Richard D. Shane represents individuals and businesses in complex commercial litigation, with a focus on real estate and construction-related disputes. He also has experience in appellate matters. He is co-chair of the Construction Division of Duane Morris' Trial Practice Group and a member of the firm’s Construction and Engineering industry group. Mr. Shane has represented clients in complex commercial litigation disputes in both state and federal courts. Mr. Shane serves as a member of the Firm-wide Pro Bono Committee and previously served as a member of the Firm-wide Associates Committee from 2016 to 2020.
Prior to joining Duane Morris, Mr. Shane served as law clerk to the Honorable Edwin G. Torres of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. During law school, Mr. Shane served as a judicial intern to the Honorable Leslie B. Rothenberg of Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal.
Mr. Shane is a 2009 cum laude graduate of the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where he was a Notes and Comments Editor for the Florida Law Review. Mr. Shane is a cum laude graduate of the University of Florida, where he received dual degrees in business management and criminology and a minor in education. While at the University of Florida, Mr. Shane was a student ambassador with the Florida Cicerones and a member of Florida Blue Key.
Areas of Practice
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction Litigation
Real Estate Litigation
Appeals
Representative Matters
Represented StoneMor Florida Subsidiary LLC before Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal in a matter in which Pershing Industries, Inc. sought to enforce a contractual right of first refusal to purchase one of StoneMor’s funeral homes that is adjacent to a cemetery owned by Pershing. StoneMor prevailed on a motion for summary judgment at the trial court, which was affirmed by the appellate court.
Represented Fanjul Corporation, one of the largest sugar companies in the world, in obtaining a complete dismissal on the merits in a case brought by plaintiffs who alleged that they had been unlawfully evicted by a subsidiary of Fanjul in the Dominican Republic.
Represented one of the largest Managing General Agents in the United States, Atlas General Holdings, LLC, and its President, CEO, and majority owner, William Trzos, in a suit involving fraud and breach of fiduciary duty claims.
Represented the landlord of CityPlace Doral, a shopping center in the City of Doral Florida, in multiple eviction actions and various disputes with tenants.
Represented a lender in the foreclosure of a waterfront hotel in Tampa, Florida.
Represented an investor in a technology start-up in a pre-suit settlement involving the return of an initial investment.
Represented Wayfair LLC, the tenant of a commercial property in Duval County, Florida, in an eviction action.
Represented the landlord of two commercial properties in Flagler County, Florida, in an eviction action against two tenants and several guarantors.
Represented the developer of the Trump Hollywood Condominium in Hollywood, Florida, in a multi-million dollar construction defect lawsuit concerning the building’s design and construction, and involving several contractors (including Coastal Construction of South Florida, Inc., R.C. Aluminum Industries Inc., Rodel Fire Protection Systems, Inc., and Titon Builders, Inc.), national material suppliers (including Allied Tube & Conduit Corporation, The Viking Corporation, Lubrizol Advanced Material, Inc. f/k/a Noveon, Inc., and Nibco, Inc.), and design professionals.
Represented the developer of a luxury oceanfront Florida condominium in a construction defect lawsuit involving a 9,000 square foot residence.
Represented the purchaser of a commercial property in the City of Doral, Florida, in a dispute pertaining to the return of a substantial deposit.
Represented the owners of a car dealership in Key West, Florida, in a suit involving alleged breaches of an asset purchase agreement.
Represented the owner of a shopping center located in Miami Gardens, Florida, and its guarantors in a foreclosure action.
- Obtained full summary judgment on behalf of a plaintiff in Miami-Dade County Circuit Court against the seller of a high-priced condominium unit near Miami Beach for non-disclosure of unpermitted work that ended up being defective. The trial court ruled in favor of the client on all counts of the complaint and found the client entitled to recover fees and costs. The Third District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's orders. Criscito v. Herbits, Case No. 3D17-2005, Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District (Opinion filed May 23, 2018).
Represented the general contractor, Monadnock Construction, Inc., developer, The Related Companies, Inc., and several other defendants in four related lawsuits involving the development of two high-rise, affordable housing apartment buildings in Queens, New York. Glasswall, LLC v. Monadnock Construction, Inc., et al., Case Nos. 3D15-1652, 3D15-1124, Third District Court of Appeal of Florida (Opinion Filed January 27, 2016).
Represented the general contractor in a dispute with the owner of a boutique, mixed-use project located in the Design District in Miami, Florida.
Represented the owner of a waterfront residence in Miami Beach in a construction defect lawsuit involving claims by a subcontractor and general contractor completing work at a luxury residence.
Represented the lender and special servicer in the foreclosure of and bankruptcy proceedings involving the Sagamore Hotel, an iconic boutique hotel of historical significance located in the Art Deco District of Miami Beach.
Represented LNR Partners, LLC, a major commercial loan servicer, in multi-million dollar commercial foreclosure matters.
Represented a prominent developer in a lawsuit against a joint venture partner.
Worked on the trial team defending a Miami Heat star player in a dispute involving multiple business ventures and claims for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and trademark infringement.
Admissions
- Florida
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
Education
- University of Florida Levin College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2009
- Notes and Comments Editor, Florida Law Review
- Teaching Assistant, Legal Research & Writing - University of Florida, B.S. (Business Management), B.A. (Criminology), cum laude, 2006
- Member, Florida Blue Key
- Member, Florida Cicerones
- UF Outstanding Undergraduate Leader Award, Honorable Mention
Experience
- Duane Morris LLP
- Partner, 2022-present
- Associate, 2015-2021 - U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- Law Clerk to the Hon. Edwin G. Torres, 2013-2015 - Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP
- Associate, 2010-2013 Third District Court of Appeal, State of Florida
- Judicial Intern to the Hon. Leslie B. Rothenberg, May 2007-July 2007
Professional Activities
- Florida Bar 11th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee “P”
-Member, 2022-present - Board of Directors, United Way Miami
- Board Member, 2023-present - Board of Directors, Dade County Bar Association
- Board Member, 2021-2022
- Vice-Chair, Professionalism Committee, 2021-2022 Board of Directors, Dade County Bar Association Young Lawyer's Section
- Board Member, 2017-2018
- Executive Board Member, 2018-2019
- Treasurer, 2019-2020
- Secretary, 2020-2021
Honors and Awards
- Named to the Miami Dade Bar Young Lawyer Section’s “40 under 40” in 2023
- Named to Best Lawyers "Ones to Watch," 2021-2025
Named as "40 Under 40 Outstanding Lawyers of South Florida 2019" by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Listed in Legal Elite Up & Comers by Florida Trend, 2019
- Listed in Miami Super Lawyers and Super Lawyers Rising Stars
Civic and Charitable Activities
Member, United Way of Miami-Dade Young Leaders
Greater Miami Jewish Federation
- Member of the Host Committee, 35th Annual Judicial ReceptionAnti-Defamation League Florida
- Member of the Host Committee, ADL 2018 and 2019 Miami Jurisprudence Award Luncheon
Selected Publications
- Co-author, "Construction Laws and Customs: Florida," Practical Law Real Estate, May 11, 2020
- Co-author, "Florida Court: Lawyers And Judges Should Not Be Facebook Friends," New Miami Blog, September 12, 2012
- Note, "Teachers as Sexual Harassment Victims: The Inequitable Protections of Title VII in Public Schools," 61 Florida Law Review 355, 2009
Selected Speaking Engagements
- Moderator, "#GetSocial with @DCBAYLS: Redefining Happiness & Success as a Young Lawyer Using Social Media," The Florida Bar Annual Meeting, Technology Symposium Powered by LegalFuel, Webinar, June 9, 2021
- Moderator, "#GetSocial with @DCBAYLS: Redefining Happiness & Success as a Young Lawyer Using Social Media," Dade County Bar Association Young Lawyers Section, Webinar, March 31, 2021
Panelist, “Great Results,” Duane Morris Trial Practice Group Meeting, Boca Raton, FL, October 19, 2019
Presenter, “Possession, Custody, or Control Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 34: Implications of Interpretation,” Miami, Florida, April 12, 2019
- Panelist, "Doing It All," Duane Morris Trial Practice Group Meeting, Boca Raton, FL, October 22, 2016