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  • Florida UCRERA: Commercial Real Estate Receivership Act| Sequor Law

    Daniel Coyle of Sequor Law analyzes Florida's adoption of the Uniform Commercial Real Estate Receivership Act (UCRERA) — receiver powers, procedures, key differences from the Model Act Florida’s New Commercial Real Estate Receivership Act Open Legal Insights Open September 30, 2020 1 minute read Daniel M. Coyle Florida’s New Commercial Real Estate Receivership Act By Daniel Coyle In July, Florida became the ninth state to adopt the Uniform Commercial Real Estate Receivership Act (“UCRERA”). 1 The timing could not be better, given the near-universal prediction that defaults on commercial loans will skyrocket due to the COVID-19 pandemic once foreclosure moratoriums end and the growing suspicion that many borrowers will not reflexively file for bankruptcy. Those with experience as federal equity receivers and Chapter 7 trustees will find they are well suited to creatively and effectively use the greater powers receivers enjoy under UCRERA to achieve better and more fruitful outcomes. Drafted in 2019 by the Uniform Law Commission, UCRERA significantly broadens the powers of state receivers of commercial real property while also establishing a standard set of rules governing the reasons authorizing appointment and the procedures for seeking appointment. 2 UCRERA’s passage is a welcome event for receivers, trustees, fiduciaries, lenders and other parties involved with commercial real estate along with their counsel. This article will analyze Florida’s UCRERA as well as to point out some key differences between Florida’s version and the Model Act. I. Florida’s Receivership Scheme Prior to UCRERA In Florida, prior to UCRERA’s enactment, receivers were generally appointed as an equitable remedy to preserve the status quo of the real estate and to collect the rents and profits. 3 Appointment was difficult to obtain because: (1) it was in derogation of the common law, and; (2) it divested the property owner of the owner’s right to manage and control the property. 4 Consistently with this, the applicant also had to meet a high burden by demonstrating a serious and significant ongoing loss, usually, but not always, in the form of waste, even if the applicant had a right to appointment in a mortgage. 5 The waste could take the form of ongoing damage or disrepair of the real property, failing to pay property taxes, or failure to turn over rents. 6 Once appointed, the ultimate rights, duties and liabilities of the receiver were solely determined from the language of the order of appointment. In other words, they were left completely up to the court. One might think this discretion could result in robust powers but case law curtailed these powers significantly. For instance, it was improbable, if not impossible, to obtain an appointment order empowering the receiver to sell the real property 7 because appointment does not affect the title to property or deprive the owner of rights to the property. 8 Instead, receivers were limited to managing the property in the ordinary course of business. II. UCRERA’s Scheme A. The Receiver’s Powers under UCRERA UCRERA broadens the powers of a receiver significantly, to the degree that the receiver obtains many of the same powers as a Chapter 7 trustee in bankruptcy. The receiver is given the status of lien creditor under Florida’s recording statute chapter (Ch. 695 Fla . Stat .) and Florida’s enactment of the UCC pertaining to secured transactions (Ch. 679 Fla. Stat. ), similarly to 11 U.S.C. §544 as to receivership property or fixtures. 9 Thus, the receiver may now pursue avoidance/clawback actions regarding the property as a Chapter 7 Trustee or Debtor-in-Possession would. 10 Similarly to 11 U.S.C. §542, the receiver is entitled to turnover of receivership property. Persons owing debts that constitute receivership property must pay those debts to the receiver. 11 One of the most significant improvements is that the receiver is authorized to sell the property before or after judgment. The receiver is now authorized to sell the receivership assets outside of the ordinary course of business before judgment and with the approval of the owners, 12 or after judgment and with court approval 13 , much like the bankruptcy process under 11 U.S.C. §365. As in a bankruptcy “363 sale,” this is a sale of the asset “free and clear” of liens on the property, with the liens attaching to the proceeds. 14 Good faith purchasers are protected from reversal or modification on appeal of an order approving the sale. 15 The receiver also has the power to accept or reject executory contracts relating to the property with court approval. 16 This power may be used even if the appointment of the receiver constitutes a breach under the contract. 17 Also, the receiver's performance of an executory contract before court approval of its adoption or rejection does not preclude the receiver from later seeking approval to reject the contract. 18 Similarly to a section 362 stay in bankruptcy, the court may enter an order providing for a stay of acts relating to the property to protect against misappropriate or waste. 19 This order must describe in reasonable detail the act or acts restrained. 20 With court approval, the receiver may incur debt outside of the ordinary course of business, make improvements to the receivership property, make a distribution of receivership property, and take the other actions described above regarding selling the property, adopting or rejecting executory contracts. 21 In addition to those innovative provisions, the receiver also has the more typical powers to collect, control, manage and perfect the property, operate the business, incur unsecured debt and pay expenses in the ordinary course of business, assert rights, claims and defenses relating to the property, and engage professionals. 22 Regarding its duties, the receiver must prepare and retain appropriate records, including a record of each receipt, disbursement and disposition of the property, account for the proceeds of all dispositions, file a copy of the order of appointment and disclose any fact arising which would disqualify the receiver. 23 The receiver’s powers and duties may be expanded, modified or limitedby court order. 24 To further the goal of standardization of appointments and broaden the receiver’s powers, UCRERA contains two provisions that seek to homogenize processes across state lines . The court may appoint a receiver already appointed in another state or even the nominee of that receiver as an ancillary receiver of property located within the state, so long as the person would be eligible for appointment under the standards of UCRERA. 25 The ancillary receiver has the same rights, powers, and duties as a receiver appointed under the statute. 26 Additionally, the Court may domesticate an order entered in another state appointing or directing a receiver. 27 The Act also provides that decisions of other states interpreting UCRERA’s provisions are persuasive authority. 28 A court may award a receiver the reasonable and necessary fees and expenses of performing its duties and exercising the receiver's powers from the revenue generated by the property. 29 Or, the court may order either the person who requested the appointment or the person whose conduct justified the appointment to pay the reasonable and necessary fees and expenses of the receivership. 30 B. Sufficient Cause for Appointment UCRERA provides grounds for authorizing an appointment prior to a judgment and grounds for authorizing an appointment after entry of a judgment. 31 A court may appoint a receiver before judgment if the property or its revenue-producing potential: (1) is subjected to waste, loss, substantial diminution in value, dissipation, or impairment or (2) has been, or is about to be, the subject of a voidable transaction. 32 After judgment, a court may appoint a receiver:(a) to the judgment or (b) to preserve the property pending appeal or when an execution has been returned unsatisfied and the owner refuses to apply the property in satisfaction of the judgment. 33 UCRERA also provides a non-exhaustive list of factors to be considered in ruling on a request for appointment based upon a mortgage, which include many of the same themes discussed previously (e.g., protection from waste, loss, diminution in value, etc.). C. Procedure for Appointment The Florida provision governing appointments 34 was significantly augmented from the Model Act because the Florida Rule of Civil Procedure governing appointments provides significant due process protections with which Florida's version of UCRERA had to harmonize. An appointment requires notice and opportunity for hearing, except that the court may issue an order without notice if immediate and irreparable injury, loss or damage will result to the applicant or that waste, dissipation, impairment, or substantial diminution in value will result before any adverse party can be heard. 35 The person seeking appointment without prior notice or hearing must provide security for the payment of damages, reasonable attorney fees, and costs incurred or suffered by any person if the court later concludes that the appointment was not justified. 36 ENDNOTES 1 Oregon, Utah, Nevada, Tennessee, Michigan, Arizona, Maryland, and North Carolina are the others. Connecticut has introduced a bill to enact the law. 2 According to section 714.04(1), UCRERA applies to a receivership initiated in a court of Florida for an interest in real property and any incidental personal property related to or used in operating the real property. The insertion of the term “incidental” was to make clear that the Act does not apply to personal property broadly, but instead only to personal property connected with or associated with commercial real property (e.g., fixtures). Property is defined broadly and expansively in section 714.02(13) to include all “right, title, and interest, legal and equitable … and includes proceeds, products, offspring, rents, and profits.” 3 U.S. Bank Nat. Ass'n v. Cramer , 113 So. 3d 1020, 1023 (Fla. 2d DCA 2013). 4 Twinjay Chambers P'ship v. Suarez , 556 So. 2d 781, 781 (Fla. 2d DCA 1990). 5 Boyd v. Banc One Mortg. Corp., 509 So. 2d 966 (Fla. 3d DCA 1987). 6 Smith v. State Life Insurance Company , 153 So. 842 (1934); Smith v. DuPuis , 157 So. 491 (1934); ( Carr v. Marion Mortg. Co ., 128 So. 12 (1930). 7 See, e.g., Shubh Hotels Boca, LLC v. Fed. Deposit Ins. Corp. , 46 So. 3d 163, 167 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010). 8 Eppes v. Dade Developers Inc. , 170 So. 875 (1936). 9 Fla. Stat. §714.09. III. Conclusion UCRERA is a significant and welcome step in both standardizing the rights, powers, duties, and procedures related to state receivers of commercial real property. With the moratoriums on foreclosures in multiple states ending or coming to an end and the expected increase in commercial loan defaults, Florida’s enactment of UCRERA is timely, and more states should consider passing their own versions of the Act. END About the Author : Daniel Coyle is an attorney with Sequor Law in Miami. His practice focuses on bankruptcy , creditors’ rights , secured transactions, collections , executions, asset recovery and cross-border insolvency . dcoyle@sequorlaw.com 10 One limitation to this is that under Fla. Stat. §714.10, appointment does not affect the validity of a pre-receivership perfected security interest or property acquired post-receivership under a perfected floating lien. 11 Fla. Stat. §714.11. 12 Fla. Stat. §714.16(2). 13 Fla. Stat. §714.16(3). 14 Fla. Stat. §714.16(4). 15 Fla. Stat. §714.16(6). 16 Fla. Stat. §714.17. 17 Fla. Stat. § 714.16(4). 18 Fla. Stat. §714.17(3). Also, under Fla. Stat. §714.17(5), if the executory contract is rejected, it is treated as if it were breached as of the day before the date the receiver was appointed so that the aggrieved party may assert rejection damages against the receivership estate. 19 Fla. Stat. §714.14. 20 Fla. Stat. §714.14(3). The permissive nature of this stay and the description requirements in the order are different than the Model Act, which provides that the appointment automatically provides for a such a stay. A person affected may apply for relief from the stay and the court must hear the motion within five (5) days or at such time as the court determines is reasonable and appropriate. Fla. Stat. §714.14(4). 21 Fla. Stat. §714.12(2). 22 Fla. Stat. §714.12(1). 23 Fla. Stat. §714.12(3). 24 Fla. Stat. §714.12(4). 25 Fla. Stat. §714.24(1)(a). 26 Fla. Stat. §714.24(3). 27 Fla. Stat. §714.24(2). 28 Fla. Stat. §714.26. 6 | P a g e 29 Fla. Stat. §714.21(1). 30 Fla. Stat. §714.21(2). 31 Fla. Stat. §714.06. 32 Fla. Sta. §714.06(1)(a). 33 Fla. Sta. §714.06(1)(b). 34 Fla. Stat. §714.03. 35 Fla. Stat. §714.03(2). 36 Fla. Stat. §714.06. Subsection 714.06(3) also provides that, if and when the Court determines the appointment was justified, and the order of appointment becomes final and no longer subject to appeal, the court will release the bond or other security. Open Back to all Entries Share this article Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link Latest News & Insights Open Open Attorney Spotlight May 19, 2026 1 minute read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Noah Rosenblum 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was drawn to law because I've always enjoyed solving complicated problems and thinking.. Attorney Spotlight May 9, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Michael Hanlon 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was less drawn to law in the abstract and more.. Firm News Apr 11, 2026 2 minutes read Sequor Law Celebrates National Pet Day with Continued Support of Paws4You Rescue In recognition of National Pet Day, Sequor Law is proud to continue its support of Paws4You Rescue, a Miami-based nonprofit... Attorney Spotlight Jan 29, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Alain M. Acanda 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was inspired to pursue a career in the law after having negative experiences with the law as.

  • Sequor Law Welcomes Asset Recovery Attorney Tara J. Plochocki as Newest Partner and Announces Expansion into Washington D.C.| Sequor Law

    Sequor Law welcomes Tara J. Plochocki as Partner and head of its new Washington, D.C. office. An ICC FraudNet member, she brings deep expertise in cross-border asset recovery and financial fraud. Sequor Law Welcomes Asset Recovery Attorney Tara J. Plochocki as Newest Partner and Announces Expansion into Washington D.C. Open Firm News Open May 29, 2024 2 minutes read Sequor Law Sequor Law, a law firm specializing in asset recovery, fraud, international litigation and arbitration, and insolvency, welcomes Tara J. Plochocki, a distinguished Asset Recovery Attorney and ICC FraudNet Member, as its newest partner and head of Sequor Law’s new office in Washington, D.C. Ms. Plochocki brings a wealth of experience and expertise to Sequor Law including her track record of success in high-profile cases and deep understanding of unraveling complex cross-border financial schemes. As an ICC FraudNet member, Ms. Plochocki is recognized globally for her contributions in the asset recovery practice area. “I am thrilled to join Sequor Law and lead the new Washington D.C. office,” said Ms. Plochocki. “This partnership presents a unique opportunity to leverage our combined expertise to tackle complex asset recovery cases and expand our reach. I look forward to working with such a dynamic and respected team.” Edward H. Davis, Jr., Founding Shareholder of Sequor Law, expressed his enthusiasm: “We are delighted to welcome Tara to Sequor Law. Her background and unwavering commitment to excellence are perfectly aligned with our firm’s mission. Tara’s leadership in the Washington D.C. office will be pivotal in enhancing our capabilities and meeting our clients’ needs in this strategic market, particularly with our anti-corruption and international practices.” Leyza B. Florin, Shareholder at Sequor Law echoed this sentiment, “Tara’s expertise and reputation in the field of asset recovery are unparalleled. Her addition to our team strengthens our firm and positions us for sustained growth and success. We are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead with Tara on board.” Sequor Law’s opening of a Washington D.C. office, its first outside Miami, represents a major milestone for Sequor Law as it brings its “Relentless Global Pursuit” tm attitude to the nation’s capital and an important international legal market. *** Sequor Law is an international law firm representing sovereign governments, and state-owned enterprises, public and non-public companies, insolvency practitioners, and individual clients in the areas of asset recovery, financial fraud, insolvency, and litigation and arbitration. www.sequorlaw.com . Click here to read about the news in Law360 or see the full article below. Open Back to all Entries Share this article Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link Latest News & Insights Open Open Attorney Spotlight May 19, 2026 1 minute read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Noah Rosenblum 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was drawn to law because I've always enjoyed solving complicated problems and thinking.. Attorney Spotlight May 9, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Michael Hanlon 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was less drawn to law in the abstract and more.. Firm News Apr 11, 2026 2 minutes read Sequor Law Celebrates National Pet Day with Continued Support of Paws4You Rescue In recognition of National Pet Day, Sequor Law is proud to continue its support of Paws4You Rescue, a Miami-based nonprofit... Attorney Spotlight Jan 29, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Alain M. Acanda 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was inspired to pursue a career in the law after having negative experiences with the law as.

  • Marital Asset Recovery: ‘Wealth Managers’ Assist Unscrupulous Men in Defrauding Their Wives| Sequor Law

    Edward H. Davis Jr. and Nyana Miller describe wealth managers hiding marital assets offshore and how asset recovery lawyers pierce trusts and companies in divorce. Marital Asset Recovery: ‘Wealth Managers’ Assist Unscrupulous Men in Defrauding Their Wives Open Legal Insights Open January 24, 2018 4 minutes read Sequor Law Wealthy men are cheating on their wives—with their accountants and lawyers. They carry on these affairs in exotic locales known for banking secrecy and regulations that make it possible to hide billions of dollars in marital assets. By Edward H. Davis Jr. and Nyana Miller Wealthy men are cheating on their wives—with their accountants and lawyers. They carry on these affairs in exotic locales known for banking secrecy and regulations that make it possible to hide billions of dollars in marital assets. Even the most financially sophisticated wives and their divorce lawyers are often unable to keep up with the growing asset protection industry and the ruthless men to whom they cater. Combating this trend, divorce lawyers and defrauded ex-wives have turned to lawyers who specialize in piercing the opaque world of offshore companies and trusts to recover assets from high net worth individuals and those who assist them. The release of the “Panama Papers” and “Paradise Papers” exposed much of the “wealth management” industry and its clientele as co-conspirators in a high-stakes shell game to conceal trillions of dollars of assets from taxing authorities, corrupted government regimes, creditors and, increasingly, the clients’ own spouses. In “Capital Without Borders: Wealth Managers and the One Percent,” Brooke Harrington notes that “through wealth managers’ skillful use of tools such as trusts, foundations and corporations, the game of ‘now you see it, now you don’t’ can go on almost indefinitely …” Many firms now advertise “pre-divorce planning” services designed to transfer assets out of a spouse’s reach. These schemes may place marital assets into offshore companies and trusts in which the divorcing wife receives a one-half ownership interest, but no right to distributions. Then, while the ex-husband is drawing “consulting fees,” his ex-wife is handed a large year-end tax liability with no ability to pay it. The scheme concludes when the ex-husband disingenuously offers to buy the company interest back and pay the taxes—all at a fraction of what his ex-wife was entitled to receive. In these divorce cases, trusts, companies and other entities maintained by the husband to hold assets should be primary subjects of inquiry. Legitimate estate and tax planning does exist and most practitioners in the field are honest brokers of a vital service. However, for the unscrupulous, “estate planning” is but a euphemism to describe asset concealment to defraud unsuspecting wives and others. Once the seeds of marital discord have been sown, if the wife has not been involved in these transactions or communications, it is more than likely that the husband enlists the wealth management professionals to divest his wife from marital property. Divorce counsel should therefore explore the husband’s accounting and legal engagements, however brief or seemingly minor. Individuals Enlisted in the Schemes Are Often Key to Successful Settlements Men who engage in these schemes often fit a standard profile—narcissistic, with an inflated sense of self-importance and a complete lack of empathy. They are often highly intelligent and believe passionately that they are doing nothing wrong. They do not fight over money, for there is more than enough marital wealth for everyone to live comfortably. They engage in protracted litigation to exercise power over and to punish their ex-wives, to exert control over their children and to secure loyalty from their family members. However, because their schemes require trusted individuals to act as nominees for entities or accounts, these men often enlist friends and family members to carry out their asset concealment activities. One such husband pursued refused to pay child support and to satisfy a judgment for property division for millions of dollars. He was pursued through two jurisdictions before he settled abroad where his conduct was essentially legally condoned. He showered his children with lavish gifts, and insisted that they come to visit him before he would pay for educational expenses and even regular dental cleanings. He threatened to miss college graduations and other milestones in his children’s lives before he would pay his ex-wife as ordered by the court. He was confident that he and his family had squirreled away the marital wealth in an impenetrable offshore structure. However, by bringing claims against those that facilitated the scheme, which brought these seemingly more rational actors to the bargaining table, a significant global settlement was obtained. The bottom line is that the world does not end at a country’s borders. There are methods of pursuing offshore assets that are focused on flipping the leverage of the seemingly impenetrable offshore structure and forcing participants in the scheme to essentially “buy the judgment.” Divorce lawyers should reach out to networks of specialized asset recovery lawyers for assistance in navigating the underworld of global asset protection schemes. Edward H. Davis Jr. is a founding shareholder at Sequor Law who focuses his practice on the representation of individual, corporate and institutional victims of fraud throughout the world and executive director of ICC FraudNet. He may be reached at edavis@sequorlaw.com Nyana Miller is an attorney at Sequor Law who focuses her practice on international asset recovery and financial fraud. She may be reached at nmiller@sequorlaw.com Click to view full article. Open Back to all Entries Share this article Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link Latest News & Insights Open Open Attorney Spotlight May 19, 2026 1 minute read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Noah Rosenblum 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was drawn to law because I've always enjoyed solving complicated problems and thinking.. Attorney Spotlight May 9, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Michael Hanlon 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was less drawn to law in the abstract and more.. Firm News Apr 11, 2026 2 minutes read Sequor Law Celebrates National Pet Day with Continued Support of Paws4You Rescue In recognition of National Pet Day, Sequor Law is proud to continue its support of Paws4You Rescue, a Miami-based nonprofit... Attorney Spotlight Jan 29, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Alain M. Acanda 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was inspired to pursue a career in the law after having negative experiences with the law as.

  • Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Arnoldo “Arnie” Lacayo| Sequor Law

    Get to know Sequor Law Shareholder Arnoldo "Arnie" Lacayo, whose immigrant experience inspired his career in international law, cross-border insolvency, and asset recovery for fraud victims. Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Arnoldo “Arnie” Lacayo Open Attorney Spotlight Open August 1, 2024 2 minutes read Sequor Law What inspired you to pursue a law career? My experience as an immigrant to this great country inspired me to pursue a legal career. More specifically, I was inspired by an experience I had in college volunteering as an interpreter at an immigration law clinic which provided free legal services to recently arrived migrants. I was also inspired by one of my great-grandfathers on my mother’s side who died at a young age but had served as a lawyer and judge of distinction in my native Nicaragua and used his legal training to argue for the independence and sovereignty of Nicaragua. Why did you choose the areas of law that you practice? I have always been interested in international and cross-border issues. I explored this interest in law school and in my first job as a lawyer. When I had the opportunity to join this firm (then known as Astigarraga Davis), I knew it was one of the city’s premier international firms. The chance to work on international and cross-border cases on behalf of victims of fraud was a challenge that I was thrilled to take on. What skills do you draw upon when it comes to your specific practice areas? I supervise and handle cases from and in various jurisdictions around the world. A very large percentage of them touch the Spanish-speaking, civil law, world. Over the years my legal Spanish has grown tremendously, and I now use Spanish daily in my interactions with clients and co-counsel. The ability to translate between the languages and, more importantly, between the civil and common law systems is a skill that I draw upon every day. What is the most rewarding part about your job? The most rewarding part of my job is helping victims of fraud who have suffered at the hands of unscrupulous people who think – incorrectly – that they are untouchable and above the law. Tell us about a mentor who made an impact on your career. I’ve been very fortunate to have great mentors throughout my life. In terms of mentorship in my legal career, I credit my law partner Ed Davis for being a great mentor throughout the almost 19 years we’ve been working together. Those who know Ed know that he relishes the chance to mentor because he himself had great mentors in his own career. I now try to do the same for younger lawyers. If you weren’t practicing law, what would you be doing? I have loved history throughout my life and majored in it in college, so maybe teaching history. What might people be surprised to learn about you? That my family and I arrived as asylum seekers when we came to the United States. What is a good book or article you read recently? I read a lot for pleasure. I also listen to audiobooks during my long commutes. I recently enjoyed You Dreamed of Empires by Alvaro Enrique and Far North by Marcel Theroux, both audiobooks with great narrators. I also really enjoyed The Swerve: How the World Became Modern by Stephen Greenblatt . Open Back to all Entries Share this article Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link Latest News & Insights Open Open Attorney Spotlight May 19, 2026 1 minute read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Noah Rosenblum 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was drawn to law because I've always enjoyed solving complicated problems and thinking.. Attorney Spotlight May 9, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Michael Hanlon 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was less drawn to law in the abstract and more.. Firm News Apr 11, 2026 2 minutes read Sequor Law Celebrates National Pet Day with Continued Support of Paws4You Rescue In recognition of National Pet Day, Sequor Law is proud to continue its support of Paws4You Rescue, a Miami-based nonprofit... Attorney Spotlight Jan 29, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Alain M. Acanda 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was inspired to pursue a career in the law after having negative experiences with the law as.

  • International Arbitrators, Litigators Setting Themselves Apart| Sequor Law

    Sequor Law shares a Miami Today feature on international arbitrators and litigators setting themselves apart, with the full article available as a PDF download. International Arbitrators, Litigators Setting Themselves Apart Open In the News Open April 5, 2018 1 minute read Sequor Law By Rebecca San Juan To download full article, click here. Open Back to all Entries Share this article Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link Latest News & Insights Open Open Attorney Spotlight May 19, 2026 1 minute read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Noah Rosenblum 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was drawn to law because I've always enjoyed solving complicated problems and thinking.. Attorney Spotlight May 9, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Michael Hanlon 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was less drawn to law in the abstract and more.. Firm News Apr 11, 2026 2 minutes read Sequor Law Celebrates National Pet Day with Continued Support of Paws4You Rescue In recognition of National Pet Day, Sequor Law is proud to continue its support of Paws4You Rescue, a Miami-based nonprofit... Attorney Spotlight Jan 29, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Alain M. Acanda 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was inspired to pursue a career in the law after having negative experiences with the law as.

  • German filmmaker’s estate files Florida Chapter 15| Sequor Law

    Sequor Law represents the estate of late German filmmaker Gideon Bachmann in a Chapter 15 petition in Florida, seeking to recover $495,000 in US bank accounts to settle debts owed to creditors. German filmmaker’s estate files Florida Chapter 15 Open In the News Open March 22, 2019 2 minutes read Sequor Law Funds in a Florida bank account belonging to the late German filmmaker and Federico Fellini collaborator Gideon Bachmann are at the centre of a new Chapter 15 application, two years after he died seemingly bankrupt in Germany. Peter Jost, a partner at Jost Rechtsanwälte in Stuttgart, applied to the Tampa division of the US Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida for recognition as foreign representative of Bachmann’s estate on 13 March. Represented by Sequor Law, Jost is seeking US$495,000 held in two Bank of America accounts in Bachmann’s name to pay off debts Bachmann owed to eight creditors at his death. In the Chapter 15 application, under which Bachmann is referred to by his birth name of Hans Werner Bachmann, Jost says the filmmaker’s creditors have US$12,617 in claims against him, an amount easily exceeded by the amount in the Bank of America account. Bachmann, who died in Karlsruhe, a city in the south west German region of Baden-Württemberg, on 24 November 2016 at the age of 89, was born to a Jewish family in Germany in 1927 before emigrating to Tel Aviv in 1936 after the rise of the Nazi party. He initially worked as a journalist for Haaretz , returning to Germany in 1947 to document concentration camps left by the Nazi regime. The following year he began to study under the celebrated Dadaist film director Hans Richter in New York, moving in the 1960s to Italy, where he was a close friend of Federico Fellini, even creating a documentary film about the Italian director, Ciao, Federico! , in 1970. He also performed in a number of Fellini’s films. His film output also included Underground New York , a 1967 portrait of the underground film movement in which he was a player, which featured rare films of Andy Warhol, Shirley Clarke and Allen Ginsberg. That moved him to direct A Camera Is Not a Molotov Cocktail in 1977, in which he explained his belief that film’s purpose was not to “convince the unconvinced” but to provide solidarity for people of shared views. He also performed in films, including for Fellini and his own 1983 film Peppermint Peace . He returned to Germany in 1996, and in his latter years worked as a film critic for a US radio programme, also establishing and editing periodical magazine Cinemages . The District Court of Karlsruhe appointed Jost as liquidator over Bachmann’s estate in November 2018, two years after his death. In the US Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida Chief Judge Michael Williamson Counsel to Jost Sequor Law Partner Gregory Grossman and attorney Amanda Finley in Miami Open Article here Open Back to all Entries Share this article Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link Latest News & Insights Open Open Attorney Spotlight May 19, 2026 1 minute read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Noah Rosenblum 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was drawn to law because I've always enjoyed solving complicated problems and thinking.. Attorney Spotlight May 9, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Michael Hanlon 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was less drawn to law in the abstract and more.. Firm News Apr 11, 2026 2 minutes read Sequor Law Celebrates National Pet Day with Continued Support of Paws4You Rescue In recognition of National Pet Day, Sequor Law is proud to continue its support of Paws4You Rescue, a Miami-based nonprofit... Attorney Spotlight Jan 29, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Alain M. Acanda 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was inspired to pursue a career in the law after having negative experiences with the law as.

  • Announcing the Addition of Two Exceptional Attorneys| Sequor Law

    Sequor Law announces the addition of Andrew B. Dawson, a University of Miami law professor joining as of counsel, and Christopher A. Noel, an experienced international commercial litigator. Announcing the Addition of Two Exceptional Attorneys Open Firm News Open September 27, 2018 1 minute read Sequor Law We welcome Andrew (Drew) B. Dawson , a distinguished and tenured professor at the University of Miami School of Law, now of counsel to Sequor Law, as well as Christopher A. Noel who leverages extensive experience in international commercial litigation and appeals. Open Back to all Entries Share this article Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link Latest News & Insights Open Open Attorney Spotlight May 19, 2026 1 minute read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Noah Rosenblum 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was drawn to law because I've always enjoyed solving complicated problems and thinking.. Attorney Spotlight May 9, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Michael Hanlon 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was less drawn to law in the abstract and more.. Firm News Apr 11, 2026 2 minutes read Sequor Law Celebrates National Pet Day with Continued Support of Paws4You Rescue In recognition of National Pet Day, Sequor Law is proud to continue its support of Paws4You Rescue, a Miami-based nonprofit... Attorney Spotlight Jan 29, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Alain M. Acanda 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was inspired to pursue a career in the law after having negative experiences with the law as.

  • Foreign representative of Brazilian businessman accused of smuggling yacht files Chapter 15 in Miami| Sequor Law

    The foreign representative of bankrupt Brazilian businessman Daniel Birmann, accused of concealing assets and smuggling a $30M yacht into Brazil, files Chapter 15 recognition proceedings in Miami. Foreign representative of Brazilian businessman accused of smuggling yacht files Chapter 15 in Miami Open In the News Open November 9, 2018 3 minutes read Sequor Law By Benjamin Clarke The foreign representative of a long-time bankrupt businessman accused of concealing his assets and smuggling a US$30 million yacht into Brazil has filed Chapter 15 recognition proceedings in Miami. On 8 November, Fernando Correia of Rio de Janeiro-based Carlos Magno Nery & Meiros filed a petition in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida, asking the court to recognize the Brazilian involuntary liquidations of copper manufacturer SAM Indústrias, its parent company Boulder Participações, and Boulder’s majority shareholder Daniel Birmann. Birmann and the two companies have been in insolvency proceedings for over a decade, after SAM defaulted on 40.1 million reais (US$14.5 million) worth of debentures back in December 2004. Back then a Rio court issued a bankruptcy order against SAM under the Brazilian Bankruptcy Law after it also closed down its principal place of business. Private pension fund Braslight, which held the defaulted notes, filed a petition for the involuntary liquidation of SAM and asked the court to extend the order to Boulder and Birmann – as the ultimate beneficial owner of the companies. The Brazilian court found that SAM’s main assets were 135 million reais (US$36.05 million) worth of loans to Boulder, and made the requested order in February 2008. The court said that Birmann had caused SAM’s collapse by transferring all of its available funds to Boulder and leaving it without sufficient liquid assets to pay creditors. Boulder then used the funds to make additional intercompany loans to Brazilian bank Banco Arbi, which is owned by Birmann’s family. Braslight was made the judicial administrator by the court, but last year Head Judge Maria Ruckerreplaced the pension fund with Carlos Magno, noting the proceedings had “not had an actual solution for several years”. Fraudulent transfers As well as the bankruptcy proceedings, the Brazilian Securities Exchange Commission (CVM) also launched an action against Birmann. According to a declaration filed by Correia in the US court, the CVM found that the loans extended to Banco Arbi were contracted under much more favorable conditions than those offered by the market and concluded that Birmann’s actions were an “abuse of control”. It imposed a fine of 234 million reais (US464.88 million) on Birmann – “the largest fine ever imposed to an individual by the CVM” according to Correia. “During the bankruptcy proceedings, Daniel Birmann was required to disclose of his assets to the Brazilian court, which he has failed to do,” Correia says. “Instead, it appears that he has fraudulently transferred assets to his family members in order to avoid enforcement of the bankruptcy order and to conceal his assets from creditors. Brazil’s department of revenue discovered a further attempt to hide assets in 2012 when it seized a yacht called “Big Aron” in the city of Salvador. The yacht was registered in the name of Isle of Man-incorporated company Tango Bravo, which had applied for a tax-free admission on the grounds it was a non-resident. But the authorities suspected that Brazilian resident Birmann was the actual owner and concluded that with Tango Bravo he had “smuggled” the yacht into the country. The name “Big Aron” caught the attention of the authorities because Birmann’s father was named “Aron Birmann” and, upon further analysis, the department of revenue learned that Birmann and his family were consistently registered as guests on trips in Brazil and elsewhere. After conducting investigations, the CVM found that Tango Bravo was held by another entity in the Cayman Islands, which in turn was held by a Panama-incorporated entity with a single shareholder: Birmann’s mother. With a value of 60 million reais (US$30.1 million), the CVM sought to levy on the yacht and use the proceeds to pay off the fine it had imposed on Birmann. A federal judge in Rio, Judge Fatima Sequeira made such a seizure order in 2015. But the following year, the department of revenue discovered furniture and appliances had been “stolen” from the yacht and transported to a Banco Arbi address. Public prosecutors were informed, and a criminal lawsuit for embezzlement and misappropriation was filed against Birmann last year. With counsel from Gregory Grossman of Sequor Law , Correia filed the Chapter 15 proceedings in Miami “in furtherance of a worldwide pursuit of assets” to satisfy unpaid claims. Birmann has a Florida driver’s license listing an address in Florida, Correia says, and the debtors’ have assets located in the United States. Judge Robert Mark has listed the matter for a hearing on 4 December. In the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida, Miami Division In re SAM Industrias S.A.; Boulder Participacoes LTDA; and Daniel Benasayag Birmann Judge Robert Mark Counsel to the foreign representative Sequor Law Partner Gregory Grossman with Nyana Miller in Miami Foreign representative to SAM Industrias, Boulder Participacoes and Daniel Birmann Carlos Magno Nery & Meiros Partner Fernando Correia in Rio de Janeiro To view full article, click here. Open Back to all Entries Share this article Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link Latest News & Insights Open Open Attorney Spotlight May 19, 2026 1 minute read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Noah Rosenblum 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was drawn to law because I've always enjoyed solving complicated problems and thinking.. Attorney Spotlight May 9, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Michael Hanlon 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was less drawn to law in the abstract and more.. Firm News Apr 11, 2026 2 minutes read Sequor Law Celebrates National Pet Day with Continued Support of Paws4You Rescue In recognition of National Pet Day, Sequor Law is proud to continue its support of Paws4You Rescue, a Miami-based nonprofit... Attorney Spotlight Jan 29, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Alain M. Acanda 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was inspired to pursue a career in the law after having negative experiences with the law as.

  • Leyza Florin Blanco Makes D&I North America Shortlist| Sequor Law

    Sequor Law Shareholder Leyza B. Florin is named a finalist at the Chambers Diversity & Inclusion Awards: North America 2022, honoring her dedication to advancing D&I in the legal field. Leyza Florin Blanco Makes D&I North America Shortlist Open Awards & Recognition Open April 13, 2022 1 minute read Sequor Law We are delighted to announce Sequor Law Shareholder, Leyza B. Florin as a finalist at the Chambers Diversity & Inclusion Awards: North America 2022. These awards celebrate the fantastic achievements of firms, companies and individuals who are furthering the advancement of diversity and inclusion across the USA and Canada. Congratulations Leyza, and thank you for your endless dedication to promote diversity and inclusion in all you do! Open Back to all Entries Share this article Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link Latest News & Insights Open Open Attorney Spotlight May 19, 2026 1 minute read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Noah Rosenblum 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was drawn to law because I've always enjoyed solving complicated problems and thinking.. Attorney Spotlight May 9, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Michael Hanlon 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was less drawn to law in the abstract and more.. Firm News Apr 11, 2026 2 minutes read Sequor Law Celebrates National Pet Day with Continued Support of Paws4You Rescue In recognition of National Pet Day, Sequor Law is proud to continue its support of Paws4You Rescue, a Miami-based nonprofit... Attorney Spotlight Jan 29, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Alain M. Acanda 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was inspired to pursue a career in the law after having negative experiences with the law as.

  • CHRISTOPHER A. NOEL TO SPEAK AT THE 27TH USMBA ANNUAL CONFERENCE| Sequor Law

    Sequor Law's Christopher A. Noel speaks on international trends and high net worth matrimonial asset recovery at the 27th USMBA Annual Conference in Houston, Texas. Christopher A. Noel to Speak at the 27th USMBA Annual Conference Open Events & Speaking Open October 7, 2021 1 minute read Sequor Law Christopher A. Noel will be speaking on the International Trends and Family Law panel focusing on high net worth matrimonial asset recovery at the 27th USMBA Annual Conference in Houston, Texas on October 20th. Open Back to all Entries Share this article Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link Latest News & Insights Open Open Attorney Spotlight May 19, 2026 1 minute read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Noah Rosenblum 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was drawn to law because I've always enjoyed solving complicated problems and thinking.. Attorney Spotlight May 9, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Michael Hanlon 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was less drawn to law in the abstract and more.. Firm News Apr 11, 2026 2 minutes read Sequor Law Celebrates National Pet Day with Continued Support of Paws4You Rescue In recognition of National Pet Day, Sequor Law is proud to continue its support of Paws4You Rescue, a Miami-based nonprofit... Attorney Spotlight Jan 29, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Alain M. Acanda 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was inspired to pursue a career in the law after having negative experiences with the law as.

  • Omani businessman appeals US recognition of English bankruptcy| Sequor Law

    Sequor Law's Leyza B. Florin and Cristina Beard advise Grant Thornton trustees as an Omani businessman appeals a Florida court's recognition of his English bankruptcy proceedings. Omani businessman appeals US recognition of English bankruptcy Open In the News Open June 1, 2021 2 minutes read Sequor Law An Omani citizen is seeking to overturn a Florida court’s recognition of his English bankruptcy, which he describes as “a divorce case being played out on the international stage”. On 19 May in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida, Talal Al Zawawi filed a notice of appeal against a recognition order granted to Grant Thornton’s Michael Leeds, Colin Diss and Hannah Davie as his bankruptcy trustees. Al Zawawi initially opted to have the appeal heard by a bankruptcy appellate panel, but it has since been transferred to the local district court. The grounds of appeal have yet to be published. Herron Hill Law Group shareholder Kenneth Herron is counsel to Al Zawawi on the appeal, while Sequor Law shareholder Leyza B. Florin and attorney Cristina Beard are advising the trustees. The bankruptcy court recognised the trustees on 6 May, six weeks after granting them interim recognition. The trustees sought recognition to block any party from transferring property owned by Al Zawawi, including any ownership interest he may hold in four Florida companies and a Texan company that does business in Florida, as well Omani businessman appeals US recognition of English bankruptcy as to obtain discovery powers to investigate his finances. Judge Lori Vaughan issued the recognition order despite an objection from Al Zawawi, who argued that he did not have any ownership interests in the five companies. “This case does not involve an international business entity or any other form of international intrigue,” Al Zawawi said in his objection. “It merely involves a divorce case being played out on the international stage.” Al Zawawi, a UK resident with Omani citizenship, has been subject to bankruptcy proceedings in England since June last year. His ex-wife had filed a bankruptcy petition against him over failure to pay a 2019 divorce decree, which required him to pay her £24 million (US$34.1 million). The businessman received a prison sentence a month after the decree was issued, due to his failure to comply with an order to disclose financial information to his ex-wife’s lawyers. His assets are currently subject to a worldwide freezing order. The trustees responded to Al Zawawi’s objection by claiming that he was a director of the Florida companies, that the companies owed US$94 million of assets between them and that he indirectly owned them through a Curaçao holding company, Qapa Investing Corporation. They have obtained a Curaçao attachment order against Qapa, which is coowned by the businessman and his six siblings. Since securing the recognition order, the trustees have filed notices of examination on the US branches of several banks, including Barclays, Citibank and Deutsche Bank, seeking documents relating to Al Zawawi’s financial affairs. Judge Gregory Presnell has been assigned to the appeal proceedings in the district court. He has yet to schedule a hearing. To read the original article, click here. Open Back to all Entries Share this article Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link Latest News & Insights Open Open Attorney Spotlight May 19, 2026 1 minute read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Noah Rosenblum 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was drawn to law because I've always enjoyed solving complicated problems and thinking.. Attorney Spotlight May 9, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Michael Hanlon 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was less drawn to law in the abstract and more.. Firm News Apr 11, 2026 2 minutes read Sequor Law Celebrates National Pet Day with Continued Support of Paws4You Rescue In recognition of National Pet Day, Sequor Law is proud to continue its support of Paws4You Rescue, a Miami-based nonprofit... Attorney Spotlight Jan 29, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Alain M. Acanda 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was inspired to pursue a career in the law after having negative experiences with the law as.

  • Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Robert B. Kearney| Sequor Law

    Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Robert B. Kearney Open Attorney Spotlight Open December 3, 2024 3 minutes read Sequor Law 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? My dad was a small-town doctor. It was really important to him to help people in his community to—literally—get back on their feet. His role as a healer was more than a vocation to him; it was his identity and his calling. When I was in middle school, he was wrongfully forced out of the clinic he had helped build. The excuse the clinic provided was that he could no longer provide adequate care. Although the termination itself was certainly alarming, he was completely heartbroken by the insinuation that he ever provided anything other than the highest standard of care. That insinuation tarnished his very understanding of himself, I think. It truly changed him for a long time. Eventually, he filed a lawsuit against his former clinic and, when I was in college, he won, receiving some backpay for the wrongful termination. What mattered most to him, however, was that a jury of his peers had sat down and certified, after weeks of testimony, that his termination had nothing to do with his ability to heal. It really gave him back to us, in a lot of ways. I think that was the first time I really appreciated that the ability of the law to make someone whole is something more than an arithmetic exercise in compensation. Until then, I had primarily been looking at a career in consulting or finance, but that experience really drew me to the law. 2. Why did you choose the areas of law that you practice? It goes without saying that the ethos of this practice area is in line with what initially drew me to the law. Beyond that, however, I thrive on complexity. I truly enjoy unraveling and solving a difficult problem with a lot of variables, and I think that’s part of what drew me to insolvency and asset recovery. For example, I chose my bankruptcy clerkship over a district court offer because I had been tracking developments in the law and was fascinated by its breadth and the tools it offered. 3. What skills do you draw upon when it comes to your specific practice areas? Several past employers have commented on my ability to work through immense amounts of information relatively quickly and synthesize it into a story. I think that’s my primary skill and the one that I’ve found most useful here. It works for legal aspects of this practice area, as well as the complex factual situations we often encounter. 4. What is the most rewarding part about your job? So far, it’s the fact that I get to go to sleep every night knowing that I’m helping people be made whole. They say the arc of the universe bends towards justice; it’s nice to imagine I’m putting my own tiny amount of force into pushing that arc in the right direction. 5. Tell us about a mentor who made an impact on your career. I had several professors in law school that encouraged me to pursue what I was interested in, beyond the standard law school path. I also had two outstanding judges, Judge Erik Atas in the Maryland Circuit Court for Baltimore City and Judge James Tancredi in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut, that pushed me to think creatively, learn to be better every day, and gave me incredible advice on so much more than my legal career. It feels like an injustice to name only one. 6. If you weren’t practicing law, what would you be doing? Probably working in consulting. That was my original path, but I’m not sure how much my heart was really in it. I prefer to imagine I’d be a history professor, but I don’t think I would have actually gone that route. 7. What might people be surprised to learn about you? I am a huge outdoorsman. I used to be a certified Wilderness First Responder and lifeguard, but I let those lapse a few years ago. It feels very surreal, I’m sure, to imagine anyone you have met in a suit standing up to their knees in a bog with a canoe on their back in the Canadian wilderness. 8. What is a good book or article you read recently? My favorite book I’ve read in the last few years is probably “The Last Stand of the Tin Can Soldiers” by James D. Hornfischer, which is a fantastic book for World War II history buffs. I’m currently reading “Chip War” by Chris Miller, which is a captivating narrative of the growth of semiconductors and their importance to geopolitics. Open Back to all Entries Share this article Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link Latest News & Insights Open Open Attorney Spotlight May 19, 2026 1 minute read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Noah Rosenblum 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was drawn to law because I've always enjoyed solving complicated problems and thinking.. Attorney Spotlight May 9, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Michael Hanlon 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was less drawn to law in the abstract and more.. Firm News Apr 11, 2026 2 minutes read Sequor Law Celebrates National Pet Day with Continued Support of Paws4You Rescue In recognition of National Pet Day, Sequor Law is proud to continue its support of Paws4You Rescue, a Miami-based nonprofit... Attorney Spotlight Jan 29, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Alain M. Acanda 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was inspired to pursue a career in the law after having negative experiences with the law as.

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