Page 27 - Miami Vol 6 No 2
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AALM: What do you find particularly rewarding about your practice?
Stiers: I think that to be an effective trial lawyer you really must believe in the principle of service to others and have a strong, bedrock notion of justice that is firmly rooted in your core. For me, the chance to work hard on a case and achieve an outcome that undeniably changes someone’s life for the better, while simul­ taneously balancing the scales of justice as I define it, is immensely rewarding and a downright intoxicating mix when you have the right case.
AALM: What do you find particularly challenging about your practice?
Stiers: Perhaps I’m old­fashioned, but I feel that the practice has devolved from a time when professionalism and civil­ ity mattered. In litigation, there is usu­ ally a winner and a loser, but there needs to be less of an emphasis on winning at all costs. I take no comfort in ill­gotten gains, but I am always shocked and sur­ prised when others do. A good attorney fights like hell for their client. An out­ standing attorney fights like hell for their client and does so without exceeding the bounds of professional and ethical rules of practice.
AALM: What compelled you to start your own practice? How would you describe the culture of the firm?
Stiers: I started my own firm out of a long­held desire to work for myself and create something of my own. It is rewarding to be one’s own boss, but I must confess that I am also the hardest boss that I have ever worked for.
I have a plaque in my office that says, “What Good Shall I Do This Day,” which is something Ben Franklin is said to have told him­ self at the start of each day. I like to think it is the guiding principle of my firm, as each day you can de­ cide to show up, do good, and make a difference in someone’s life.
AALM: What case most defined or redefined your practice?
Stiers: A er seven years as a de­ fense attorney, I was ready to switch sides in 2010. About a year into this career change, I was referred a case at a networking event by a stranger. A
woman heard what I did for a living and ex­ plained that her friend’s mother was admit­ ted to a local hospital and had a bad sur­ gical result. A er speaking to the woman’s friend, I drove out to the hospital to meet with him and his mother, who had tragical­ ly su ered a permanent brain injury. A er explaining my thoughts and their options, they signed retainers with me. Within a year, I had achieved a fantastic result for the family. I still keep in touch with them.  at was my  rst big case and  rst reassurance that I had made the right career move.
AALM: What accomplishment are you most proud of achieving?
Stiers: As I was the first male in my family to get a college degree, going to the University of Florida has been, with­ out question, my greatest accomplish­ ment. It has opened doors for me that I never imagined were possible. When I retrace my life’s steps – growing up in a small town in Alabama, going to high school in Jacksonville, getting a full ride to attend college at UF, staying in Gaines­ ville for my law degree, and many years later having my own law firm in Miami – it has been an unlikely journey that was only possible because of the educational opportunities afforded to me.
Stiers Law
Museum Tower
150 West Flagler Street Suite 2900, Penthouse II Miami, FL 33130
(305) 509-6511 www.stierslaw.com
Practice Areas
Personal Injury Wrongful Death Medical Malpractice Nursing Home Abuse Premises Liability
Education
Juris Doctor, University of Florida, 2003
Bachelor of Arts, University of Florida, 1999
Professional Memberships
Florida Bar
Dade County Bar Association Miami-Dade Trial Lawyers
Association
Florida Justice Association
Honors
AV-Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
Million Dollar Advocates and Multi- Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow
Florida Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2010-2017
Florida Trend Magazine’s Legal Elite Up and Comer, 2011, 2013
National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, 2016-2017
Community Involvement
Miami-Dade County Citizens Independent Transportation Trust, Board Member
City of Miami Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Chair
Co-Authored the Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act, 2014
Hobbies
Cycling
Running
Reading
Exploring the World with My
Curious Sons
Favorite Quote
“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” – Seneca
Superstars 2017 Attorney at Law Magazine® South Florida | 27
At a Glance


































































































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