Legal Aid in the News

Dade Legal Aid Foundation has received a generous $10,000.00 donation for Battle of the Legal Bands from the Honorable Jason Bloch in honor of the late Robert C. Josefsberg.  Judge Bloch is a Circuit Court Judge in the Criminal Division of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in Miami-Dade County.  Mr. Josefsberg was one of the biggest supporters of Dade Legal Aid and never said "no" to taking pro bono cases.  He never missed an event and was Dade Legal Aid's biggest cheerleader.  Judge Bloch attended University of California, Berkeley and Georgetown University School of Law and practiced in the Miami-Dade County Attorney's Office prior to becoming a judge and has taken numerous challenging pro bono cases throughout his career.

Miami, FL - Battle of the Legal Bands is back by popular demand on Saturday, October 18, 2025. This event features five bands consisting of lawyers and judges rocking for justice and will be held at Bougainvillea’s Old Tavern in South Miami. This well-attended, fun event, with an anticipated audience of over 250 guests, raises funds and awareness of the need for civil legal aid. The bands competing include South Florida fan favorites, Chillable Hours, LLP, The 540s, The Seacocks, and The Urge. Three sitting judges, the Honorable Fleur Lobree, of the Third District Court of Appeal, the Honorable Javier Enriquez and the Honorable Richard Hersch, of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, will judge the competition to determine which band is the Top Legal Band. The Honorable William Altfield will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

Dade Legal Aid is the oldest provider of civil legal services to qualifying low-income residents of Miami-Dade County. A non-profit law firm in practice since 1949, Dade Legal Aid specializes in family law, domestic violence, guardianship, child advocacy, probate, real property, general civil and bankruptcy, and has two components: in-house legal services and the Put Something Back Pro Bono Project that matches volunteer attorneys with pre-screened clients in need of civil legal assistance. The demand for our services has escalated over the last year due to rising number of residents facing divorces, evictions, domestic violence, unemployment and other economic challenges. This event raises critical funds and awareness of the needs for greater access to justice for vulnerable clients including disadvantaged children, victims of domestic violence, veterans and persons with disabilities.

MEET THE BANDS:

Chillable Hours
Chillable Hours is composed of 100% lawyers who are 100% University of Miami Law School graduates. The band features Jeff Kucera, Esq., a Partner with K&L Gates, on Guitar, Joe Wasserkrug, Esq., a Partner with McDermott Will & Schulte, on Bass, Jordan Shaw, Esq., a Partner with Shaw Lewenz, on Drums, Daniel Silver, Esq., a Senior Attorney with Nest Law, on Keyboard, and Freddi Mack, Esq., a First Assistant City Attorney with the City of Miami Beach, on Vocals. When they’re both trying cases this rockin’ band is performing for greater access to justice! “It’s time to stop billin’ and start chillin’! with Chillable Hours

LLP
LLP has been playing together for nine years and is comprised of six musicians. John Meagher, Esq., Managing Partner of Litigation, Shutts & Bowen LLP, Miami office, on Guitar, Trombone, and Vocals, joined by his wife, Joanne Meagher, on Vocals, Melodica, and Percussion, Jake Monk, Esq., Litigation Partner with Shutts, on Saxophone and Bass Guitar, Damien Reynolds, Esq., formerly of Shutts and a Partner with Bracho Law, on Bass Guitar and Vocals. Drummer Jose Godur, a music executive and Dimitri Godur, a medical school student, on Guitar, Bass, and Vocals. Performing at charitable events all over SoFL they look forward to jamming for Justice!

The 540s
The 540s features the Honorable Carlos H. Gamez, Circuit Court Judge, Lead Vocals and Saxophone, the Honorable Christopher A. Green, County Court Judge, Lead/Rhythm Guitar,  Michael A. Mesa, President,  Mesa and Mesa Tax and Accounting Services, Bass and Background Vocals, Richard Santos, Product Manager, LEGAL RADIUS Deposition Management Systems, Lead/Rhythm Guitar and Background Vocals,  Alejandro Herrera, Exclusive Real Estate Advisor, Avanti Way Realty, Drums, and Adam Weirich, Managing Director/Principal at Equitable Advisors, Keyboards. They are excited for the event and hope to reclaim First Place bragging rights!

The Seacocks
The Seacocks are the newest band to the roster and were formed at the Coconut Grove Sailing Club in 2024. They played their first gig in March of that year and look forward to participating in this year’s event. The band is composed of Keith Henrich, Esq., General Counsel, The Hackett Group, Inc., Vocals and Lead Guitar, William Sancho, Esq., Miami Office Administrator, White & Case LLP, Drummer, Tom Santoro, Esq., Attorney, Mediator and Arbitrator, Thomas Mead Santoro, a member of the Board of Directors of the Miami Dade Bar, Rhythm Guitar, and Dave Martin, Bass, President, Manage Incorporated. While they’re a new entry to the BOTLB, they expect to make a rockin’ respectable showing!

The Urge
The Urge is a multi-genre cover band playing throughout South Florida since 1996 and has performed in this event every year since its inception!  With hundreds of songs in their repertoire, The Urge covers a variety of genres over the past several decades based in Blues, Country and Rock and will keep you up, dancing, foot tapping and head banging all night long. The Urge features Fred Fein, Esq., Managing Partner, Clyde & Co US LLP, Lead Vocals & Guitar, Mark Meland, Esq., Partner, Meland Budwick, P.A., Lead Vocal and Bass; Joe Hernandez, Esq., Partner, Bilzin Sumberg,  Lead Guitar and Vocals, and Frank Del Campillo, Drums.  Three-time champions, they are hoping for another victory!

For further information or for tickets and sponsorships, please contact Battle of the Legal Bands: Link: Battle of the Legal Bands

Karen Ladis, Esq., Executive Director - kladis@dadelegalaid.org - 305-579-5733 ext. 2245
Steven Paulson, Esq., Band Manager - spaulson@dadelegalaid.org  - 305-579-5733 ext. 2262
Stephanie Grosman, Esq., Project Attorney - sgrosman@dadelegalaid.org - 305-579-5733 ext. 2242
Maria Dopico, Event Coordinator - psb@dadelegalaid.org - 305-579-5733 ext. 2252

Ms. Kornreich, a Partner at Kornreich & Associates, practices exclusively in Family Law and provides an extraordinary amount of pro bono legal services with Put Something Back in Miami. She was also recognized by The Florida Bar YLD Young as the Lynn Futch Most Productive Young Lawyer of the Year 2018, as a #BWOTY Badass Woman of the Year by the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce 2022. She has been listed as a Super Lawyer Rising Star, and in the Best Lawyers in America. She is a passionate lawyer, Past-president of Miami-Dade Florida Association for Women Lawyers, First Family Law American Inn of Court and is a Director of the Miami-Dade Bar.

Over the past decade, Tenikka L. Jones has dedicated more than 800 hours to children’s pro bono cases. She has served on a pro bono basis as attorney ad litem in Juvenile Dependency Court through Dade County’s Put Something Back Program and mentored youth through the Women of Tomorrow Program. Jones’ dedication and commitment to the foster children she represents set her apart. In one case, Jones was assigned to represent a child who was on the cusp of turning 13. Despite the complexities of the issues and length of time involved in handling the case, coupled by the demands of working at a private firm, Jones dedicated hundreds of hours of her time to the case and continued to support and advocate for the youth until she reached age 18. Jones, an experienced commercial litigator, is currently a full-time faculty member at Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law.

In 1991, Ms. Ladis joined the nonprofit public interest law firm as coordinator of the Put Something Back Pro Bono Project. As coordinator, Ladis conducted extensive outreach to assist low-income clients in need of civil legal assistance at branch courthouses located throughout the county.  Those that were income-eligible and in need of further representation were expeditiously assigned to pro bono attorneys.  Due to its innovative recruitment, training and mentorship efforts, Put Something Back became the official pro bono arm of the circuit garnering local and national recognition by the courts and bar. After serving on the ABA and Florida Bar Pro Bono Committees and in numerous leadership roles for 23 years, Ladis became the executive director of Dade Legal Aid in 2014. Admitted to the bar in 1990, she has since served on numerous committees including the Greater Miami Jewish Federation Attorneys Division, the University of Miami Law Alumni Association, and the Dade County Bar Association, ex officio. She is actively involved in a variety of local voluntary bars and currently serves as a co-chair of the Miami-Dade Chapter of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers Pro Bono Committee. In 1998, she received The Florida Bar YLD Pro Bono Public Service Award, in 2006, she received the DCBA inaugural Robert L. Shevin Public Service Award, and in 2012, she received the inaugural Eleventh Judicial Circuit Family Division Above & Beyond Award, and was awarded it again in 2015 for her service to the bench, bar and community. In 2019, she received the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Program’s Outstanding GAL Award for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit.  According to Ladis, it is a privilege and honor to work with dozens of dedicated colleagues who are truly tireless heroes helping those in need of civil legal assistance with nowhere else to turn for help.

Dade Legal Aid Class VIII Fellows include: