A. Sheila Oretsky

How Sheila Helps Clients

Sheila is an AV Preeminent rated and Chambers-ranked litigator and trial attorney who serves as the Co-Chair of Buchanan's Class Action Litigation Practice Group.

She advises clients on complex commercial litigation matters that span a variety of industries. Sheila is often called upon to serve as lead counsel in high-profile matters. The diversity of Sheila’s practice spans from industry changing challenges to Indian Gaming Compacts to real estate disputes with publicly traded retail tenants and multi-billion dollar landlords and disputes stemming from international mergers and acquisitions. She provides a sophisticated level of analysis to her clients in highly contentious complex matters involving defamation, partnership disputes, fiduciary claims, non-competes and trade secrets, EB5 related litigation, commercial landlord/tenant disputes, breach of contract, civil RICO and fraud. Sheila’s matters are litigated in federal and state courts across the country as well as in arbitrations including international arbitrations before the ICC.

Sheila is a respected colleague and often serves as a testifying attorneys’ fees expert and judicially appointed special master and also serves on the Judicial Nominating Procedures Committee and a Grievance Committee of the Florida Bar.

Since 2016, Sheila has been selected to the Florida Super Lawyers List. She was selected for inclusion in Florida Trend’s Legal Elite in 2010 as a top “Up and Comer” and was recognized again in 2021 & 2022. Sheila was selected by her peers as an honoree for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s 40 Under 40 Outstanding Lawyers of Miami-Dade County Award in 2012. She was also selected as one of the Top 14 Lawyers to Watch in 2014 by Attorney at Law Magazine. In 2019, Sheila was recognized as a Leader in the Law by the Florida Association for Women Lawyers. In 2022, Sheila was also recognized as a leading attorney in Florida in the Litigation: General Commercial category by Chambers USA.

What Clients Can Expect

Sheila approaches each case as if it was her own. Clients should expect that she will take their problem on entirely so they can continue to sleep at night. She is the type of lawyer that will dig deep into the documents and legal issues to find a unique strategy to successfully resolve a problem.

Outside the Office

Sheila is a strong believer in giving back to the community and is active in several charitable and legal organizations. She takes great pride in serving on the Board of the Lotus House, a homeless shelter for women and children. She also dedicates a significant amount of time to pro bono services, including serving as a judicially appointed pro bono Guardian ad Litem for minor children in child custody disputes. In her spare time, she enjoys watching her daughters compete in figure skating and traveling with her family.

Proof Points

• Prevailed in case and obtained favorable arbitration award in matter for large motor racing company in dispute with seller of business.
• Successfully defended a $14 million commercial foreclosure action at trial brought against a local developer. Also obtained judgment on developer’s counterclaim for declaratory relief to extend the maturity date of the loan.
• Successfully defended a multi-office law firm in a $85 million malpractice claim.
• Obtained summary judgment in favor of condominium association in the defense of a Petition to Dissolve the Condomonium Association and Declaratory Relief claim. Hershoff, Lupino & Yagel, LLP v. Center Cocoanut Grove Condominium Association, Inc., et al. per curium affirmance of attorneys’ fees awarded under §57.105.
• Successfully defended a credit card processing company at an evidentiary hearing in a preliminary injunction action brought against a former sales representative of in a non-compete action and obtained summary judgment striking the non-compete clause as unenforceable and limiting the non-solicitation clause.
• Obtained dismissal, with prejudice, of constructive fraud counts in defense of malpractice claim.
• Obtained a successful settlement in a claim for sentimental value damages in a unique property damage case.