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Home My WebLink AboutMSEA Letter and ResumeSOLOWSKY ALLEN Jay H. Solowsky 9 I S MIAMI CENT ER 201 S. BISCAYNE BOULEVARD MIAMI, FLORIDA 33131 www.salawmiami.com January 29, 2018 Via Email thannoncc miamiaov.com Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk Office of the City Clerk 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, Florida 33133 1 ELEPI ZONE 305.371 2223 BROVVARD 954.522.5688 FAX 305.373 2073 jsolowsky@salawmiami.com Re: Potential Appointment to the Board of Directors of the Miami Sports & Exhibition Authority Dear Todd: Commissioner Joe Carollo has requested that I submit to you my resume for review by the City of Miami Commission regarding my potential appointment by the Commission to the Board of Directors of the Miami Sports & Exhibition Authority. I previously served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Miami Sports & Exhibition Authority from 2013-2017, which will help with institutional knowledge. Thank you for your consideration. Very truly yours, H. SOLOWSKY JHS/Ig Enclosure cc: Commissioner Joe Carollo (jcarolloCa�miamigov.com) SOLOWSKY JAY H. SOLOWSKY 915 Citigroup Center 201 S. Biscayne Boulevard Miami, FL 33131 Phone: (305) 371-2223 Email: jsolowskv(a)salawmiami.com BIOGRAPHY: Mr. Solowsky is the Managing Partner at Solowsky & Allen, and is an "AV" rated lawyer who has been practicing law in Miami for more than 38 years. He has repeatedly been recognized as one of South Florida's premiere litigators by The South Florida Legal Guide Florida Trend Magazine, Florida Super Lawyers Florida's Legal Elite, and South Florida Business Journal. His practice primarily focuses on matters involving complex commercial litigation and contract based class actions. Mr. Solowsky is a highly skilled trial attorney. In 2001, after 10 years of hard-fought litigation, Mr. Solowsky and other lawyers at the Firm helped obtain a jury verdict of over $500 Million against Exxon Corporation in a federal class action on behalf of over 10,000 present and former Exxon service station dealers nationwide. The National Law Journal recognized the Firm as the third "winningest" law firm in the country for the year 2001 based upon that jury verdict. That verdict was affirmed on appeal by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and then by the Supreme Court of the United States. Exxon ultimately paid in excess of $1 billion. In 2013, Mr. Solowsky, representing the Mayor of Miami and the Chair of the Miami City Commission, filed a class action lawsuit against the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) on behalf of the residents of Miami, seeking to stop a last-minute bait and switch by FDOT regarding the construction of a signature bridge updating 1-395. Mr. Solowsky successfully negotiated a settlement which included the formation of a community Steering Committee configured to provide the local community with a voice in the ultimate approval of the design and concept of the Signature Bridge Project. Mr. Solowsky is now handling a breach of contract action against FDOT for violating the settlement agreement in the recent award of the $802 million project. In 2015, Mr. Solowsky received the Amicus Service Award given by the International Municipal Lawyers Association for his efforts in filing a brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in connection with an SEC enforcement action against the City of Miami. In addition, Mr. Solowsky serves in numerous capacities to contribute to the growth of the City of Miami. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Miami Sports & Exhibition Authority from 2013- 2017. He has been the Miami City Manager's Permanent Designee to the Board of Directors of the Miami - Dade County Homeless Trust since 2013. He served on the City of Miami's Charter Review and Reform Committee from 2014-2016. He served for many years as pro bono General Counsel and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Downtown Development Authority of the City of Miami. He served as pro bono mediator in several matters, including in 2016, as to a dispute between the Village of Key Biscayne and the City of Miami in connection with the Miami International Boat Show located at the Miami Marine Stadium Park on Virginia Key, and in 2012-2013, as to a dispute among the residents of Curtis Lane in Coconut Grove. Mr. Solowsky has also appeared before the Banking Committee of the United States Senate. In 2015, the City of Miami declared October 8 as "Jay Solowsky Day" in recognition of his various professional and civic contributions to the City of Miami. PRACTICE AREAS: • Complex commercial litigation • Commercial real estate litigation • Contract based class action litigation OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS: • Successfully represented 344 homeowners in 8 condominium associations of the Village Homes at Country Walk who sued their insurance company for Hurricane Andrew claims. Litigated on behalf of the homeowners for five years against the insurer and obtained a favorable verdict. • Successfully represented Barkett Oil Company, a family run oil jobbership, in a successful suit against Union Oil which resulted in a $10 million jury verdict and a larger post -trial settlement. • Successfully represented former insurance company executives in a white-collar criminal law matter brought by the Florida State Attorney and obtained a dismissal with prejudice of a civil claim in excess of $84 million brought by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. • Successfully represented a real estate development group in multiple foreclosure actions brought by lenders, which resulted in the client being released from $100 million of liability (including interest) and receiving a substantial settlement payment from one of the lenders. ACTIVITIES: Miami Jewish Health Systems, Inc., 2001-Current f/k/a Miami Jewish Home and Hospital for the Aged at Douglas Gardens Chairman of the Board of Directors • Miami Jewish Health Systems, Inc., and Subsidiaries (MJH) is the largest and most innovative provider of healthcare for seniors in the Southeastern United States. Founded in 1940 as a 23- bed nursing home, MJH now treats approximately 15,000 residents and patients annually, ranging from 5 to 107 years old, and encompassing all ethnic and religious groups. MJH directly and indirectly employs 1,300 people and has a budget in excess of $128 million. Ad Hoc Committee for Local Rules and Procedures 2002-2008 United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida Member Downtown Development Authority for the City of Miami 2007-2016 Member, Board of Directors (2007-2011) Pro Bono General Counsel (2011-2016) Board of Directors of the Miami Sports & Exhibition Authority 2013-2017 Member Miami -Dade County Homeless Trust Board of Directors 2013-Current Member Charter Review and Reform Committee of the City of Miami 2014-2016 Member TEACHING EXPERIENCE: University of Miami, School of Law Adjunct Professor, Pleadings and Discovery EDUCATION: Juris Doctor, cum laude University of Miami, Miami, Florida Bachelor of Arts, cum laude University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts SOLOWSKY & ALLEN, P.L. 1982-1996 1979 1975