15 • A Torrent of Partner Additions Thanks to Economy, Daily Business Review, 3/2/15 • Same Marital Issues Apply to Same -Sex Marriages, Daily Business Review, 1/13/15 • New County Procedure Frees up Bonds for Developers, Daily Business Review, 4/24/12 Richard [an Segal IIIIIIII III Member Since: 10/01/2008 0057187 , LAW I REAL ESTATE f FINANCE DailyBusinesslllleview.com An AUM Publication MARCH 23,2015 :,SS REVIEW Step Away From the Computer: Divorce, Internet Don't Mix Commentary by Jason Marks and Richard I. Segal By now it should come as no surprise that content posted on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and other online fo- rums is open for the whole world to read. Nor is it a secret that such public postings are discoverable in court. Like social media itself, laws concerning the discoverability of social media in family law pro- ceedings is evolving. In January, the Fourth District Court of Appeal in Nucci v. Target, 40 Fla. L Weekly D166, a personal injury case, compelled discovery of photographs from the social media accounts of the plaintiff, a customer of Target. Target argued that the images are relevant to the plaintiffs claim of injury in that it would allow a comparison of her cur- rent physical condition and limi- tations to her physical condition and quality of life before the date of a slip and fall. "We agree with those cases concluding that, generally, the photographs posted on a social networking site are neither priv- ileged nor protected by any right of privacy, regardless of any pri- vacy settings that the user may have established," the appeals court said. The court further said that "by creating a Facebook ac- count, a user acknowledges that her personal information would be shared with others ... indeed, that is the very nature and purpose of these social net- working sites else they would cease to exist." In compelling production of the images from the plaintiffs Facebook page, the court spe- cifically found that "the photo- graphs sought were reasonably calculated to lead to the discov- ery of admissible evidence and [the plaintiff's] privacy interest in them was minimal, if any." While this case was in the personal injury context, it is fully applicable to family law proceedings. Most of us know someone with an overwhelming compul- sion to publicize every detail of his or her personal life on- line—including taking jabs at a soon-to-be ex-spouse. When going through a divorce, posting pictures of yourself with the hot blonde you met at a bar or tell- ing the world what a bad parent your spouse is might seem like a good idea, but before you do, think twice and then stop away from the computer. With technology at our fin- gertips, our only worry is no longer don't pick up the phone angry because you might regret what you say, but has expanded to think before you text, think before you tweet, think before you update your Facebook sta- tus or post an lnstagram photo. Just like an employer can check your online identity be- fore making a job offer, you can be sure your embittered spouse, and certainly his or her lawyer, will visit your Facebook and Twitter pages to dig up any in- criminating information you Jason Marks have decided to share with the world. A variety of things can af- fect your eventual custody or ali- mony battle. Nowadays some- thing that you perceive to be an innocent comment "can and will be used against you." Your husband is incapable of fidelity? Call up a friend and discuss it over coffee. Your wife is an absent parent? Hash it out over happy hour. But definitely think again before bashing your spouse on the Internet. Even private posts that are limited to your friends appear now to be discoverable in litigation. Keep in mind that anything posted online is easily traceable by fo- rensic experts and can never be truly deleted. It is not just the written word that one might regret. Likewise, be wary of posting pictures of yourself engaging in question- able behavior. In a custody dis- pute, photos of you drinking, doing drugs and engaging in Richard I. Segal sexual contact can all be used against you in court to question your fitness as a parent. Our policy is simple. Ask yourself: How would I feel if I saw this post or picture perma- nently plastered on a billboard for the whole world to see? If the thought of this even leaves you mildly embarrassed, don't post it. Because when you think about it, today's social media is as open and public as doing just that. Always err on the side of caution. No one has ever said "I really wish I had put up that picture of myself on Facebook" but plenty of people have lived to regret it. Jason Marks, a founding member at Kluger Kaplan Silverman Katzen & Levine, and Richard Segal, a partner at the firm, focus on commercial litigation and family law, assisting clients in a range of business and corporate litigation matters, and matrimonial disputes. InTAl LEGAL PROFESSION REAL ESTATE I FII',ANCE DaiIy usinessReviewxom An ALM Publication MARCH 2,2015 S REVIEW ATORRENT OF PARTNER ADDITIONS THANKS TO ECONOMY by Julie Kay with research by Chris Futrell South Florida law firms promoted 139 associates to partner and hired 80 new laterals in 2014. The 219 new partners is a 56 percent increase over 2013. Meet Josh Rubens and Richard Segal. At 31 and 30, respectively, and just six years out of law school, these lawyers already have made partner at Miami -based Kluger, Kaplan, Silverman, Katzen & Levine—perhaps the youngest partners in South Florida. Rubens and Segal earned their stripes after filling in at a major trial for an ail- ing Bruce Katzen and Alan Kluger, who had a conflict in another trial. The judges denied continuances in both cases, and the young lawyers notched wins. "People say, `Why did you make them partners so young?' and I say, 'They're front-line lawyers, they can take a case from intake to tri- al; " Kluger said. "They de- serve it. They're superstars" Rubens and Segal are part of a wave of new partners sweeping South Florida— either through lateral hiring or promotion—in numbers unseen since the start of the 2008-2009 recession. Law firms that respond- ed to the Daily Business Review's annual survey of new partners in South Florida said they promoted 139 associates to partner in the past year compared with 85 the year before. They also brought on 82 lateral part- ners in the past year, up from 55 the year before. The 221 new partners represents a 56 percent annual increase. Experts say the upward swing in partnerships can be attributed to the recover- ing economy. And top later- als in hot practice areas and geographical regions are be- ing heavily courted by legal recruiters as partnership doors are again opening for deserving associates. "In response to the global recession, law firms were struggling mightily to main- tain their partner profit- ability ratios from the past," said Bill Brennan, a law firm consultant with Brennan Strategy LLC of West Chester, Pennsylvania. "They were doing that partially by de- laying new partners from associate ranks. Now that it's been several years and it appears that law firms are recovering from the tre- mendous pressure, they've opened up the thicket to pro- mote associates." A SHIFT AT AKERMAN Akerman is a prime ex- ample of the trend. In 2013, Josh M. Rubens and Richard I. Segal J. ALBERT DIAZ the Miami -based law firm promoted just two South Florida lawyers to partner and added seven laterals. Last year, Akerman promot- ed 15 associates to partner and attracted nine laterals in the region. The lateral hires in liti- gation, corporate and real estate law included a four - lawyer group from the de- funct Tew Cardenas, the former general counsel of FriendFinders Network Inc. and former lawyers from Gunster and Liebler, Gonzalez & Portuondo. "I certainly feel the lateral market is increasing;' said Andrew Smulian, Akerman's chairman and CEO. "That is a continuing phenomenon. We get terrific resumes in all the markets, so we can be thoughtful and deliberate in bringing on good people." Smulian added Akerman appreciates "the unique value diversity brings to the firm and the work we do for clients. The promotions last year included seven women, one Hispanic and one black. "Building a firm that re- flects the makeup of our cli- ents is an essential part of understanding and meeting their needs," he said. "We are focused on maintaining a culture enriched by a diverse mix of backgrounds, talents and ideas" MORE FIRMS JOIN TREND Other law firms that expe- rienced an increase in lateral hiring and promotions in the pastyearincluded Greenberg Traurig, which had 18 new partners -13 laterals and five promotions --compared with eight the year before; Gunster, with nine new part- ners, compared with four the year before; and Carlton Fields Jorden Burt, with six new partners, compared with five the year before. For Greenberg Traurig, the sharp increase in laterals was due to the firms active recruiting, said Matt Gorson, firer. co-chairman who over- sees recruitment in the southeastern United States. Greenberg Traurig picked up 13 laterals in 2014, including a three- member group from Littler Mendelson; Tallahassee rainmaking lobbyist Fred Karlinsky, who joined with Rich Fedei; and Israel Sanchez and Jeff Tenen, who rejoined the firm from Hughes Hubbard & Reed. "These were opportunis- tic hires," Gerson said- "They wanted to work with our platform. One person, I was recruiting for a year. Most of the time, they are dissatisfied with their existing firm." Patrick Martin, who worked at littler for 11 years as a labor and employment partner and helped open its Florida office, joined Greenberg 11aurig last month with two other law- yers from Littler "Certainly, the lateral mar- ket is hot," Martin said. "I had been pursued, as had my col- leagues. I have looked at oth- er firms and this was a good opportunity. an opportunity for Greenberg to expand their labor and employment practice locally and for us to capitalize on Greenberg's brand in the market. Of course, there was a financial incentive as well:' Some law firms brought on laterals as a direct in- vestment in their next gen- eration of leadership as cur- rent leaders look toward re- tirement. Podhurst Orseck, for example, recently added Roy Altman, who became only the firm's third lateral hire in its 48 -year history. Altman, a former federal prosecutor, will assist with complicated class actions, mass torts and aviation matters. The current head of the firm, Aaron Podliurst, is still practicing at 78. Some law firms absorbed new laterals due to the de- mise of other firms, includ- ing those that picked up lawyers after the breakup of Tew Cardenas. Others picked up laterals through merg- ers, such as when Carlton Fields acquired Jorden Burt early last year, and when Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel merged with dela.ncyhill. IMPACTOF RECRUITERS With more firms turn- ing to legal recruiters to locate and lure talent, the recruiting industry has become increasingly crowded and competitive. Joe Ankus of Ankus Consulting in Weston, a legal recruiter since 1991, said he is amazed at the brazenness of new recruiters trying to capitalize on the burgeon- ing South Florida market. He said partners he has worked with over the years have been forwarding him emails they have received from out- of-town recruiters. "Recruiting is an interest- ing business in that all you need is a phone and oper- ating vocal chords to be in business," he said. "When times are good, recruiters sprout like weeds. And when the market faIN, they are no- where to be fotmd:' In the past, Ankus said, it would take him hours to "break down" a law firm and find appropriate candidates to approach with job of- fers. He said he spent years building relationships with these lawyers over countless breakfasts and lunches. Now, recruiters smell- ing big bucks from as far away as New York and California troll law firm websites to send mass emails to partners. "What took me 10 hours to do previously now takes minutes because of the Internet and email," he said. "These new recruiters are under the assumption that it takes five phone calls and you make a placement It's not like that. They're simply trolling and dredg- ing. It really falls into the category of spam. The law- yers ask ine, 'Who is crazy enough to think I would bite from an unsolicited email from no one I know in Van Nuys, California?' " Barbara Alonso of Squire Patton Boggs in Miami, who specializes in corporate fi- nance and Latin America deals, is one of the partners being wooed. She said she has been getting email blasts from a Los Angeles recruiter twice a week since December. "The legal market is realty hot," Alonso said. "This is the hottest I've seen the market since the recession. But I'm happy where I'm at" Ankus said the current need is for real estate and corporate transactional partners. "We are getting a lot more demand for lateral partners in all transactional areas; he said. "What that tells me is the economy is improving." Abbe Bunt of Bunt Legal Search puts her mission from law firms another way: "You heard the old adage location, location, location? Well when it comes to law firm laterals, it's real estate, real estate, real estate. That's what they want. There's not enough of those lawyers to keep up with demand in South Florida." `FEVERED PITCH' For the highest perform- ing lawyers in top markets like Houston, New York and Miami, competition is "at a fevered pitch," said Kent Zimmerman, a law firm con- sultant with the Zeughauser Group of Miami. For example, The American Lawyer, an ALM affiliate of the Daily Business Review, reported in April that Kirkland & Ellis guaranteed a 35 -year-old lateral partner who specializes in energy about $5 million in annual compensation to entice him to leave the Houston office of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. And while "stratospheric" salaries like these are not yet commanded in Miami, the market is getting in- creasingly more competitive in the areas of real estate and Latin America deals, Zimmerman said. "For firms in Miami— the small ones as well as the Akermans—they are facing fiercer competition for their top people," he said. "Miami has gotten to be a hotter market as the economy recovers " Julie Kay can be reached at 305-347.6685. January 13, 2015 Circulation: 5,099 / UMV: 52,417 Com-od-y by Rict-rd SeBal As a lifelong Florida- resideriL it is a proud moment to see Florida recognize Saine-seta fflamagp mid further efluality fiaralL 11jisw7u; a long Wite coming and is a day to m-lebrate- Iftrwever, the cel - Segal ebration and joy for many same-sex couples offinally being able to get married should not overshadow the fact that marriage still has very real kjPd ramifications for an newlyweds. Icor thow.store-mix reit silk es -who have been togedwr for a very long time and marriage now is simply a k_%,al recogni- tion for their already long-estab6hed loving relationship, many of these legal flintfly law principles such as erluitaW distribution anti alimony tnif-dit be m)%,Pl ce conpts to consider and s1rould spark new and open conversations with a spouse before, thy-bling to run to the al- tar Many same-sex couples are well- established in their careers and art! walking into the marriage with love and ji ry-4nn also with a lot of assets. As a family law practitioner and partner at Kluger. Kaplan, Silvennan, Kaven & !Awirm, I would advise arts potential couples, young or aid, gay or straight, that a prenuptial agreement is a wonderful tool to lay out from the outset before getting married to de- cide what each spouse would receive if the marriage unfortunately came to au end. As I expWit tet poten- tial clients, my firm would never advise potential business partners to go into a liletong deal. invest all of their assets. but not document; the deal and enter into a rivar parineN, iip agreement. Thinking front a practical standpoint, anti unfortunately recognbdrig the di- vorce rate in the U.S.. it Lq not a finxx pas to consider entering into a prenup- tial agreement. If flit., marriage is strong and forn-mr Iastft tg, whiiii vve all go into marriage firmly believing, time a prrk nuptial agreement will always remain simply a document stashed away in a vatiffia Folder and never have an impact on the relationship. I fully envision set - big an uptick in bushu--,s anti am happy to now be able to protect all couples as- set,; belom- marriage. Same Marital Issues Apply to Same -Sex Marriages EQUITABLE VISTRIELffIGN it is anticipated and Ise.P no reason for the courts tel deviate, that prior ease law in Florida re.garding family law is- sues in heterosexual marriages will equally apply tosame-sex marriapts. Two important concepts to consider when entering into a marriage are orl- idtable distribution and alimony. fit Florida. tinder the ecluitaW diA.ribudim statutes. Fiat, Stat. §01 07.5, marital assets and liabilities include: * Asset; acquired and liabilities in- curred during the marriage. individually by either ;pause or jointly by them. The enhant-P.ment in value and ap- preclation of trolimarital a."V..ts resulting either front the efforts of either party during the marriage or from the run- tribution to) or emixtiditure thereon of marital funds or other foruts of ma dtal assets, or both - 0 Interspousal gifts during the mar- riage. * Ali ivsuxl and minvested heirefits, rights and funds accrued during the juarriage in retfix,,menl, pension, profit- sharing, annuity. deferred coutpensa, tion, am] insurairce plan-, mid progritm,;_ Soniething to consider for couples thinking about marriage, as practice tip, is that even nota ma funds; can hit trat",ititiA and characterized by the court its inariud assetssubject to Nei - table distribution if the nontuarital ftinds Avere commingled with trucrital ftinds during the marriage. I,, Pfhmryle a lyrekqle, 976 So. Zd 1114 (11a, ?d 1X:A 2008). the court held that rummarital funds lost their charac- ter once conuliingkd in the husbarid*s pe.rsolud account with marital funds. 'Even if an account is titled in one spouses name alone, it may become marital if both marital and normiari4d funds an commingled in that air ount," the court said. ALIMONY Another concept to cons 5chr is ali- mony. "in a proceeding for dissolution of marriage, the court may grant alimony u) either party, which alimony may be bridge -the. -gap. rehabilitative, dura- tional or pertrument in nature or any combina- tion of these forms of alimony, In any award of alimony, the court may order periodic pityinents or payments in lump sura or both' 'Stm Fla- Stat, 961.08. "in determining whether to award alimony or maintenance, the court shall first make a sTocific factual deterruitia- tion is to whether either party has an actual need for alimony or maintenance anti whether either patty has the abil- ity to pay alimony or maintenance."See alsoSearcey r. SemrrerL 923 So- Zd 528, 529 (111. Zd D(:A 2"). 'I'lierefore for same-sex martiages there should be, a moment taken that while their right to marry is now rex agnized in Florida, so too will their rights and obligations; to each other be enforced once married. for example, through equitable distribution and ah- mony. While some of these concepts smin daunting or something that any couple would Kdor not to consider befirm recit- ing their vows of marriage, our fine al- ways cautious clients, and no differeatiy will continue to for sairre-sex couples. to consider entering Into prenuptial agnit- merits or at the Bare mininium In have air open and frank discussion with your lover. 71te key to any marriage. is open and Richard Segal is a parmer at Kluger, Kaplan. Silverman. Katzen & Levine, He fo- cuses his practice on commercial litigation and family law, assisting clients in a range of business and corporate litigation matters, and matrimonial disputes. _: It P111111111" DAILY BUSINESS REV I[W River Landing project Hoping To Score Millions From County . . . .. ......... . Schwartz April 24, 2012 Circulation; 9,796 — PRACTICE FOCUS 1 REAL ESTATE New county procedure frees up bonds for developers Commentary by Alan Kluger and Richard Segal 1nL'n 5eE:kaRg a plaaL to build cin a piece of land, a developer must put up a band that is held as sermty in exdmnge for the; developer's agreement to pay for tvrtairi improvements to the public leaihn. Stich its sidewalks, street pavers and crosswalks. Until the mcent u n- premdente d downturn in the real estate market, there %%,atss never awry reason whcTe y Kluger a developer would seek to vacate a plat, since even if the initial developer decided not to pursue the pro or..t and build on the land, having the land Amialready platted % es a valuable asset, which, in normal real es- 117_tato maditions, would be sold Segal along %ith the land. tinder normal circuansumc- es, the developer who decide it not to pursue the project wood sell the land along with the plat as an additional iw"Wve to the buyer. But during the dowmturn, many developers made the economic decision to hold the land rather than develop on it until the market recovered. With no immediate intention to build on the Land — and very little,- opportunity to sell the vacant land along with the plat --- developers were left searching for a timely solution to release this band and obtain the needed rash flow Yet for dmweltipers in Miami -Dade County, no such proctAure ex- isted. Until nov%A Working closely with Public Works and Waste Management Department of Miami -Dade County, tve, were able to create a prot,idtirm, that would allow dm*vc+jtier m to vanaw, the plant already recorded in the public record and rerver the, cxarrp- sponding bond held in escrow. According to public works of- ficials at the county, there are a nunther of bonds ,currently in plaact: whereby the, developer has not gone fontivard with their project and Ls unlikely to do so for rnany years, to come. Aitnting c lhpr thin,, rem—ind- inng a plaat re( tims drafting of a n%sokation to rescind that Eft nee& to be apprcnved by the Miarrtn-Chic Board of County Commissioners. Whik" not tw- ribly than= cxxs wiJi g, it can be complex and requires careful attention to dt44 an under- standing of the lam,, and an abil- ity to navigate the v;mous aWn- cie-s at the mxiunnty kwel. Thi_+; near procedure pro- videN a perfw l sjwrk, for both the c tumly and the developer along %vith his attorney, to work together to return the bond and reappb, ror a plat when ready to build. With the pruc tAure and initial prec e.dent complete, this process of vacating a plat far the purposes of rtx overing a bond twill likely` be an tool that de-w.kipers -will alwuyrs consid- er. Miami's real estate market Ls cychratl annd the rec vnt re- cession only made develojx,rs more cautious about: Lawnching new projects. But with this procedure, a developer can alwayrs recmier a brand if they change their mind on a projoct or ram -see a do%vnitwn in the market, and thi=n pre=pare to build again once the market recovors. Alan !huger isa founding part- ner of Miami -based litigation firm Kluger, Kaplan, Silverman, Katzen & Levine, Richard Segal is an associ- ate at the firm.