Bass Law, a commercial litigation and appellate boutique located in Coral Gables, Florida, announced that the Honorable Jennifer D. Bailey (Ret.) has joined the firm as a partner. Judge Bailey recently retired after 31 years on the bench. She will focus on all aspects of the firm’s complex business cases, private judging and alternate dispute resolution.
“Over her 31-year judicial career, Judge Bailey has done it all with inimitable insight, an indefatigable work ethic, and extraordinary humility. We are humbled by and grateful for her decision to join us,” said Jeffrey Bass, Founder of Bass Law. “Jennifer Bailey is a force multiplier. She will bring her vision, judgment, energy, and courtroom experience to all of our matters. And, she will continue to deliver her expertise in untangling knotty business problems through her arbitration and private judging work. Perhaps most importantly, she will help us to develop the next generation of great lawyers and instill within them the highest traditions of excellence that exist within the practice of law,” added Bass. “Our mission is to be the finest boutique in our precinct of the law. Judge Bailey will contribute greatly to this mission,” said Bass.
“I’ve had the opportunity to observe Jeff’s practice for more than 20 years in my trial court and appellate capacities. Jeff’s love for the work is readily apparent the moment he steps into the courtroom. So too is his professionalism, tenacity, integrity, and subject matter expertise,” said Judge Bailey. “Working with Bass Law aligns perfectly with my passions and strengths, bringing new challenges and opportunities for growth. The collaborative environment and the impact of our cases make the work even more rewarding. It’s not just about litigating; it’s about contributing to something meaningful and seeing the positive effects of our efforts for clients, as well as continuing in my problem-solving, solution-delivering role as a private judge and arbitrator.”
Pillars of the legal community offered comment on the move. Roberto Martinez, former United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida and partner at Colson Hicks Eidson said, “Judge Jennifer Bailey devoted over thirty years in public service to this community handling some of the most consequential and complicated cases in the courthouse, including cases that I tried before her. She was a great trial judge, bringing intellect, courtesy, compassion and organization and management skills to every case she touched. Her work as the civil administrative judge for more than a decade—working for the new courthouse, transitioning to digital and CourtMAP, and leading through Covid and the foreclosure crisis—delivered real and material improvements in civil justice for the people of Miami-Dade. Given her passion and energy, pairing up with Jeff and his firm makes all the sense in the world. Jeff Bass is a great lawyer and they will make a terrific team.”
Tomas F. Gamba, former President of the Cuban American Bar Association and former President of the Florida Chapters of the American Board of Trial Advocates had this to say: “Judge Bailey will bring to the firm the same level of energy, expertise and innovation that distinguished her service on the bench. I’m grateful for her heroic efforts to secure County funding for our new courthouse and for her expert management of the COVID crises to re-start jury trials as soon as it was safe to do so. What a great addition to a great firm.”
Upon hearing the news, former President of the Florida Bar Dori-Foster Morales said, “I’ve tried extraordinarily difficult and complicated cases before Judge Bailey. She’s the type of judge every lawyer dreams of drawing for a big case: She’s always impeccably prepared and prepared to outwork everybody in her courtroom to ensure that fair justice is delivered efficiently, correctly, and carefully. I’m so happy for her.”
An expert problem solver, Judge Bailey spent most of her career in the Civil Division of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida where she managed a Complex Business Litigation docket for over a decade. She also presided over long-duration trials whose onerous demands exceeded the capacity of any one division, including everything from tobacco product liability trials to the FIU pedestrian bridge collapse cases. During her time on the bench, Judge Bailey conducted over one thousand (1,000) trials. She is a member of the American Arbitration Association’s Construction and Commercial Litigation panels.
Judge Bailey served as Administrative Judge of the Circuit Civil Division for more than fourteen (14) years at the request of four different Chief Judges. She led the Eleventh Judicial Circuit through many of the most consequential moments in the recent history of our judicial system. She quarterbacked the great judicial pivot to Zoom during the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and worked closely with the trial bar to resume jury trials as soon as it was safe to do so. Prior to that, Judge Bailey led the system-wide transformation from paper to digital filings and, relatedly, she directed the development of CourtMAP – the one-stop digital interface for all court users. In addition, Judge Bailey spearheaded the establishment of Miami’s International Arbitration Court. Perhaps most notably, Judge Bailey, along with Chief Judge Bertila Soto, was at the forefront of the successful effort to secure, develop, and construct a new, safe, and modern courthouse for Miami-Dade County, scheduled to open next year.
Judge Bailey is a national expert on case management. In addition to her law practice, private judging and alternative dispute resolution, Bailey teaches and consults with various court systems on court leadership, how to innovate and deploy technology, and how to improve judicial efficiency. She frequently works with the National Center for State Courts as a Senior Judicial Advisor, and she is often consulted on cutting edge issues such as data quality, change management, and AI in the justice system. She earned her L.L.M. in Judicial Studies from Duke University School of Law in 2018 and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Georgia School of Law.
Bass Law is an elite litigation boutique located in Coral Gables, Florida. It was launched by prominent litigator Jeffrey Bass in 2024. The firm serves as lead litigation and appellate counsel on complex business cases and land use disputes. Bass Law often serves as co-counsel alongside national and international firms in need of subject matter expertise.
About Bass Law
Bass Law is a boutique law firm focused on complex commercial litigation with a particular emphasis on administrative law, appellate practice, climate, constitutional law, land use, local government, municipal law, water, zoning, and business disputes. Its seasoned attorneys excel in the boardroom, courtroom, and appellate arena, handling the most intricate cases from initial conflicts to trial and final appellate proceedings. Bass Law is frequently sought as co-counsel by Florida firms seeking expertise in land use and real property substantive litigation. Additionally, it serves as the trusted local counsel for national and international law firms seeking a partnership with a renowned, highly respected, well-connected, and actively practicing subject matter expert. For more information, visit www.basslaw.com
