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IN THE NEWS: Melissa Tapanes Llahues Installed as President of the Builders Association of South Florida

May 22, 2025

Melissa Tapanes Llahues has made her mark not only in the legal profession but also in the greater Miami community. A respected zoning and land use attorney and civic leader, she became a named partner at Bercow, Radell, Fernandez, Larkin & Tapanes, PLLC in 2020, where she represents major landowners, developers, institutional clients, and small business owners in securing complex approvals across all levels of government. Now, Melissa adds another milestone to her distinguished career: Melissa was installed on May[...]

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Firm Client Receives Design Review Board Approval

March 5, 2015

Bercow Radell & Fernandez Congratulates Client, Developer Pedro Martin Developer Pedro Martin has received the blessing of the Miami Beach Design Review Board to build a 200-foot tall high-rise that will include plenty of trees outside, and inside, the building. The 20-story, 64-unit condominium will replace the 10-story Howard Johnson Dezerland Hotel at 8701 Collins Avenue in Miami Beach. Designed by famed architect Morris Lapidus and built in 1951, the Dezerland was originally known as Biltmore Terrace. In December 2013,[...]

Firm Provided Zoning Opinion Letters for Two Major Projects

March 4, 2015

Bercow Radell & Fernandez Provided the Zoning Opinion Letters for Two Significant New Projects Financed by Canyon Capital: $157 million senior construction loan for a joint-venture between the Related Group of Florida and SBE Hotel Group to finance the development of a 54-story, luxury mixed-use tower located in the Brickell area of Miami. The project consists of 453 SLS-branded residential condominiums and a 124-key SLS-branded hotel with two ground-floor restaurants featuring concepts by renowned chefs Jose Andres and Michael Schwartz. [...]

Firm Wins Approval for New Home

March 3, 2015

Bercow Radell & Fernandez Congratulates Client Stuart Miller, Whose Star Island Home Received Design Board Approval The prospect of new legislation governing future development on Star Island motivated Lennar CEO Stuart Miller to move, rather than demolish, his circa-1928 waterfront home at 22 Star Island Drive, his attorney told the Miami Beach Design Review Board during a meeting on Tuesday. Lennar Corp. CEO Stuart Miller’s design plans for his Star Island home, which include the construction of a new 20,000-square-foot[...]

Justin Karr and Gianeli Mestre Have Joined the Firm

February 23, 2015

(MIAMI) Feb. 17, 2015 – Bercow Radell & Fernandez is pleased to announce that Justin Karr and Gianeli Mestre have joined the growing zoning, land use and environmental law firm as Associates. Located in downtown Miami, Bercow Radell & Fernandez consistently ranks among the region’s top firms in its specialties. Justin has worked in the public sector at the federal, state, and local level, and was drawn to the practice because of his considerable interest in government relations. At the firm, he works[...]

Scheck Hillel’s New Athletic Complex

February 13, 2015

Bercow Radell & Fernandez Congratulates Its Client, Scheck Hillel Community Schools on New Athletic Complex With great excitement and a lot of Lion Pride, the community gathered January 8, for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of Scheck Hillel Community School’s new state-of-the-art Athletic Complex. To commence the celebration, Scheck Hillel’s Head of School, Dr. Ezra Levy officially welcomed families, founders, past chairs, alumni, dignitaries and other friends to the complex and future of the campus. Scheck Hillel was fortunate to have North Miami Beach Mayor George[...]