Raquel M. Fernandez

Partner
305-350-2353
Hablo Español
Area of Focus: Trial & Litigation
Raquel M. Fernandez
Partner
305-350-2353
  • OVERVIEW
  • EXPERIENCE
  • INSIGHTS
  • CREDENTIALS
  • PRACTICES
GET TO KNOW RAQUEL

Known for her excellence in written advocacy, Raquel has secured summary judgments at both the state and federal levels, and by doing so she has often saved her clients considerable time and resources.

Raquel has more than two decades of experience handling complex commercial litigation and is well-versed in all phases of pretrial, trial, and appeals. Her experience includes securities class actions, business torts, partnership disputes, deceptive and unfair trade practices claims, breach of contract, products liability, antitrust, and class action defense work, with an emphasis on consumer products and the food and beverage industry.

Fluent in Spanish, Raquel works with Spanish-speaking clients and witnesses, and has served as liaison counsel for U.S.-based clients and counsel in South America.

Q & A
What is one of your greatest strengths as a lawyer?
Bringing forth clarity through written and oral advocacy is the cornerstone of litigation and appellate work. To be persuasive, I need to understand my client's objectives and their business on a granular level. I become completely vested in the matters I'm involved with, almost as if my own business interests were at stake. My clients appreciate this level of commitment and I think it is one of the main reasons they have continued to come back to me over the years.
Can you share an example of a matter in which you worked collaboratively across practices?
I recently settled a case that resulted in my client acquiring commercial property. I worked closely with a member of the real estate team, who was instrumental in helping address complex leasing issues, which in turn made the resolution of the settlement more financially beneficial to our client.
EXPERIENCE
Experience
Representation of real estate lender, the seller, in a dispute relating to the sale of a pool of 298 loans for $22 million to a bank. A miscalculation by the seller at the closing caused the creation of a closing statement containing the wrong purchase price. At trial, the Judge determined there was...
Experience
Represented call-center in defense of a national TCPA class action based on “wrong number” calls, allegedly placed by call-center, to individuals who were not intended recipients of calls. Obtained order denying class certification.
Experience
Represented national furniture manufacturer in defense of breach of oral contract and fraud based claims. Obtained a dismissal with prejudice of all claims based on statute of frauds defense. Dismissal was affirmed in all respects by the Eleventh Circuit.
Experience
Defense of insurer in appeal of order certifying class action of insureds and medical providers, which resulted in reversal of class certification and dismissal of complaint.
Experience
Defense of an airline in a federal court age discrimination action where the plaintiff sought back pay and compensatory damages, including for mental anguish, punitive damages, and attorney fees. Successfully obtained summary judgment on behalf of the airline.
Experience
Defense of an altimeter manufacturer in a wrongful death products liability action seeking millions of dollars in damages. Successfully obtained summary judgment on behalf of client.
INSIGHTS
Publication May 15, 2023
Civil litigator Raquel Fernandez joined Bilzin Sumberg for a second time five years ago. In addition to her work as a litigation partner, she has become head of the firm’s “Matters of the Heart” pro bono initiative.
Webinar October 7, 2020
Litigation partners Raquel M. Fernandez and Mitchell Widom, and litigation attorney, Benjamin Mitchel, lead a discussion around business interruption insurance and answer the top questions asked by General Counsel.
CREDENTIALS
  • University of Pennsylvania, J.D., Associate Editor, University of Pennsylvania Law Review,  magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, 1995
    Cornell University, B.S., 1992
  • Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
    U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
    U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
  • Florida Super Lawyers, 2010 - present

    Daily Business Review, Best Mentor, 2023

    The International Who's Who of Aviation Lawyers Leader in Aviation Law

     

  • Spanish