Carlos Gutierrez

Having served as the 2016 Residential President of the Miami Association of Realtors, the largest local Realtor association in the United States of America, Carlos Gutierrez has had a long and dynamic career in real estate. Carlos and his team are experts at working with Attorneys, their clients, and the courts in legally complex situations where selling a property is the solution. Carlos also testifies in court as an expert witness in cases where there is real estate or a real estate agent’s conduct in question. As a candidate for a Master’s degree from Harvard University in Management with a certification in Real Estate Investment and Finance, he uses the skills he learned and his ability to dissect complex matters to smoothly handle the most complex and high price point transactions. It takes tremendous expertise, a solid reputation and skill to earn the trust it takes to handle these cases. Carlos Gutierrez was the 2017-2019 National Association of Divorce Professionals President – Director for the Aventura Chapter and is a Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist.

Carlos graduated from Florida International University in 2002 with a BA in International Business and a second BA in Management Information Systems, and did so through the Honors College and is currently a candidate for a Master’s Degree (ALM) from Harvard University – Extension School. He began his Real Estate career in 2003 with Wells Fargo, a Fortune 500 Company, as a lender. He bought and sold his first property for profit at the age of 25. In 2005 he joined United Realty Group and instantly grew his team. In 2008 he opened his own branch location of the firm. He lead a team of 70 + Realtors and was admitted into the Million Dollar Guild through the Institute of Luxury Home Marketing for proven performance in the top 10 percent price point of the market. In 2013 he created the Gutierrez Group Miami Real Estate, within Keller Williams. In March of 2017, Carlos moved Gutierrez Group Miami Real Estate to Coldwell Banker Realty.

Carlos has shown leadership throughout his community through several successful endeavors. He was a Pillar Trustee of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce and served on its Real Estate and Law Councils as well as serving on the Florida Bar Grievance committee. He serves his community and his country through his voluntary service in the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary as an interpreter in 3 languages and as a Flotilla Staff Officer. He has been a long time member of BNI (Business Network International) and in 2011 became the Founding President of a successful chapter and won the “Member of the Year” award for 2012. Carlos has been elected to the Board of Governors of the Miami Realtors Association a 10 year period, which represents the largest Realtor association in the country and also serves as a State Director for the Florida Association of Realtors as well as the National Association of Realtors. He served on the 2014 Young Professional Network Leadership Council for the Miami Assoc. of Realtors as well as being the 2014 Realtors Political Action Committee Chairman. He serves on Grievance and Ethics panels as well as the Business Technology Committees.

He is considered an expert in the Real Estate field and strives to impress all clients that are referred to him. His specialty is working with Attorneys and their clients on complex home sales.

Anthony Diaz

Thabatta S. Mizrahi

Thabatta S. Mizrahi is an educator having over two decades of expertise in neurodiversity, special needs, child advocacy, learning development and curriculum design.

She graduated from the University of Miami Cum Laude with dual specializations in Exceptional Education and Psychology. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from New York University with a master’s degree in Special Education- Varying Exceptionalities. A state and nationally certified educator in exceptional education, she also holds an educational certificate from Israel’s Ministry of Education.

Thabatta has applied her skills in the United States and abroad providing consulting services in Israel and Brazil, where she created community, home, and educational programs from the ground up for organizations, families, and schools internationally through her own educational consulting company, ThabattaSM Consulting.

In South Florida, and in Brazil, Thabatta’s leadership positions focused on varying components of social, emotional and educational aspects of child and adolescent development, with a particular focus on family support, professional development, curriculum enhancement and development of special services in schools, community centers, and clients’ homes.

Her community service includes serving on the advisory committee The Social Cog from its inception, promoting social inclusion opportunities for adults with special needs. She was among the final 15 applicants selected from the United States and Canada to participate in a two-year Educational Leadership Program through the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education.

Her studies and experience in these roles have nourished her knowledge and interest in child and adolescent development and neurodiversity. It has also fueled her unwavering pursuit to advocate and educate in the area of special needs. Thabatta has presented at conferences and led workshops on various topics related to special needs/education/services and professional development internationally and is trusted and recognized by colleagues and clients for her passion, dedication and innovative perspective, particularly when it comes to children with special needs and their families.

Most recently, having completed training in Collaborative Divorce, Thabatta has presented with colleagues for Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals (FACP), International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP), and Collaborative Divorce Solutions of Orange County (CDSOC) on the crucial role of collaborative in divorce involving families with children with special needs. She hopes to support collaborative teams with her expertise in special needs, in her role as Special Education Consultant and Collaborative Specialist for Children with Special Needs.

Esha K. Desaiy

Esha has a proven track record of selling her client’s properties at or above desired sale price. Her marketing savvy based on ‘target buyer profile’ leveraging online and offline strategies has helped her achieve her client’s goals. She is also a strong negotiator focused on win-win solutions and will not compromise her client’s goals just to close a transaction.

For Buyers, Esha is your guide to the ‘right property for you’ in the greater Miami area. Whether you are new to the greater Miami/Miami Beach area or are you are familiar with the various neighborhoods in this area, Esha can highlight the best properties/areas that fit your lifestyle and desires.

Esha is extremely familiar with the waterfront condominium bldgs in Miami (including Brickell, Downtown, Edgewater & Coconut Grove) and Miami Beach (including South of Fifth, Mid/North Beach, Surfside, Bal Harbour and Sunny Isles Beach). With her knowledge of the properties and the condo rules/requirements , Esha can quickly identify the top 3-5 condo bldgs that will be the best for you. That is efficient condo search saving you time and confusion!

Esha is not your “typical” realtor – at least that’s what her clients tell her! She brings the knowledge, expertise and resources you need to make the right decision for you and your family. Her clients turn into her friends and that is her guiding principle. She is your guide, your advisor, your concierge…your committed partner to buy, sell, invest or rent a luxury home in the greater Miami area.

Kristen Goss

Kristen Goss was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She is the daughter of a Pastor and a Social Worker and Veteran (both who are no longer with us due to losing their battle to cancer). She attended the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida and earned her Bachelor of Science degree. Mrs. Goss then attended the Thomas M. Cooley Law School and earned her Juris Doctorate degree. Mrs. Goss is the Managing Partner of the firm she founded in June of 2016: KWG Family Legal and Mediation Services, LLC. Not only is she a licensed Collaborative Family Law Attorney with over 15 years of financial, communication, psychology, and legal experience, Mrs. Goss is a Certified Guardian Ad Litem and Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator. Mrs. Goss has mediated over 150 cases, and she has a high track record of helping families settle and resolve their legal issues outside of court. Mrs. Goss has been nominated for Super Lawyers and the top 40 professionals under 40 just to name a few. In addition to her professional career, Mrs. Goss is a wife to her husband, Marlon, of almost 14 years and counting and a mother to three beautiful daughters who are 9, 6, and 6 months (as of today). In her spare time, Mrs. Goss enjoys giving back to the community and is involved in many organizations, including being nominated as Woman of the Year for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society in 2021 whose Mission and Vision is to find cures for cancer. Mrs. Goss is also the CEO of her own non-profit organization that assists in mentoring foster youth in South Florida, Kids Demonstrating Worth, Inc., founded in approximately 2003.

Derrick C. Morales

Present Work

  • Attorney at Law at DC Morales Law
  • Chief Legal Officer and member of Board of Directors at Strive to Recovery

Past Experience

  • Managing Attorney’s Office, Docket Clerk at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
  • Managing Attorney’s Office, Law Clerk at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP

Education

  • Juris Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University
  • B.S. in Political Science from Barry University

Alfred Zeiler

I started Florida Forensic Accounting in 2018 to provide quality and ethical forensic accounting services, using a personalized approach not always provided by larger firms.

The largest portion of my practice is comprised of family law matters. I have extensive experience in divorces resolved through litigation, mediation or the collaborative process. The collaborative process offers a way to achieve a settlement that best meets the specific needs of both parties and their children without the underlying threat of litigation.

My business valuation and economic damage experience includes a variety of assignments with closely held businesses and professional associations in industries such as health care, retail, manufacturing, distributors, auto dealerships and service. I’ve rendered services for matters involving family law, business damages, personal injury, shareholder litigation, estate and gift tax, buying and selling businesses, and breach of contract.

In personal injury matters, I provide analysis and projections of losses including earnings capacity, benefits and social security. My litigation assistance ranges from simple schedules, graphs, or charts to self-contained reports complete with all analysis, graphs, and charts.

Education

  • BS, Business Administration—Finance, University of Florida
  • Postgraduate Accounting coursework, Nova-Southeastern University and Florida Atlantic University
  • CPA: Certified Public Accountant—American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • CBA: Certified Business Appraiser—Institute of Business Appraisers
  • CVA: Certified Valuation Analyst—National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts

Publications

  • “Valuation, Alimony & Double Dipping,” CommentatorThe Florida Bar Family Law Section, vol. 25, no. 5, winter 2011.
  • “Valuation, Alimony & Double Dipping,” Business Appraisal Practice, Institute of Business Appraisers, Second Quarter 2010.
  • “Dealerships: Estate Planning Takes on New Urgency,” DealersEdge Car Dealer Insider, May 1, 2009.
  • “Can Duff & Phelps Be Applied to the Very Small Company?”, Business Appraisal Practice, 2nd Quarter 2009.
  • “Dealerships: Is It Still a Good Time for Estate Planning?”, Driving Profits, March 2009.
  • “Sanity Checks: How? When? Why?”, Financial Valuation and Litigation Expert, no. 17, February/March 2009.
  • “Dealerships and Estate Planning: Why Now Is the Right Time,” Professional AutoNEWS, vol. 26, no. 1, January 2009.
  • “Applying Duff & Phelps to the Very Small Company,” Business Valuation Update, vol. 14, no. 10, October 2008.
  • Coauthor of course titled Economic Damages, Institute of Business Appraisers Inc., 2004.

Lecturer / Instructor

  • Guest Lecturer, Collaborative Family Divorce Class, Nova Southeastern University Dept of Marriage & Family Therapy, Essentials of Effective Team Building and the Role of the Financial Neutral in Interdisciplinary Collaborative Practice, 2019 & 2020
  • Economic Damages: An Actual Case Study, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts, 2015.
  • Economic Damages, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Institute of Business Appraisers, Inc., 2004.
  • Discounts and Premiums: When & Why, Atlanta, The Institute of Business Appraisers Southeast Chapter Meeting, 2003.
  • Expert Testimony on Common Errors and the Use of Transaction Data, Orlando, FL, The Institute of Business Appraisers National Business Valuation Conference, 2003.

Quotations and Citations

  • Cost of Capital: Applications and Examples, 4th ed., Shannon P. Pratt and Roger J. Grabowski, John Wiley, 2010.
  • Cost of Capital: Applications and Examples, 5th ed., Shannon P. Pratt and Roger J. Grabowski, John Wiley, 2014.

Professional Affiliations

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants – Forensic & Valuation Services Section
  • Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants – Valuation, Forensic Accounting, & Litigation Services Section
  • The Florida Bar – Family Law Section
  • Broward County Matrimonial Lawyers
  • National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts / The Institute of Business Appraisers
  • Collaborative Family Law Professionals of South Florida – Treasurer
  • Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals
  • International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
  • Raymond Miles Foundation for Business Appraisal Research – Former Board Member
  • Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida – Former Treasurer & Finance Committee Chairperson
  • Notre Dame Club of Fort Lauderdale, Member
  • Make-A-Wish Foundation, Former Wish Grantor
  • Downtown Fort Lauderdale Transportation Management Association – Former Advisory Board Member
  • Fort Lauderdale Evening Rotary Club, Former Member

Alfred and his wife live in Plantation, Florida. Their blended family includes three grown children. Having recently purchased a fixer upper home, they spend a lot of time on gardening and other home projects and can assure you they always cost more and take longer than anticipated. They also enjoy biking, traveling and spending time with friends and family over good food and wine.

Philip Herzberg

Firm Value:

I help successful people with unique and complex needs find peace of mind in their financial lives. My goal is to empower clients in divorce with the resources and clarity to make well-informed financial decisions during challenging times. I provide a high level of personalized support and advice by closely collaborating with family law and other professionals.

Languages:  English

Additional Office Location:

2255 Glades Road, Suite 226A
Boca Raton, FL 33431

Education and Degrees

  • Northwestern University, B.S. in Speech with Departmental Honors
  • Florida International University, Masters of Science in Finance (MSF), Graduate Certificate in Investments

Professional Licenses

  • Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®)
  • Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA)
  • Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP®)
  • Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®)

Other Professional Organizations

  • Estate Planning Council of Greater Miami, Past President
  • Estate Planning Council of Boca Raton
  • Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) Board Ambassador – South Florida
  • Jewish Federation of Greater Miami, Certified Legacy Advisor Chair
  • Jewish Federation of Broward County, Advisor Philanthropy Initiative Chair and Trustee, Jewish Community Foundation
  • Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County
  • Financial Planning Association (FPA®) of Florida and Miami, Past President

Betsy Vázquez

Firm Value Statement:

             “My goal is to help you get to a better place as you start a new chapter in your life.
If I did it, you can do it too!”

Let’s CollaBESTate™

The Collaborative Law Process is your BEST
divorce option during a difficult, life-changing event.

+

Estate Planning is the BEST gift
you can give to your loved ones.

=

Your BEST Choice!

I know how stressful it can be to navigate through the divorce process. Having firsthand knowledge from a client’s perspective of what it is like to go through a destructive litigation, I truly understand its negative impact and pains caused to families. My own divorce experience makes me better equipped than most to help you understand what you might not see when clouded with emotions. There is a better way to divorce, the Collaborative Law way, which is confidential, cost-effective, and eliminates the traditional court intervention. At Vázquez Law, we have a unique approach to divorce by looking at the global picture and incorporating estate planning during and after divorce through our CollaBESTate™ approach.

Collaborative Divorce is an option for couples who feel they can work out their divorce settlement themselves but still want legal protection. The Collaborative process is based on mutual respect and you control the process, not a judge. Issues are dealt with one by one and a team of professionals, such as mental health professionals and neutral financial consultants, may be brought in if needed.

Estate Planning is an area that is often overlooked by others during the divorce process. Becoming familiar with existing documents such as a will, health care proxy, power of attorney, insurance policy, and a trust you and your spouse may have, should be reviewed. And, if no documents exist at all, then now is the time to have an attorney-client discussion. Having a lawyer who has the heart of a Collaborative counselor to guide you in every step of the way is what you want.

My practice is limited to non-adversarial and solution based methods of resolution such as Pro-se (self-represented persons), Pre-suit Mediation, Family Mediation, Collaborative Divorce and Estate Planning During and After Divorce and Elder Law.

Languages:  English and Spanish

 

Education and Degrees

  • Juris Doctor, St. Thomas University School of Law
  • Elder Law Certificate, St. Thomas University School of Law
  • M.B.A., Barry University
  • B.B.A., Florida International University
  • A.A., Miami Dade College

Professional Licenses

  • The Florida Bar
  • Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator
  • Florida Supreme Court Certified County Mediator
  • Elder Law Mediator
  • Qualified Parenting Coordinator

Other Professional Organizations

  • Collaborative Family Law Institute (CFLI) Member
  • Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals (FACP) Member
  • Dade County Bar Association
  • Broward County Bar Association
  • Member of the Florida Bar Sections: Family Law, Elder Law, and Real Property, Probate & Trust Law (RPPTL)

 

Deborah M. Thevenin

Firm Value Statement:  As a clinical psychologist with twenty five years experience in family systems,  my primary role as the collaborative team’s  facilitator is to enhance communication. I offer insight into the family’s  dynamics and the individual wants and needs that motivate each client. My goal is to maintain the team’s focus, manage time effectively, encourage participation by all parties, and support honesty and respect between the party’s and among the team’s members. My background as an Associate Professor and the Director of the Child, Adolescent and Family Therapy Service at the University of Miami School of Medicine along with my presentations and lectures about team communication and family dynamics gives me a unique perspective into the collaborative process. I have also incorporated those experiences into the therapy that I currently provide for individuals, couples, and families in my private practice. I am a certified Family Mediator, an 11th Judicial Circuit Court approved Parenting Coordinator, a Board member of the Collaborative Family Law Institute in Miami, a member of the International Association of Collaborative Professionals, and a member of the Florida Psychological Association.  I have continued  to teach as an Adjunct Professor in the University of Miami Department of Psychology.

Education and Degrees

  • University of Miami (B.A. 1981 Psychology/Computer Science )
  • University of Miami (M.S. 1984 Developmental Psychology/Psycholinguistics)
  • University of Miami (Ph.D. 1989 Clinical Psychology/Developmental Research)
  • University of Oklahoma Health Science Center Internship (1987 Pediatric Psychology, Adult and Family Therapy specialization)
  • University of Miami School of Medicine (1987-89 Post-Doctoral Adolescent Medicine Fellowship)
  • Externship Family Therapy (University of Calgary, Canada 1992)
  • Collaborative Family Law Basic Training (2011)/ Advanced Training 2012,2013,2014,2015)

Professional Licenses   

  • Licensed Florida Psychologist 1990
  • Certified Florida Family Mediator 1999
  • Qualified Eldercare Mediation 2015
  • Licensed Florida Health Care Risk Manager 2004
  • Qualified Parenting Coordinator 2011 & 2013
  • Qualified Myers-Briggs 1995/Certified Myers-Briggs 2013

Other Professional Organizations           

  • Collaborative Family Law Institute (2012 committee member, 2014 Co-Chair Standards Committee)
  • Eleventh Judicial Circuit Parenting Coordinator 2015
  • American Psychological Association
  • Florida and Miami- Dade County Psychological Association
  • Florida Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
  • International Association of Collaborative Professionals