Silvia B. Piñera-Vazquez is a highly skilled trial attorney who, for 20-plus years,  focuses her practice on criminal defense issues.  As a former Assistant United States Attorney, Silvia tried many cases to jury verdict during her career and argued numerous times before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and Florida appellate courts.  

Silvia has substantial experience in representing individuals and corporations from the initial investigative stage through the resolution of the matter.  This experience established a framework for the development of corporate compliance programs and internal investigations models for various business entities. 

Silvia is fluent in Spanish and has extensive experience in representing individuals and corporations in cross-border transactions that have come within the purview of the American justice system.  Her language skills and business acumen combined with her past prosecution experience have resulted in the prompt resolution of several international matters.

 PAST PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

•   Assistant United States Attorney, Southern District of  Florida, 1991 -2000 

Special Counsel to the United States Attorney, Public Corruption Section, Economic/Environmental Crimes Section, Special Prosecutions/Forfeiture Section, Narcotics Section, Appeals and Major Crimes Section

•  Trial Attorney,  Stearns Weaver Weissler Alhadeff  & Sitterson P.A.  1989 - 1991                                                           

 EDUCATION             

 •  University of Miami School of Law, J.D. 1989

University of Miami Law Review, Associate Editor.  Publication: Comment, Extraterritorial Jurisdiction and International Banking, A Conflict of Interests, 43 U. Miami L. Rev. 449 (1988); Finalist, Moot Court Competition

•  University of Miami, College of Arts and Sciences, B.A. 1986, Politics and Public Affairs, cum laude

•  Loyola University, Rome, Italy 1984

BAR ADMISSIONS 

•  Florida Bar 1989

COURT ADMISSIONS

•  United States District Court, Southern District of Florida

 •  United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Judicial Circuit

•  Supreme Court of the United States

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

•  Southern District of Florida Ad Hoc Committee on  Attorney Admissions  Peer Review and Attorney Grievance (2007-2010)

•  Southern District of Florida Magistrate Committee (2009)

•  Florida Bar Grievance Committee (2010 - present), Chair (1995-1998)

•  National Criminal Defense Association

 •  American Bar Association

•  Cuban American Bar Association

•  National Hispanic Bar Association

•  National Downs Syndrome Association