In this episode of his "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small talks about his experience prosecuting the Cammarata Organization while serving with the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) Organized Crime Strike Force. Mr. Small explains how traditional organized crime groups struggled with the transition into drug trafficking, a business they once saw as off-limits. He details how the Cammarata group's excessive ambition and reliance on violence undermined their criminal enterprises, including failed international deals and brutal tactics that ultimately led to their downfall. This episode explores the realities of investigating organized crime, the economic principles underlying illegal enterprises and how prosecutors use evidence of violence to portray criminal organizations in court.

Too Dirty for Dirty Crime

Trials are human and thus imperfect, and sometimes those inherent imperfections can tilt the playing field before the jury ever hears the full story. Continuing his behind-the-scenes account of defending former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards, litigation attorney Dan Small shares what happens when a case lands in front of a judge with a long memory and an even longer grudge. With Louisiana's tight-knit political world making neutrality hard to find, the defense team faced an extremely long uphill battle, as seemingly small rulings and daily setbacks compounded over nearly three months in court. However, Mr. Small emphasizes, the true lesson for trial lawyers is to remain prepared to vigorously advocate for their clients' interests, also making sure to keep a client's spirits up even when fairness seems impossible to obtain. As he says, "buckle up and keep playing anyway" and continue trying the case.

Not a Level Playing Field

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is coming to Miami, and the implications will reach far beyond the stadium. Partner Isabel Diaz and Associate Alexa Duarte sit down with Alina Hudak, president and CEO of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami Host Committee to explore what it takes to deliver seven matches and more than 30 days of citywide activation. Ms. Hudak breaks down the projected billion-dollar economic impact, describes the process of building the foundation to highlight the city during this monumental event and explains how global exposure can translate into real estate demand, investment and long-term growth across South Florida.

How Hosting the FIFA World Cup Will Benefit Miami's Real Estate Market

In a high-profile case, if you do not fill the silence, someone else will. In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook," litigation attorney Dan Small continues discussing his representation of former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards and the challenge of managing public opinion in a case that drew intense media attention. Mr. Small explains how his arrival from Boston quickly became a story of its own, fueling speculation that he had been hired to negotiate a secret deal. He recounts how, without clear information, rumors escalated into a televised narrative involving then-U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno. Mr. Small describes a courthouse press moment where Edwards used humor and timing to debunk the false storyline, and he closes with a reminder that in major cases, even offhand moments can be observed and turned into headlines.

"Nature Abhors a Vacuum." So Does the Media

Comprar una empresa sin realizar debida diligencia es altamente riesgoso, aunque los riesgos no sean aparantes al inicio. En este episodio de "A Lo Legal En Par Minutos", Edwin Cortés, socio, y Michelle Sperling, abogada de derecho corporativo, explican qué son las fusiones y adquisiciones (M&A) y por qué el due diligence (debida diligencia) es una etapa imprescindible antes de cerrar una compra: verifica lo que promete el vendedor, destapa contingencias más allá de la "punta del iceberg" y mide la viabilidad legal, económica, reputacional y estratégica de la operación. La abogada también comparte qué hacer con los hallazgos, desde renegociar el precio y pedir ajustes previos al cierre hasta usar mecanismos como escrow para mitigar riesgos y proteger la transacción.

Due Diligence en M&A: La radiografía antes de comprar una empresa

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes embedded in daily life, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has signaled it has no immediate plans to implement AI-specific rules. In this episode, consumer protection attorney Anthony DiResta analyzes recent statements by FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Chris Mufarrige and compares the agency's current enforcement outlook with past regulatory actions. According to Mr. DiResta, the FTC appears focused on targeting bad actors, rather than the technology they are using, and avoiding the pursuit of rules that could slow AI industry growth. That shift is evident in the commission's case against AI writing assistant Rytr, which alleged review generation abuses but was set aside for lack of evidence of actual consumer harm. The outcome aligns with the White House AI Action Plan's emphasis on avoiding regulatory overreach. Overall, Mr. DiResta concludes, AI use that misleads consumers or violates existing laws will still draw federal scrutiny, but the FTC is signaling a more supportive posture toward technological innovation.

Where the FTC Stands on AI: Evidence Over Speculation

La Superintendencia de Sociedades de Colombia publicó recientemente el proyecto de modificación de la Circular Básica Jurídica, mediante el cual se unifican el Sistema de Autocontrol y Gestión del Riesgo Integral LA/FT/FPADM (SAGRILAFT) y el Programa de Transparencia y Ética Empresarial (PTEE). Este proyecto busca identificar, gestionar y medir, a través de un solo programa, los riesgos de lavado de activos, financiación del terrorismo, proliferación de armas de destrucción masiva, corrupción transnacional y corrupción local.

En este episodio de "A Lo Legal En Par Minutos", Edwin Cortés, socio, y Diana Serrano, abogada corporativa, analizan el esfuerzo, su impacto en las compañías y los cambios relevantes relacionados con el rol y las responsabilidades de los oficiales de cumplimiento.

Proyecto de circular: Los cambios en compliance

Healthcare bankruptcy filings in the middle market dipped in 2025, yet increased costs, payer denials and tighter credit continue to pressure providers across the sector. In this episode of Counsel That Cares, Gibbins Advisors Principals and Co-Founders Clare Moylan and Ronald Winters and Holland & Knight Bankruptcy Partner Tyler Layne analyze restructuring trends in the industry and explain why filings alone can understate real-time distress. Reviewing Gibbins Advisors' annual report on healthcare bankruptcies, they assess how out-of-court workouts and receiverships, along with in-court Chapter 11 proceedings, shape outcomes, and detail how strained finances can limit options well before a filing.

During the conversation, Ms. Moylan and Mr. Winters identify healthcare operational and financial indicators that depress performance: payer denials, pharmacy spending, stabilized but higher labor costs and thin margins that weaken liquidity. They evaluate why 2026 may be pivotal for organizations as policy shifts affect coverage, reimbursement and balance sheets. They then outline practical steps for healthcare leadership teams: model best and worst cases, prioritize capital, engage vendors early, strengthen denial management and time transformation investments to build resilience.

Assessing the State of Healthcare Restructurings

Trials can be stressful for attorneys, but the experience can be even more overwhelming for clients. In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook," litigation attorney Dan Small explores how to navigate client relationships through the lens of a high‑profile corruption case he handled involving a former state governor.

Mr. Small reflects on the ups and downs of the relationship with his client. Sometimes they argued or disagreed, but they also shared meals and attended events together to preserve a sense of normalcy amid the chaos of the trial process. This episode offers an inside look at the challenges he faced, the pressures of the case and the human side of working closely with a client under immense scrutiny.

All Eyes on the Client

When a handful of healthcare deals begins driving public policy, the ripple effects can reshape entire industries, including real estate. Real Estate attorney Jeffrey Calk and Healthcare Transactions attorney John Saran explore the fast-growing wave of state and federal legislation focusing on healthcare mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and drawing hospitals, physician groups, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and private equity investors into a far more complex regulatory regime. They share their experiences advising clients in this ever-changing field that blends healthcare and real estate, including how concerns about hospital consolidations, distressed health systems and sale-leaseback transactions have triggered a patchwork of proposed or enacted reporting rules, transaction approval requirements, deal moratoriums and financial safeguards. This conversation presents sharp, practical insights into why these regulatory and legislative development matter and how investors, providers and operators should respond to avoid being caught off guard.

States Propose New Laws Affecting Healthcare Real Estate Investors and Owners

What happens when an American trial lawyer carries the principles of justice halfway around the world? Litigation attorney Dan Small recounts his pro bono journey to Uzbekistan, where he worked with lawyers and judges seeking to reform a judicial system still shaped by Soviet-era standards that gave judges most of the power. Using the fictional murder case State v. Faulkner as a teaching tool, he helped introduce the fundamentals of the adversarial process – cross-examination, competing narratives and rigorous truth-testing – to a legal culture with little experience in two-sided trials. The result is a compelling look at how one mock case became part of a much larger effort to open minds, challenge assumptions and support the slow yet rewarding work of judicial reform.

Too Dirty for Dirty Crime

Holland & Knight Legal Podcast

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