Veteran litigator Michael N. Kreitzer has joined Greenberg Traurig, P.A.’s Miami office as a shareholder in the global law firm’s Litigation Practice. Kreitzer, who is the former chair of Bilzin Sumberg’s Litigation Group, has a broad practice representing many national and international businesses and prominent individuals in their most crucial disputes. For more than a decade, Kreitzer had oversight of Bilzin’s team of approximately 25 litigators.
Greenberg Traurig’s Litigation Practice comprises more than 600 experienced litigators worldwide, including 90 former federal and state prosecutors. Lex Machina has recognized Greenberg Traurig as the Number 1 law firm in Commercial Litigation based on the volume of cases filed over the past decade.
Kreitzer has tried numerous jury and non-jury trials to final verdict and/or judgement in both federal and state courts throughout Florida and nationally. He also represents clients in arbitration proceedings and other alternative dispute resolution forums. His practice focuses on a wide range of business related disputes in the areas of contracts, real estate and real property law, business partnerships, and shareholder conflicts, including liability claims brought against directors and officers.
Kreitzer also has a very active practice in the areas of construction litigation, commercial real estate development litigation, trademark disputes, and the representation of financial institutions and special servicers. He is board certified in business litigation by The Florida Bar since 1997.
“We are privileged to have a litigator of Michael’s stature working with us and are very pleased to welcome him to Greenberg Traurig, where our clients will benefit from his wide-ranging experience,” said Miami office Co-Managing Shareholder Jaret L. Davis.
Fellow Miami office Co-Managing Shareholder Yosbel A. Ibarra added: “Michael is a trial lawyer with an impressive track record and long-standing reputation as a top litigator. He was well known to us and many of our clients, especially for his commitment to client service. These are just a few of the many reasons why he fits perfectly into our firm and our culture of excellence in law.”
Some of his current and previous clients include Starwood Capital Group, LNR Property, Luxury Brand Partners, Merz North America, Berkadia, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and former Miami Heat star Dwayne Wade.
“I was attracted to the opportunity to join a premier law firm with the extraordinary reputation of Greenberg Traurig and a global platform that offers the ability for me to continue to expand my practice throughout the Southeast and beyond,” Kreitzer said. “I look forward to continuing the firm’s tradition as a litigation powerhouse known for providing clients with the highest level of efficiency and effectiveness.”
Kreitzer has litigated numerous high-profile matters, including:
Represented real estate developer BCOM in defense of an eminent domain proceeding brought by Miami-Dade County seeking to acquire the Miami Circle, a Tequesta Indian site that dates back hundreds of years. The ensuing litigation was settled out of court when the county agreed to pay BCOM’s affiliate $28.5 million for the taking, resulting in a profit for the client.
Represented Lennar Corporation in a two-week arbitration proceeding where, despite the U.S. Attorney’s conclusion of insufficient evidence to prosecute, Kreitzer proved that the seller of 1,219 acres of land in Palm Beach County had obtained the governmental development permits through bribery. The arbitrator ruled that such illegal conduct warranted rescission of the contract, return of Lennar’s $70 million deposit, and payment of an additional $6 million to cover all the company’s legal and related expenses.
Represented Fontainebleau Florida Hotel, LLC, in more than thirty construction claims. The lawsuits stem from the $1 billion redevelopment of a Miami Beach hotel, and were brought by subcontractors and sub-subcontractors involved in construction.
Kreitzer has numerous professional rankings and honors, including being listed in Chambers USA, “Litigation: General Commercial,” 2006-present; listed in Benchmark Litigation, “Local Litigation Star,” 2008-present; listed in The Best Lawyers in America, “Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Real Estate,” 2012-present; listed in Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, 2013-present; listed in Florida Super Lawyers, 2006-present; and Martindale Hubbell, Rated AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5.0.
He received his J.D. with honors from The George Washington University Law School, and a B.S. in Business Administration and Computer and Information Sciences, magna cum laude from the University of Florida.
Active in the South Florida community, Kreitzer is an executive cabinet member of the United Way of Miami-Dade’s Tocqueville Society. He is both chairman emeritus of the Wolfsonian-FIU Advisory Board and the Board of Directors of the Friends of WLRN. He has been an active member of both organizations for more than a decade.
