Boies Schiller Flexner LLP announced today that U.S. District Judge Ursula Ungaro is joining the firm as a partner in the Miami office.
“We are all excited about Judge Ungaro’s decision to join BSF,’’ said Chairman David Boies. “She is an outstanding lawyer and jurist, and she will contribute greatly to our investigations, monitoring, and commercial litigation practices.”
Appointed to the federal bench by President George H.W. Bush, Ungaro was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 1992 and served in the Southern District of Florida for 28 years. Among the high-profile cases Ungaro has handled, in 2018 she dismissed a libel suit brought against BuzzFeed by a Russian internet entrepreneur who claimed he was defamed by the online news site’s publication of the so-called Steele dossier on President Donald Trump’s alleged ties to Russia.
“I’m looking forward to working on interesting cases and collaborating with smart, creative and knowledgeable lawyers,’’ Ungaro said. “Boies Schiller has a reputation for taking on difficult matters, including cases in the public interest, and bringing them to a successful conclusion. I look forward to being part of the litigation team and energetically applying my skills and experience in the interests of the firms’ clients.’’
“Ursula has always been one of the brightest and hardest working lawyers and judges I have had the privilege of practicing with,’’ said Stephen Zack, administrative partner of the BSF Miami office and also a colleague of Ungaro’s at the Frates firm early in their careers. “Bringing on a distinguished jurist like Ursula Ungaro aligns very well with what we do best in the courtroom as a litigation firm. She will be a difference-maker for clients and an incredible mentor for our attorneys.”
Ungaro was born in Miami Beach and earned her B.A. from the University of Miami and her J.D. from the University of Florida College of Law. She worked in private practice for 11 years before joining the Miami-Dade County circuit bench.