Bahamas Media Reports on Dispute Involving Brewer Client Soho Development
August 1, 2025 – Leading Bahamian news outlets are reporting on a legal dispute surrounding the Ocean Club, Four Seasons Residences, Bahamas, a $350 million luxury resort project on Paradise Island. The coverage highlights claims by Brewer client Soho Development and its principal, Roger Stein, that South Florida developer Two Roads Development used confidential and proprietary information to circumvent Stein’s role in the development.
The Nassau Guardian reports that “Stein, who was tapped to lead the project by Access Industries, alleges that Two Roads Development was brought on as a co-sponsor but later excluded him and used his proprietary materials to move the project forward.” The article states that the project has generated over $150 million in residential pre-sales and that Soho Development is seeking $35 million in damages in the New York Supreme Court.
In its report, Eyewitness News Bahamas underscores allegations that Two Roads “breached a confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement by circumventing Soho, using its work product and connections to proceed with the development unilaterally.”
According to The Tribune, “The two parties allegedly signed a confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement that 'expressly prohibited' Two Roads from disclosing Soho Development's confidential information or ‘pursuing’ the development without the latter's involvement.”
"Unfortunately, Two Roads violated the agreement by pursuing the project without Soho’s consent, misusing Soho’s proprietary information for its own benefit and engaging with other potential co-sponsors. Two Roads exploited the confidential information and contracts provided by Soho, thereby breaching their contractual obligations. This conduct constitutes a clear breach of the agreement," the lawsuit claims.
As reported, William A. Brewer III, counsel for Soho, commented: “No one should be able to circumvent binding agreements and profit without consequence.”
To read the full coverage:
The Real Deal Reports on Brewer Client Soho Development, Bahamas Luxury Resort
July 29, 2025 – The Real Deal reports today on a dispute regarding a high-profile Bahamas resort and claims from real estate developer and Soho Development principal Roger Stein that he was “sidelined [from the project] by South Florida luxury developer Two Roads Development.”
As reported, “Roger Stein, a Delray Beach resident and attorney who has established professional relationships in the Bahamas during his real estate career, claims that West Palm Beach-based Two Roads circumvented him from the development of the $350 million Ocean Club, Four Seasons Residences, Bahamas on Paradise Island, after he brought the firm onboard and introduced it to key architects, marketing staff and other professionals, and shared his proprietary information on the project.”
On Monday, July 28, 2025, New York-based Soho Development sued Two Roads in New York Supreme Court for breach of their confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement, which included a non-circumvention provision. As reported, Soho claims $35 million in damages.
“Soho seeks to hold Two Roads accountable for its betrayal of the trust he [Stein] placed in them,” William A. Brewer III, attorney for Soho, said in a statement. “No one should be able to circumvent binding agreements and profit without consequence.”
The Real Deal reports that Stein doesn’t want to discontinue the project due to its potential as an economic engine for the Bahamas. According to the article, “So far, he has received no compensation for his pre-development work and time, future profits and development fees, according to the complaint.”
“If business partners can sidestep NDAs without facing real consequences,” Brewer said, “then every developer, investor, and business partner who works in good faith is vulnerable.”
To read more: Roger Stein Sues Two Roads Over Four Seasons Bahamas Project
To read the complaint, click here.
Vault Names Brewer to 2026 “Top 150 Under 150” List
July 16, 2025 – Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors has been named to Vault's 2026 "Top 150 Under 150" list of leading small and midsize law firms.
The annual list recognizes firms with 150 lawyers or less that "deliver big results."
As reported, “To determine the Top 150 Under 150, Vault first developed a list of the best-known and most sought-after U.S. firms with 150 attorneys or fewer. Editorial and research teams pored through Vault survey data, news stories, trade journals, and other legal publications; spoke with lawyers in the field; and reviewed other published rankings. Vault editors also assessed each firm for prestige, quality of life, and professional growth opportunities and then narrowed down the results to come up with a list of 150 law firms known for providing top-notch service and delivering big results.”
The Brewer firm was also named to Vault's 2025, 2023, and 2019 "Top 150 Under 150" lists.
Above the Law reported on the national award, stating that Brewer was among the most "recognizable" firms on the list. Read the report: The Top 150 Under 150: Vault Ranks The Best Small, Boutique, And Midsize Firms (2026) - Above the Law
See the firm’s Vault profile: Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors | Company Profile - Vault
Workplace Fairness Files Amicus Curiae in Support of Dr. Cara Wessels Wells’ Supreme Court Petition Urging Title VII Protections for Unpaid Workers
July 11, 2025 — In an important show of support for workplace justice, Workplace Fairness, a leading national nonprofit fighting for the dignity and rights of all workers, filed an amicus curiae brief supporting Dr. Cara Wessel Wells in her civil rights Petition to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Dr. Wells, represented by Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors, is a scientist and entrepreneur who alleges she was pushed out of a Texas Tech University business accelerator after reporting sexual misconduct by her supervisor in the program, then denied Title VII protection because she wasn’t paid for her workplace contributions.
In June, Dr. Wells turned to the Supreme Court to urge it to declare what should be clear-federal civil rights laws protect all those who " work"- regardless of whether the compensation is money or other benefits. The Petition asks the Court to strike down the Fifth Circuit’s “remuneration” rule, which categorically excludes workers whose pay is not money from Title VII’s reach.
“The brief by Workplace Fairness powerfully underscores the critical issue at stake: denying Title VII protections to unpaid workers leaves countless individuals exposed to workplace harassment and retaliation without recourse,” said William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors, and lead counsel to Dr. Wells. “Their advocacy reinforces our client’s position that the Supreme Court should close this gap and ensure that federal civil rights laws protect all workers — regardless of pay.”
“The remuneration rule creates an artificial barrier to civil rights protections — one that is at odds with both Title VII’s purpose and today’s workplace realities,” said William A. Brewer IV, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors, and counsel to Wells. “Civil rights should not hinge on compensation. We urge the Court to clarify the law on this important federal issue.”
Dr. Wells served as a mentor in Texas Tech University’s business accelerator program in 2022. After speaking out about alleged sexual misconduct, she was abruptly excluded from the program and subjected to retaliation. Because she did not receive a paycheck, the Fifth Circuit ruled she was not legally an “employee” under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act — stripping her of protection.
The Workplace Fairness brief warns that excluding such workers — interns, fellows, volunteers — from federal protections “creates a dangerous loophole.” The Fifth Circuit’s decision, it argues, “encourages employers to reclassify labor to avoid accountability,” subverting Title VII’s central purpose: eradicating workplace discrimination.
“This is a civil rights crisis. The uneven application of federal civil rights laws creates disparate impacts for similarly situated workers—an outcome that is clearly not just,” said Brewer III. “We applaud Workplace Fairness’ important recognition and advocacy of Dr. Wells’ petition and echo their call to the Court to weigh in on this critical issue.”
Read more here:
Workplace Fairness Press Release
Brewer Client Former CFO Files Suit Alleging Corporate Valuation Fraud by CBIZ/Marcum and AmeriTex Leadership
July 1, 2025 – A high-stakes lawsuit filed yesterday in federal district court sheds light on how manipulated valuation reports can distort financial outcomes and erode trust across capital markets.
Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, the case of former AmeriTex CFO Christopher Podlasek v. CBIZ Inc., CBIZ MAG LLC (NYSE:CBZ; formerly Marcum LLP) exposes how valuations can be used to whitewash unsavory business practices.
At the heart of this suit is an accusation that Marcum knowingly produced a backdated valuation report to justify significantly undercutting the value of Podlasek’s equity in AmeriTex — a major infrastructure supplier whose rapid rise was engineered, in large part, by his leadership. As valuation professionals, CBIZ and its predecessors are specifically charged with upholding fair valuation practices that underpin both private and public markets.
According to the complaint, “Independent valuations act as the surrogate for arm’s length negotiation in our economy. When that process is corrupted, it undermines the very confidence that underpins our financial markets. This case is not about a difference of opinion. It is about betrayal of duty, distortion of fact, and the failure of a firm that claims to stand for integrity. The public interest demands accountability.”
Podlasek’s legal counsel, William A. Brewer III of Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors, states: “When a firm like Marcum abandons that responsibility, it undermines the credibility of every arms-length transaction across public and private markets.”
With trillions in public-market assets relying on accurate valuations, each flawed report chips away at investor confidence.
The complaint alleges that Marcum, under pressure from AmeriTex leadership, rubber-stamped financial projections that violated appraisal standards — ultimately valuing the company at $789 million despite earlier internal estimates of up to $3 billion.
Brewer adds, “This case carries significant implications beyond the parties involved. It highlights broader concerns about the integrity of valuation services in private equity, public infrastructure, and capital markets at large.”
This case urges regulators, investors, and industry participants to insist on the highest standards of professional integrity.
Statement from William A. Brewer III on the U.S. Supreme Court’s Decision on Birthright Citizenship and Nationwide Preliminary Injunctions
June 27, 2025 — Today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision may allow President Trump’s Executive Order limiting birthright citizenship to take effect. The Court restricts federal courts from issuing preliminary injunctions that protect others who may be similarly situated as the plaintiffs unless they are a party of the case. This ban on so-called “nationwide” preliminary injunctions will certainly require immediate shifts in constitutional law and litigation.
While the decision may appear to be a short-term procedural win for the administration, this is not a partisan issue; it is a constitutional one. Although full appreciation of the impact will take years, the ruling has surely invited an avalanche of litigation against government actors accused of unconstitutional actions.
By limiting preliminary injunctions to only the parties before the court, the ruling effectively guts a tool typically used to check alleged government overreach. Millions of Americans may now be forced to file individual suits or rely upon lengthy class certification processes, which typically take months or even years.
Our firm has seen firsthand how government power can be weaponized to silence dissent. In our successful representation of the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) against the Cuomo Administration’s financial blacklisting campaign, we confronted — and defeated — a targeted effort to punish disfavored speech. That victory, a unanimous 9-0 decision by the Supreme Court (National Rifle Association v. Vullo), underscores the critical role of the courts in safeguarding individual rights.
The Court’s ruling today confirms how fragile those protections can be, and how urgently they must be defended. Make no mistake: this decision is a call to action.
With district courts now barred from providing “nationwide protection,” mass litigation seems likely. Lawyers and advocacy groups will mobilize — through representational lawsuits, coordinated individual suits, and expedited procedural strategies, federal dockets will now be quite crowded.
Read more here.
Fort Worth Report: Brewer Storefront Filing in Keller ISD Voting Rights Lawsuit
June 22, 2025 – The Fort Worth Report reports that Brewer Storefront filed a brief on behalf of plaintiff Claudio Vallejo in opposition to the Keller Independent School District's attempt to dismiss a federal voting rights lawsuit.
Originally filed on February 14, 2025, the case is in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Fort Worth. The lawsuit by Vallejo, a Hispanic parent with two children enrolled in the district, seeks to replace Keller ISD's at-large voting system with cumulative voting, "a more representative alternative" in which voters can allocate votes to one or more candidates. The lawsuit alleges that the at-large election system violates the Voting Rights Act and U.S. Constitution by diluting the political voice of Hispanic voters.
“A Hispanic candidate has not been elected to the board in 25 years,” the brief filed on June 12 argues. “This lack of representation leaves Hispanic families without a voice to champion the needs of their children.”
The article reports that the plaintiff states that the proposed cumulative model would allow geographically dispersed minority groups to combine their votes and elect representatives aligned with their views. The article states that Vallejo argues that relying on geographic compactness ignores modern community patterns and that current legal precedent is outdated.
“This case seeks to ensure that the voices of Hispanic voters are heard and accounted for in school board elections,” said William A. Brewer III, counsel for Vallejo. “Cumulative voting offers a constitutionally sound, locally empowered solution that aligns with the values for which the Voting Rights Act was adopted.”
The Storefront is the Brewer firm's community service legal affiliate.
Read more here.
Brewer Foundation President Joins Northwestern University Counselor Advisory Board
June 17, 2025 — Brewer Foundation President Ian Shaw has been selected to join the Northwestern University Counselor Advisory Board (CAB), an initiative focused on supporting underrepresented student populations and guiding them through the college admissions process.
Hosted by Northwestern’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions, CAB partners with high school counselors and college-access advocates to increase higher education opportunities for students facing systemic barriers. As a member of the program’s second cohort, Shaw will participate in a two-day program on Northwestern’s Evanston campus next spring, where he will collaborate with admissions staff and campus leaders.
In his role at the Brewer Foundation, Shaw oversees the Future Leaders Program (FLP), an academic and leadership development program serving more than 200 students, ages 12 to 18, from urban communities within the Dallas Independent School District (DISD). The FLP provides year-round academic instruction, leadership training, and cultural enrichment to prepare its “future leaders” for success in college and beyond.
Currently, two FLP alumni from the Class of 2023—undergraduates Erica Salazar and Raul Lopez—are enrolled at Northwestern. They will be joined this fall by Lizbeth Ojeda, a 2025 FLP graduate.
“I’m excited to deepen the Brewer Foundation’s partnership with Northwestern University,” Shaw said. “Our commitment to expanding college access for FLP students advances the mission of Northwestern’s CAB initiative. One of the most rewarding aspects of the FLP experience is seeing our graduates go on to attend great universities such as Northwestern and realize their higher education aspirations.”