Firm Overview

"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is
no path and leave a trail." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Dale R. Hightower always believed Albert Einstein's saying that "Imagination is more important than knowledge."  After working for 10 years at big, institutional law firms that still used the same strategies from the '60s and '70s, he had a feeling that a more modern approach might revolutionize the way cases were litigated.  So he got a loan from a local banker, rented a small office in downtown Miami, hired a paralegal, and hung out his shingle.

With encouragement from his initial business partners, Burger King, State Farm Insurance, and Dollar Rental Car, Dale began to innovate by using the latest in cutting edge graphics to illustrate his arguments to judges and juries.  Relying on modern psychological techniques of persuasion, he introduced multimedia approaches that impressed all who witnessed them.  Clinical psychologists have proven that people remember 30 percent of what they hear but remember 80 percent of what they see.  These "visual arguments" began to have more success than reading legal briefs. People began to take notice.

Along the way, Eduardo Valdes and Daniel Novigrod became partners in the Miami office. Christopher S. Stratton and Lee Kantor became partners in the Palm Beach office and Terra D. Wilhelm became a partner in the Tampa Bay office. The firm had to grow to meet the needs of its business partners. National corporations and insurance carriers requested that the firm open additional offices so as to represent them statewide. Attorneys from other big firms, who were also disgruntled by their archaic practice methods, joined us because of our creative and result-oriented style. We do things because they work and not "because we've always done it this way."

Strength Through Diversity

The firm's current 25 attorneys have a depth and breadth of experience that allows them to examine legal questions from all angles in order to propose well-reasoned options for our business partners to consider.  Our lawyers pride themselves on teamwork and each individual offers a unique quality that contributes to the firm's continued growth and success.  Of the 25 attorneys in the firm, we are proud that 65 percent are minorities and women.  We are involved in activities geared to the recruitment, hiring, and retention of outstanding minority and women attorneys.  We also support Minority Business Enterprises initiatives on nurturing and developing minority executives.

Our firm consists of divisions which focus on a specific industry's unique legal challenges and those attorneys litigate only cases specific to their area of practice.  Specialization not only works for physicians, but for lawyers who desire to be the best in certain fields as well.

Fast, Efficient, Proven Results

A distinguishing feature of our firm is to provide a comprehensive evaluation within 30 days of receipt of the file, which includes anticipated legal fees and litigation costs.

If a business partner wants to try to resolve a case to avoid expensive and unnecessary trial discovery, we usually recommend limited discovery and early mediation.  Absent guidelines to the contrary, we provide an updated status report on each file every two months.  Whether a business partner wants to defend a case through trial, or try for early settlement, our goal is to close cases within one year of receipt.  On the other hand, our firm is known for how often we are in trial, so if trial ends up being necessary, our firm's 90 percent success rate at trial remains unequaled.

Reasonable Fees and Timely Reporting

Besides the practice of law, we understand the business of law.  We are aware that many companies have reporting and budgetary requirements which need to be submitted in a timely manner and in the proper format.  Our firm's leaders maintain an internal docketing system, which ensures that all administrative requirements are met.

High Ethical Standards and Reputation for Success

In addition to being known for our creative and aggressive legal tactics, the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory has awarded us an "AV" rating, indicating that the firm has attained the highest rank for ethical standards and legal abilities.  We are also honored to be listed as one of the nation's top law firms in the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Lawyers, indicating that we are in the top 5% of all law firms in America!  Hiring Hightower, Stratton, Wilhelm as your corporate representative in Florida adds an immeasurable value to your case.  Our opponents know of our reputation for success, and this knowledge becomes a factor in the way they value their own case.  The added value of our reputation alone has saved our business partners untold litigation expenses in ways that may never be quantified.  We pride ourselves in exceeding the expectations of our business partners.

Good People.  Great Results!