Smith International Legal Consultants, P.A.

Clarissa Rodriguez joins the team as a South Florida native with a rich international background. She has earned law degrees in the United States and in Spain and is pending admission into the European Bar. Her areas of expertise include international dispute resolution and complex commercial litigation, including insurance disputes, construction defects, tort defense, and other issues.

While earning her law degree, Ms. Rodriguez was a high school teacher at St. Thomas Aquinas High School where she led the Speech & Debate Team to consecutive national titles in the public speaking categories of Domestic and Extemporaneous Speech. She is the recipient of the Florida Manatee Award for Best Coach in Extemporaneous Speaking in 2003. Her natural talent for oral advocacy was instrumental in preparing attorneys and clients at the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center (FIAC).

At FIAC, Ms. Rodriguez was responsible for key research and data compiled for political and economic asylum cases of victims of from Angola, Brazil, Venezuela, Cuba, and Colombia. She was a simultaneous interpreter from Portuguese to English and Spanish to English. She prepared her colleagues for oral advocacy before the Immigration Court and prepared asylum seekers for their oral testimonies before various tribunals.

After graduating American law school, Ms. Rodriguez obtained her Spanish law degree in Civil Law at la Universidad de Barcelona, in Barcelona, Spain. Ms. Rodriguez was the recipient of the “Best Oralist” Award in her European Discourse Seminar and gave several lectures on American jurisprudence.

Her passion and enthusiasm for international law and international arbitration make her a valued presence for litigation and transactional matters. She is a member of the Cuban American Bar Association, International Law Section of the Florida Bar, Miami International Arbitration Society, Young Lawyers Division of the Florida Bar, American Translator’s Association and a Notary Public.

Representative Cases

Represented and successfully settled a complex tort litigation dispute involving several American companies and Mexican nationals.

Litigated and defended an American company in a class action Chinese drywall litigation in the Complex Business Division of the Circuit Courts of Miami.

Represented an American company involved in a complex United States patent infringement dispute.

Defended insurance companies in coverage and bad faith disputes in state and federal courts.

Successfully settled lawsuit of Canadian nationals against Carnival Cruise Lines in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Represented American companies involved in catastrophic tort litigation in United States District Courts.

Defended construction companies in multi-claimant construction defect litigation.

Successfully settled dozens of multi-claimant bodily injury disputes.

Successfully obtained final summary judgment on insurance coverage disputes.

Prior Legal Experience

Atkinson & Brownell, P.A., Miami, FL

Insurance Coverage & Bad Faith, Aviation Defense.  Represented clients in construction defect, catastrophic torts, helicopter crashes, flight academies, and wrongful death claims.  Researched complex bad faith and coverage defense issues for first and third party claims. Negotiated settlements at mediations on a number of complex matters.

Florida Immigration Advocacy Center, Miami, FL

Representing immigrants and asylum seekers in matters before courts and regulatory agencies. Prepared reports on native countries for immigrant clients seeking asylum in the United States.  Handled a variety of cases dealing with citizenship issues. Simultaneously translated client interviews and statements from Spanish and Portuguese into English.

Education:

Cuban American Bar Association

International Law Section of the Florida Bar

Miami International Arbitration Society

Young Lawyers Division of the Florida Bar

American Translator’s Association

Public Notary