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Deborah Baker

Partner
Overview

Deborah Baker is a partner in the litigation practice group and is the Firm’s Director of Attorney Development.  Ms. Baker focuses her law practice in the areas of commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution, with significant emphasis in the areas of business and real estate litigation. Ms. Baker has represented public and private companies in a variety of corporate litigation matters.  She has litigated shareholder derivative lawsuits through trial and appeals, ending with favorable outcomes for her clients. She is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator and has been appointed by the Miami-Dade County Circuit Court to act as a Special Magistrate to assist the Court, litigants and their counsel in resolving discovery disputes in lawsuits pending in the Complex Business Litigation Division.

Ms. Baker has also advised clients on intellectual property matters, including a multi-national retail business with respect to a claim of trademark and copyright infringement. Ms. Baker was able to guide her client towards a favorable resolution without litigation.

Ms. Baker has obtained her FINRA Series 7, 55, and 63 licenses, and has represented claimants before the American Arbitration Association. Ms. Baker has extensive trial experience, both jury and non-jury, and has successfully handled several appeals.

Bar Admissions

  • California
  • Florida
  • New York

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York

Education

  • J.D., Northwestern University School of Law, 1999
  • B.A., Wesleyan University, Honors, 1996
Experience

Professional and Community Involvement

  • Jackson Health Foundation, Golden Angel Society, Member, 2023
  • The Florida Bar, Board of Governors’ Judicial Nominating Commission Screening Committee for Vacancies on the Florida Supreme Court, Member, 2018 – 2019
  • The Florida Bar, Board of Governors’ Judicial Nominating Commission Screening Committee for Vacancies on the Third District Court of Appeals, Chair, 2018 – 2019
  • The Florida Bar, Florida Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism Screening Committee, Chair 2018
  • The Florida Bar, Program Evaluation Subcommittee on Military Affairs, Chair 2018-2019
  • The Florida Bar, Citizens Advisory Committee, Member, 2017-2018
  • The Florida Bar, Board of Governors, Member, 2016-2019
  • Anti-Defamation League, Civil Rights Committee, Member, 2014-Present
  • Dade County Bar Association, Member
  • Jewish Federation of Greater Miami Judicial Reception Awards Selection Committee, 2015-2017
  • Florida Bar, Civil Procedure Rules Committee, 2015-2016
  • Florida Bar, Eleventh Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee, 2015-2016
  • Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Miami-Dade Chapter
    – President, 2014-2015
    – State FAWL Outstanding Chapter Award, 2014-2015
  • Spellman-Hoeveler American Inn of Court, Member, 2015-Present
  • Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc., Board Member, 2009-2011
  • Lotus House, Street Law Program, Director, 2011

Speaking Engagements

  • Presenter,“2022 Leaders Summit” Florida Defense Lawyers Association, September 23, 2022
  • Panelist, “Juror Perception and Decision Making Post-COVID,” Dade County Bar Association Bench and Bar Conference, April 2021
  • Speaker, “Trial Themes With Legends” Seminar, American Inns of Court, Bench and Bar Conference, March 1, 2019
  • Panelist, Dade County Bar Association Bench and Bar Conference, “A Frank Discussion with the Judiciary,” February 2017
  • Panelist, Miami-Dade FAWL Corporate Counsel Summit, “Non-Compete and Non-Solicitation Agreements,” February 2017
  • Panelist, Federal Bench & Bar CLE Conference, Dade County Bar Association, November 2016
  • Speaker, Appellate Legends Lunch CLE, Dade County Bar Association, October 2016
  • Speaker, “Super Stars in Trial & Jury Selection,” Dade County Bar Association, July 2016
  • Panelist and Demonstrating Attorney, “Voir Dire – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” Dade County Bar Association Bench and Bar, 2016
  • Panelist, “Women, Minorities, the Media & the Law,” Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers Seminar, April 2015
  • Panelist, “Extraordinary Remedies: Proceedings Supplementary and Involuntary Bankruptcy,” Dade County Bar Association Bankruptcy Committee Seminar, March 2015
  • Speaker, Katherine Fernandez Rundle State Attorney and Donna Shalala, President of University of Miami’s Fourth Annual Human Trafficking Forum, January 2015
Awards

Recognitions

  • Best Lawyers®, “The Best Lawyers in America,” Commercial Litigation, 2024-2025
  • Chambers and Partners USA, “Top Ranked Lawyers – Florida: Litigation: General Commercial” 2023-2024
  • Super Lawyers, “Florida Super Lawyers,” 2016-2024
  • Miami-Dade Bar, “Circle of Excellence Award,” 2023
  • Daily Business Review’s Florida Legal Awards, ” Best Mentors” 2023
  • The American Lawyer, “South Trailblazers,” 2022
  • Super Lawyers, “Top 100 Lawyers in Florida,” 2020-2022
  • Super Lawyers, “Top 50 Women Lawyers in Florida,” 2019-2022
  • American Inns of Court, “10-30 Years of Practice – Women of Distinction Award,” 2019
  • South Florida Legal Guide, “Top Lawyer,” 2017-2020
  • Florida Trend, “Legal Elite,” 2015-2017, 2019-2022
  • ACLU, “Maurice Rosen Act of Courage Award,” 2018
  • Miami-Dade FAWL, “Mattie Belle Davis Award,” 2017
  • The Florida Bar, “William K. Reese Award,” 2017
  • Dade County Bar Association, Legal Luminaries, “Top Corporate Lawyer,” 2017
  • Daily Business Review, “10 Top Women in Law,” 2017
  • State FAWL, Leaders in the Law Award, 2015
  • Outstanding Lawyers of Miami-Dade County,“40 Under 40” Cystic Fibrosis Award, 2012
  • Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc., Volunteer Service Award, 2011
  • Miami-Dade FAWL, President’s Award, 2010-2011
Publications

Publications

In the News

News & Videos

News

Videos