Kate Maxwell is a partner whose practice focuses on appellate litigation, land use disputes, and condominium terminations and redevelopment. With more than a decade of experience representing developers, municipalities, investors, and educational institutions, she brings deep insight into the intersection of real estate, regulation, and appellate advocacy.

Kate has argued cases before Florida’s district courts of appeal and has been trusted by clients to handle complex matters involving sovereign immunity, zoning and permitting, and the statutory framework governing condominium terminations.

Before joining the firm as an attorney, Kate spent several years as a paralegal and law clerk supporting the firm’s litigation and appellate teams. She previously interned for the Honorable Barbara Lagoa – now a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit – while Judge Lagoa was sitting on Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal.

Kate grew up in a military family and lived throughout the United States and in Seoul, Korea and London, England before she returned to Florida to attend university.  Outside of her legal practice, she is most proud of her TDI Full Cave Diver certification and her rescue dogs.

A proud U.S. Coast Guard veteran, Kate credits her military service for shaping her disciplined approach to the law.

  • Led the acquisition and subsequent termination of a high-rise condominium in South Florida on behalf of a sophisticated investor-developer, navigating statutory compliance and owner buyouts.
  • Secured reversal of trial court orders compelling the City to litigate an action alleging its participation in a civil conspiracy; vindicated the City’s right to sovereign immunity protection on appeal.
  • Successfully defended order approving site plan for luxury residential apartment building in Surfside, Florida from certiorari challenge filed by neighbor opposed to the development.
  • Represented seller of a multi-million-dollar business as co-lead counsel in breach of contract arbitration and as lead counsel on appeal under the AAA’s new Optional Appellate Arbitration Rules.
  • Obtained per curiam affirmance of a trial court order denying opposing counsel’s fee claim in litigation over a $158 million public contract.
  • Litigated complex real property action involving more than 200 defendants to invalidate a golf course restriction, raising novel issues under Florida’s Marketable Record Title Act and leading appellate briefing before the Third District Court of Appeal and the Florida Supreme Court (St. Andrews Holdings, Ltd. v. Morot-Gaudry).
  • Represented the winning bidder for an eight-year, $76 million airport concessions contract in an appeal of a non-final order denying a temporary injunction sought by a losing bidder; the appeal was dismissed on motion (Truestar USA JV v. Miami-Dade County).
  • As local counsel, negotiated settlement at mediation to enforce a $2.5 million New York judgment against a former Goldman Sachs and Lehman Brothers broker.
  • On behalf of a general contractor, secured reversal of a final judgment that had failed to impose liability for a subcontractor’s conversion of construction materials.
  • As local counsel, represented a quasi-governmental organization supporting the world’s third-largest ship registry in a federal court action involving claims for defamation, tortious interference, and deceptive and unfair trade practices (International Yacht Bureau, Inc. v. International Registries, Inc.).

  • Florida International University College of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, Associate Member, FIU Law Review, 2012
  • Nova Southeastern University, B.S., with distinction, double major in Legal Studies and Psychology, minor in Humanities, Outstanding Student Achievement Award, 2006
  • United States Coast Guard Academy, honorably discharged, 2001

  • United States Supreme Court
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • United States District Court, Southern District of Florida
  • United States District Court, Middle District of Florida
  • Florida
  • Washington

  • Humane Society of Broward County, Volunteer