Colson Hicks Eidson Partners Selected As Most Influential Trial Lawyers In America For Second Consecutive Year

January 23, 2014 / 10:21 am

Partner Mike Eidson Recognized among Nation’s Elite; Representing Two of Only Eight South Florida Lawyers Selected to Prestigious List

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (Jan. 22, 2014) – The law firm of Colson Hicks Eidson is pleased to announce that partner Lewis S. “Mike” Eidson had been selected for the second consecutive year as America’s 100 Most Influential Trial Lawyers by The Trial Lawyer magazine, the official magazine of The National Trial Lawyers organization.

The selection places Eidson as a member of The RoundTable, an elite group of the top 100 civil plaintiff and criminal defense attorneys in the U.S. The Colson Hicks Eidson partners were two of only eight South Florida lawyers – and eleven lawyers from the State of Florida – selected to the prestigious list among the nation’s elite.

Selection to The Roundtable is based on extraordinary success in the courtroom and in the legal profession, including trial results and influence in the legal community. The honorees were selected from a pool of thousands of nominees, which were assessed by an attorney-led research team.

The attorneys were recognized at the 2014 Trial Lawyers Summit and awards luncheon on January 20th at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, in which Jeffrey Toobin, senior legal analyst for CNN and bestselling author, was the keynote speaker.

Eidson concentrates his practice on litigation, primarily in the fields of products liabilitymedical and legal malpracticeaviationclass action and multidistrict litigation. He has tried more than 125 cases to jury verdict during his career and is best known for his work in some of the largest automotive recalls in U.S. history, including the Ford Pinto; Chrysler Minivan; Ford Explorer/Firestone tire tread litigation, in which he served as that national co-lead counsel; and most recently with Toyota, in which he was appointed to serve on the plaintiff steering committee.

Eidson has volunteered on a multitude of professional boards, including serving as president of the American Association for Justice (formerly ATLA), president of the Dade County Trial Lawyers Association, and president of the Miami Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Recently, he was installed as chairman of the American Association for Justice Foundation and was awarded the Florida Justice Association’s Al J. Cone Lifetime Achievement Award. Eidson endowed the renowned Emory Law School Kessler-Eidson Trial Technique Program and is a founding member of the Institute for Injury Reduction, a national organization dedicated to reducing injuries caused by defective products.

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About Colson Hicks Eidson

The Law Firm of Colson Hicks Eidson is a trial firm with more than 40 years of experience handling local, national and international litigation. Partners at the firm have had the distinction of holding the following offices: President of the 60,000-member American Association for Justice; President of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers; President of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers; President of the Dade County Bar Association; President of the Miami-Dade Florida Association of Women Lawyers; United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; and Chairman of the Florida Federal Judicial Nominating Commission. For more information, call 305-476-7400.

About The Trial Lawyer Magazine

The Trial Lawyer magazine provides progressive and educational news, information, and articles relevant to the trial lawyer profession. Our mission is to inform and inspire trial attorneys who represent injured individuals in civil cases or defend the accused as guaranteed under the United States Constitution. The Trial Lawyer strives to create innovative forum for understanding current trends and emerging opportunities for the civil plaintiff or criminal defense trial bar. Through passionate voices and provocative viewpoints, The Trial Lawyer encourages the generation and sharing of ideas through open dialogue among the finest trial lawyers in America.

About The National Trial Lawyers

The National Trial Lawyers is a professional organization composed of the premier trial lawyers from across the country who exemplify superior qualifications as civil plaintiff or criminal defense trial lawyers. This national organization provides networking opportunities, advocacy training, and the highest quality educational programs for trial lawyers. The mission of The National Trial Lawyers is to provide networking opportunities, advocacy training, and the highest quality educational programs for trial lawyers. For more information, visit www.thenationaltriallawyers.org.

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The lawyers at Colson Hicks Eidson are dedicated to delivering outstanding results for our clients. We are honored that Lawdragon recognizes this commitment and are pleased to announce that seven of our partners have been named to the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America guide. Congratulations to Stephanie A. Casey, Dean C. Colson, Lewis S. “Mike” Eidson, Joseph J. Kalbac, Jr., Julie Braman Kane, Roberto Martinez, and Curtis Miner.

This guide is based on a record number of submissions, combined with journalistic research and vetting with the nation’s leading trial lawyers.

Click here to read the full guide.

About Colson Hicks Eidson

Colson Hicks Eidson is a renowned law firm based in Miami, Florida, that is recognized as one of the top trial firms in the United States. Built on a foundation of over 50 years of dedication forging strong client relationships, Colson Hicks Eidson handles local, national, and international litigation, with cases spanning from Miami, Florida, and throughout the United States, to matters in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Europe. Learn more at: www.colson.com.

Colson Hicks Eidson is proud to share that ten of its attorneys—more than half of the firm—have been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. 

Stephanie A. Casey, Dean C. Colson, Lewis S. “Mike” Eidson, Joseph J. Kalbac, Jr., Julie Braman Kane, Roberto Martinez, and Curtis Miner are listed in The Best Lawyers in America®. Eleni I. Constant, Zachary A. Lipshultz, and Sabrina S. Saieh are recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.

Best Lawyers’ lists of outstanding lawyers are developed through peer review surveys where tens of thousands of lawyers evaluate their professional peers. Best Lawyers recognized attorneys in all of the firm’s core practice areas. 

Stephanie A. Casey

Commercial Litigation

Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs

Dean C. Colson

Bet-the-Company Litigation

Commercial Litigation

Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs

Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs

Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants

Professional Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs

Lewis S. “Mike” Eidson

Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs

Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs

Joseph J. Kalbac, Jr. 

Commercial Litigation

Insurance Law

Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs

Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs

Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs

Julie Braman Kane – “Lawyer of the Year”

Commercial Litigation

Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs

Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs

Roberto Martinez

Bet-the-Company Litigation

Commercial Litigation

Criminal Defense: White-Collar

Curtis Miner

Commercial Litigation

Criminal Defense: White-Collar

Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs

Personal Injury Litigation –  Plaintiffs

Eleni I. Constant

Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs

Zachary A. Lipshultz

Commercial Litigation

Mass Tort Litigation/ Class Actions – Plaintiffs

Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs

Sabrina S. Saieh

Mass Tort Litigation/ Class Actions – Plaintiffs

Personal Injury – Plaintiffs

Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs

About Colson Hicks Eidson

Colson Hicks Eidson is a renowned law firm based in Miami, Florida, that is recognized as one of the top trial firms in the United States. Built on a foundation of over 50 years of dedication forging strong client relationships, Colson Hicks Eidson handles local, national, and international litigation, with cases spanning from Miami, Florida, and throughout the United States, to matters in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Europe. Learn more at: www.colson.com.

Colson Hicks Eidson is proud to celebrate two of our attorneys for receiving prestigious awards at the 2025 American Association for Justice Annual Convention in San Francisco.

President and Senior Partner Lewis S. “Mike” Eidson was awarded the Leonard M. Ring Champion of Justice Award, which recognizes outstanding integrity and overall character demonstrating Leonard M. Ring’s devotion to human and civil rights. Mike is a past AAJ president and long-respected national trial lawyer. He has spent his career advancing justice, defending the right to trial by jury, and shaping the future of the profession through his leadership and unwavering commitment to mentorship.

Partner Julie Braman Kane, also a past AAJ President, delivered powerful remarks on Mike’s behalf, celebrating his legacy and the profound impact he’s made on the legal community and beyond. Julie has spent her entire career at Colson Hicks Eidson, a testament to the inspiration Mike has provided to generations of trial lawyers. 

Partner Curtis Miner was also awarded with the Steven J. Sharp Public Service Award, which recognizes plaintiffs and the attorneys of plaintiffs whose cases help tell the story of the American civil justice system. Curt was recognized for his role as one of the court-appointed leaders in the Champlain Towers Condominium Collapse litigation, where he worked alongside a dedicated team of lawyers to change laws to make condominiums safer and helped secure $1.2 billion in settlements for the families and victims.

About Colson Hicks Eidson

Colson Hicks Eidson is a renowned law firm based in Miami, Florida, that is recognized as one of the top trial firms in the United States. Built on a foundation of over 50 years of dedication forging strong client relationships, Colson Hicks Eidson handles local, national, and international litigation, with cases spanning from Miami, Florida, and throughout the United States, to matters in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Europe. Learn more at: www.colson.com.

The lawyers at Colson Hicks Eidson are committed to teamwork, professional development, and mentoring our younger lawyers. We are proud to announce that four of our attorneys have been named to the 2025 Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation guide. Congratulations to Eleni I. Constant, Aziza F. Elayan, Zachary A. Lipshultz, and Sabrina S. Saieh.

Lawdragon selects lawyers for this guide through independent research, submissions, and peer review, recognizing those who have demonstrated consistent excellence and significant impact, typically within 15 years of graduating law school.

Click here to read the full guide.

About Colson Hicks Eidson

Colson Hicks Eidson is a renowned law firm based in Miami, Florida, that is recognized as one of the top trial firms in the United States. Built on a foundation of over 50 years of dedication forging strong client relationships, Colson Hicks Eidson handles local, national, and international litigation, with cases spanning from Miami, Florida, and throughout the United States, to matters in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Europe. Learn more at: www.colson.com.

Colson Hicks Eidson is proud to share that attorneys Zachary A. Lipshultz and Sabrina S. Saieh have been named to the 2025 Florida Super Lawyers Rising Stars list.

Zach’s practice spans all aspects of civil litigation in state, federal, and arbitral forums, at both the trial and appellate levels. He played a key role on the team that recently secured a $3 million damages award for a family of four who suffered significant trauma when a defective lithium-ion battery-powered scooter caused a catastrophic fire that destroyed their home.

Sabrina focuses on product liability, commercial litigation, personal injury, class actions, and multidistrict litigation. She has represented clients in complex matters in federal and state courts, including cases involving defective products, dangerous drugs, catastrophic injuries, and mass torts. She was integral to the Takata Airbag Products Liability MDL—a high-profile class action tied to the largest automotive recall in U.S. history, resulting in settlements exceeding $1 billion.

Rising Stars recognizes top young attorneys who are 40 or under or have been in practice for 10 years or less. Only 2.5% of Florida lawyers earn this honor each year, following the same rigorous selection process used for Super Lawyers.

About Colson Hicks Eidson

Colson Hicks Eidson is a renowned law firm based in Miami, Florida, that is recognized as one of the top trial firms in the United States. Built on a foundation of over 50 years of dedication forging strong client relationships, Colson Hicks Eidson handles local, national, and international litigation, with cases spanning from Miami, Florida, and throughout the United States, to matters in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Europe. Learn more at: www.colson.com.

Colson Hicks Eidson is thrilled to announce that seven of its attorneys have been named in the 2025 edition of Florida Super Lawyers. Stephanie Casey, Dean Colson, Joseph J. Kalbac Jr., Julie Braman Kane, and Curtis Miner have been named Super Lawyers. Zachary A. Lipshultz and Sabrina S. Saieh have been recognized as Rising Stars.

Super Lawyers uses a rigorous screening process including independent research, peer nominations, and evaluations to rate lawyers. Only 5 percent of lawyers in Florida are rated by Super Lawyers, and no more than 2.5 percent of lawyers under 40 or with fewer than 10 years of practice are selected as Rising Stars.

About Colson Hicks Eidson

Colson Hicks Eidson is a renowned law firm based in Miami, Florida, that is recognized as one of the top trial firms in the United States. Built on a foundation of over 50 years of dedication forging strong client relationships, Colson Hicks Eidson handles local, national, and international litigation, with cases spanning from Miami, Florida, and throughout the United States, to matters in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Europe. Learn more at: www.colson.com.