Shalia M. Sakona

Partner
305-350-7216
Area of Focus: Trial & Litigation
Shalia M. Sakona
Partner
305-350-7216
  • OVERVIEW
  • EXPERIENCE
  • INSIGHTS
  • CREDENTIALS
  • PRACTICES
GET TO KNOW SHALIA

Shalia is a Partner in Bilzin Sumberg’s Trial & Litigation Group. Her practice spans a broad array of complex and high-stakes commercial litigation matters, including multidistrict antitrust price-fixing cases, financial services and securities litigation, business torts, real property and land use disputes, partnership disputes, insurance coverage disputes, and other contract and indemnification matters.  

In her practice, Shalia adeptly combines persuasive storytelling and technical mastery of the factual record and controlling authorities. She is creative and tireless in the face of significant legal, factual, or evidentiary hurdles and has repeatedly managed to devise and deliver winning strategies, even under highly adverse circumstances, or in the absence of clear precedent. 

Shalia is known for her excellence in written advocacy, having secured summary judgments and appellate victories at both the state and federal levels, including based on novel theories of statutory construction and contract interpretation.

Q & A
What experiences have shaped your career?
I am an avid actress with three decades of stage and screen performances under my belt. Like theater or film, successful legal advocacy requires good storytelling. My acting experience enables me to craft and deliver my clients’ stories in the most credible and compelling way to achieve optimal results. A critical part of this is anticipating how the audience (i.e., the judge or jury) will respond to the arguments and evidence and creating a presentation that resonates with them. 
How do you approach your cases?
I prioritize mastery of the applicable substantive law through meticulous research and analysis. My thorough command of the legal landscape allows me to strategically navigate any weaknesses in our cases and exploit our strengths to the clients’ best advantage at each stage of the litigation, from discovery, to dispositive motions, to trial, and on appeal. 

I attribute my consistent successes in motion and appellate practice, in large part, to identifying, distilling, and capitalizing on the pertinent authorities more precisely and adeptly than our opponents.
EXPERIENCE
INSIGHTS
CREDENTIALS
  • Boston College, J.D., Notes and Comments Editor, Boston College International & Comparative Law Review, cum laude, 2013
    American University, B.A., Law and Society; Musical Theater, summa cum laude, 2010
  • Florida Shakespeare Theater
    Board of Directors
    Miami Acting Company
    Board Member, 2019
    Zoetic Stage
    Board of Directors
  • Florida
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
    U.S. District Court, District of Arizona
    U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
    U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
    U.S. District Court, Southern District of Minnesota
  • Daily Business Review, Most Effective Lawyers - Complex/Business Litigation finalist, 2016

    Florida Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2022 - present