What is a lawyer? The good ones are story tellers, who can create a vision in the eyes of a jury of the events that led to the lawsuit. Here at Hola Latinos, we decided to turn the proverbial record over, endeavoring to find out the story of one of Miami’s great trial lawyers. And oh what a story his life has been. His is a story of unique high-profile trial cases, born from a family of Holocaust survivors, of avid philanthropical involvement in the local and Jewish community, and a passion for justice that sets the highest standards in the legal industry.
A charismatic and powerful trial lawyer, Adam S. Hall is highly recognized and honored as one of South Florida’s top trial lawyers and has made national and worldwide headlines for being an advocate for victims of state-sponsored terrorism. Hall represented the U.S. Navy sailors who were injured and the families of those killed in Al-Qaeda’s bombing of the U.S.S. Cole and obtained a $70 million settlement from the Government of Sudan in 2020. For his efforts, Hall was named a finalist in an award for “Attorney of the Year” in Florida.
Hall explains it took almost 20 years, but it was recently settled. It was a case he worked on with his late father on behalf of the Navy victims’ families. Having discovered that Iran may have also been involved in aiding the Bombing, Hall brought a new case against Iran last year, which is pending.
In another significant matter, Hall received national press relating to his representation of the former owner of the Tampa Bay Storm Arena Football League for a Legal Malpractice lawsuit against a national law firm’s failure to do proper due diligence on the purchase. After the purchase, the Storm only played one season and the AFL then went into bankruptcy.
“The significant debt of the league was well known internally. The lawyers did not do any due diligence on the league, only on the team,” he said.
Hall also represented The South Beach Diet a few years ago in a dispute with a consultant who was claimed to have breached his fiduciary duty relating to their protein bars.
“The bars had been manufactured by Kraft, who wanted to end that relationship. And the advice that this consultant gave would’ve caused South Beach Diet irreparable harm,” he said. There was high stakes litigation involving South Beach Diet before it was sold to a private equity firm, and the lawsuit settled confidentially.”
In another prominent case, the Navy Seals had contracted a South Florida rigid inflatable boat company, Nautica RIBS and another boat manufacturer who specialized in Navy contracting to create a new inflatable vessel that had to be light enough to travel on airplanes. They built a test boat, but lost the contract as it was overweight, so the lawsuit was about which two companies caused it to be overweight. After a two-week Federal jury trial, the Jury awarded the exact amount that was requested.
“I am really a trial lawyer, as opposed to a ‘litigator’, he says. Hall prepares all cases for trial. And if it happens to settle and that’s what your client wants, and in their best interest, that’s fine, but you are likely to obtain a better settlement if you have prepared a case for trial. The opposing counsel knows you’re ready to try the case and are not preparing it just to settle.”
Hall comes from a large family of lawyers and worked closely with his father for over 22 years, who was also a highly recognized attorney.
Hall’s interest in the law started in High School. Hall was asked to compete and joined the high school’s mock trial team. The real spark, he says, is when they made it to the finals, and he was voted the best cross-examiner, not just for his school but across all Miami-Dade County.
Hall says it takes a particular personality to be a successful trial lawyer.
“You have to have an insatiable intellectual curiosity, whether you are investigating the facts of a case, the law that would apply to a case, or the potential defenses, at every juncture,” he says.
Hall puts enormous passion into his work and explains that one of his secrets to success has been the exceptionally personalized attention each client receives.
“I put the same amount of effort and commitment in every case as if one of my family members was the client. You always try harder when your “mother” is the client. That’s what makes a difference,” Hall says.
Hall’s family story relating to the Holocaust has driven him to become highly involved in the Jewish community’s philanthropic efforts.
His family was originally from a town called Lvov in Poland, which is now in Ukraine. Hall’s uncle, Allan Hall, who’s now 87 years old, a survivor of the Holocaust, and his grandmother spent a year hiding, living in a closet in an office one floor below the Luftwaffe headquarters. At one point, Allan and Hall’s grandmother were captured. Impersonating a German, Hall’s grandfather bribed Nazi guards to let them out.
“I always felt a need, a desire to give back, for the successes that my family and I have had, he says.”
I’m a trustee of my alma mater, the University of Florida’s law school. I’m an alumni member of the advisory board of Florida Blue Key, which is probably the preeminent college-level leadership organization in the state.
After he graduated, Hall became involved in the United Way. Hall is currently on his Temple board and has been on the board of the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach for approximately 15 years.
Hall is also on the National Leadership Council of the American Jewish Committee.
” I’ve never been the guy that writes a check and doesn’t get personally involved. I think that carries over into my work. I won’t get involved either, from a philanthropic point of view or professional work, unless I can help.”
What sets Hall apart from the competition? He’s personally highly involved in his cases.
“When I need more resources, I staff up. I think you get better representation at a smaller firm where they can dedicate more time, more energy and get to know you better. I know my clients. I know their businesses. I know how they tick,” he says.
“You’re hiring a person who will be the one standing up in court and a team behind that person. A small law firm can have just as good a team, if not better, than a large law firm. I feel that my representation of clients is best served in a smaller structured environment.”
“I want people to call me and tell me their story. If I think they’ve been harmed or are the victim of another business, I want to try to help them. It’s in my DNA.” While this sounds like the philosophy of a personal injury lawyer, Hall actually applies his credo to his primary practice arena – business cases involving complex commercial disputes and plaintiff or defendant representation in professional malpractice cases.
ACCOLADES/GALARDONES:
Hall was named one of three finalists for the 2021 attorney of the year in Florida by the daily business review and Law.com. “I was one of three finalists for attorneys of the year in Florida, and the winner deserved to win because he represented the victims of Jeffrey Epstein.”
Elite Trial Lawyer 2022 (International Torts)
Awarded by the National Law Journal
Elite Trial Lawyer 2021 (Intentional Torts)
Awarded by the National Law Journal
2021, 2022 Best Law Firms in America©
Most Effective Lawyer 2020 (International Law)
Awarded by the Daily Business Review for exceptional results obtained for a client.
2007-2021 South Florida Legal Guide – Top Lawyer
Based on peer review nominations, this award recognizes attorneys who are well-regarded in the legal profession and have a distinguished record of achievement.
Florida Super Lawyers
Those who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement, representing the top 5 percent of Florida lawyers.
America’s Top 100 Bet-the-Company Litigators®
By invitation only and is reserved to identify the nation’s most exceptional trial attorneys in high value, high stakes legal matters. Less than one-half percent (0.5%) of active attorneys in the United States will receive this honor.
2021 Top Boutique Law Firm – South Florida Business & Wealth Magazine
Adam S. Hall- Awarded by South Florida Business & Wealth Magazine in the Boutique Law Firm (Miami-Dade) category.
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