LISSETTE M. CARRERAS
Of Counsel
lcarreras@bastamron.com
Miami
305.379.7904
LISSETTE M. CARRERAS
Of Counsel
Lissette M. Carreras practices in the areas of commercial litigation and insolvency and has extensive and varied experience in investigating and litigating a wide range of claims. Lissette represents domestic and foreign businesses and fiduciaries in federal and state court and has successfully prosecuted and defended claims for breach of contract, breach of warranty, civil theft, breach of fiduciary duty, and other equitable claims, as well as a fraudulent transfer, avoidance, objections to discharge, and dischargeability in bankruptcy court.
Lissette’s most important team member is her client. She develops strong client relationships, strives to appreciate her clients’ values, and fully understands her clients’ businesses. Lissette’s clients benefit from her extensive trial experience, which guides her case analysis and uniquely qualifies her to identify key issues, witnesses, and themes in anticipation of trial. Lissette has represented clients in business disputes across numerous industries, including software development, pharmaceutical, and medical device development, realtor and real property, freight forwarding, hospitality, and insurance coverage, and has a wealth of experience representing trustees and other fiduciaries. Lissette’s deep understanding of litigation and trial skills and tactics have resulted in excellent outcomes and client satisfaction.
Lissette excels at organizing and leading teams of lawyers, paraprofessionals, expert witnesses, and vendors. She works closely with the subject matter experts in each case to craft targeted discovery strategies aimed at minimizing client costs and maximizing the value of the undertaking.
Prior to joining the firm, Lissette amassed experience prosecuting and defending a vast array of civil matters, including real property disputes, condominium association matters, insurance coverage and defense actions, construction defects, and commercial litigations. Lissette also served as an Assistant State Attorney for over five years, where she prosecuted thousands of cases ranging from insurance fraud and drug trafficking to violent felonies, including armed robbery, kidnapping, and murder. Lissette was responsible for multi-faceted investigations, which called upon her to make decisions concerning the sufficiency and strength of evidence and the direction and scope of the cases- a skill set she regularly uses in her commercial practice today. Lissette has tried over sixty cases to verdict before juries in Miami-Dade County
Representative Experience
- Represented a cellular phone financing business in an action for breach of contract against a Latin American distributor of cellular phones, resulting in a roughly $2 million judgment against said distributor
- Represented restaurateur in 50/50 partnership dispute after being shut out by partner, who owned the brand associated with the restaurant
- Represented investors defrauded out of millions of dollars in an elaborate scheme premised on a failed real estate development project
- Special litigation counsel to Washington State Court Appointed Receiver of Infectious Disease Research Institute, retained to investigate and prosecute breach of fiduciary duty claims against the former officers and directors
- Obtained a verdict in favor of our commercial landlord client in one of the first Zoom bench trials in the 11th circuit. The case alleging breach of a lease agreement was made more challenging by a dilatory defendant, his numerous counsel, and a busy division where the case was pending on the trial docket for five years. The satisfied client was awarded all the relief he sought, including entitlement to attorney’s fees and costs incurred in the litigation
- Special litigation counsel to Chapter 7 Trustee of UVLrx Therapeutics, Inc., retained to pursue claims against D&O insurer for declination of coverage and recovery of excess judgment
- Special litigation counsel to Chapter 7 Trustee of UVLrx Therapeutics, Inc., retained to investigate and prosecute breach of fiduciary duty claims against the former directors and officers, which resulted in a settlement and entry of a consent final judgment in excess policy limits
- Represented multinational foreign company, its officers, subsidiary, and subsidiary’s employees against former CEO’s allegations of wrongful termination and defamation in Texas
- Served as counsel to partner in hospitality-based business over origination of projects and revenue streams in dissolution action against equal partner
- Investigated director and officer liability, attorney malpractice, and transfer, concealment, and recharacterization of assets on behalf of bankruptcy trustees and other fiduciaries
- Represented clients in real property disputes including, prosecuting and defending lender real estate foreclosure actions, commercial and residential evictions, quiet title actions breach of contract for purchase of residential property, boundary disputes, and lien foreclosure actions.
- Represented a shareholder of a South American freight logistics company in an international arbitration involving claims of breach of contract and fraudulent inducement, resulting in a settlement on favorable terms
- Special litigation counsel to Chapter 7 Trustee of Puglia Engineering, Inc., retained to prosecute breach of fiduciary duty claims against the former directors and officers, resulting in a recovery of 90% of the remaining insurance proceeds to creditors
- Represented a global technology company in a post-M&A dispute involving the divestiture of a business unit and the buyer’s subsequent refusal to make an earn-out payment, and successfully prosecuted client’s breach of contract claims through two jury trials, obtaining a judgment for millions in damages and attorneys’ fees, while avoiding liability on a slew of counterclaims ranging from breach of contract to fraud
- Actions for equitable relief including declaratory judgments and injunctions
- Defended software development company against $80 million dollar claim for breach of a software development contract, breach of warranty, and several torts brought in Texas and declaratory action against insured for coverage of the litigation claims under an Errors and Omissions insurance policy
- Obtained dismissal of a foreign publicly-traded company from claims of alter ego liability for claims against its American subsidiary based on jurisdictional challenges with potential multi-million dollar liability
- Investigated and asserted claims for breach of fiduciary duty against former directors and officers on behalf of Chapter 7 Trustee of Astor & Black Custom, LLC, which resulted in a recovery of $2.5 million for creditors
- Investigated and asserted claims for breach of fiduciary duty against the former directors and officers on behalf of Chapter 7 Trustee of Puglia Engineering, Inc., resulting in a recovery of 90% of the remaining insurance proceeds to creditors
- Counsel for custodian and receiver of operating company that owned and operated numerous dating websites while 50/50 partners contentiously litigated ownership and value of assets.
- Extensive motion and trial practice in Miami Dade County’s Repeat Offender Courts prosecuting violent career criminals charged with first-degree and life felonies as well as insurance fraud, grand theft, and other economic crimes
Awards and Recognitions
- South Florida Legal Guide– Top Up & Comer, Commercial Litigation, 2016-2019
- Super Lawyers, Business Litigation, Civil Litigation 2015-2020
- Prosecution Award of Honor, Mothers Against Drunk Driving
- Regional Finalist, National Student Trial Advocacy Competition, ATLA, 2004
- Quarter-Finalist, Cohen & Cohen Mock Trial Competition, 2004
- Student Leadership Recognition Award, The George Washington University Law School
Speaking Engagements
- Speaker, Motion for Summary Judgment, 6th Annual Circuit Court Boot Camp, Miami, April 2017
Professional & Community Activities
Contact Information
Email
lcarreras@bastamron.com
Address
One Southeast Third Avenue
Suite 2410
Miami, FL 33131
T:305.379.7904
F:305.379.7905
Education
J.D., The George Washington University Law School
B.A., Florida International University, magna cum laude
Business Background
Associate, Law Office of Alexis Gonzalez, P.A.
Assistant State Attorney, Office of the State Attorney, Miami-Dade County
Intern for Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart
Admitted to
Florida Bar
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, Middle District of Florida
Areas of Practice
Litigation
Bankruptcy
Commercial Litigation
