MIAMI, FL – South Florida preeminent litigation firm Kluger, Kaplan, Silverman, Katzen & Levine has hired Jean-Pierre Bado, Briana Harris, Halyna Hnatkiv, and Samantha Medina, who will specialize in a variety of practice areas including complex commercial disputes, corporate matters, real estate as well as probate, trust and guardianship litigation.

The arrival of four new associates underscores the firm’s anticipated increased demand for commercial and probate litigation services, according to Founding Partner Alan Kluger. “As we continue to expand our litigation services amidst the ongoing business and wealth migration into the state, we are thrilled to welcome JP, Briana, Halyna, and Samantha to our team,” Kluger said. “Their diverse backgrounds and fresh perspectives will not only strengthen our firm but also enhance the innovative solutions we provide to our clients. This expansion reflects our commitment to excellence and our dedication to fostering a collaborative environment where talent can thrive.”  

With experience in domestic and international litigation, Bado’s practice focuses on real estate, securities, and complex commercial disputes. Prior to joining Kluger Kaplan, he served as a trusted advisor to Fortune 500 companies, shareholders, and investors in and outside the continental United States. 

Previously, Bado spent eight years in financial services performing sales and operations functions in private banking, mergers & acquisitions, and retail banking. Bado formerly held several securities licenses and was an instructor teaching other financial industry executives as part of a Certified Financial Planner program at Barry University. He also served as the Survivor Outreach Services Financial Counselor at the United States Southern Command in Doral, Florida.  

Bado earned his Juris Doctor degree from Florida International University College of Law and his Master of Business Administration in International Business and Finance from the University of Miami. A graduate of the Unites States Military Academy, he is a U.S. Army veteran with multiple awards for military achievement and service. 

As the first recipient of the firm’s H.T. Smith Scholarship, established in 2021, Harris completed the accompanying summer clerkship program with Kluger Kaplan eventually graduating from Florida International University’s College of Law. While in law school, Harris received numerous awards for her work, including the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Legal Skills and Values and Future Award in Contracts. She served as Editor-in-Chief of the FIU Law Review and graduated as Salutatorian of the Part-time program at FIU College of Law.  

Today, Harris specializes in commercial, complex, and real estate litigation. Previously, she served as a summer law clerk for the Florida Health Justice Project, which engages in comprehensive advocacy to expand health care access and promote health equity for vulnerable Floridians. Harris received her Bachelor of Arts in Medicine, Health, and Society from Vanderbilt University. 

At Kluger Kaplan, Hnatkiv focuses on complex commercial litigation, employment law, and probate, trust, and guardianship disputes. Prior to joining the firm, Hnatkiv was a Litigation Associate at Hunton Andrews Kurth, LLP where she worked on complex commercial disputes, alternative dispute resolution, and government investigations. Hnatkiv also represented pro bono clients in immigration and veterans’ benefits matters, assisting asylum applicants with individual hearings and veterans with discharge upgrade applications. 

Hnatkiv earned her Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Political Science from the University of Florida. She is admitted to the Florida Bar and U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. 

The firm’s most recent addition, Medina, will be focusing on complex litigation, class actions, and product liability. Prior to joining Kluger Kaplan, Medina was a litigation associate where she represented clients across various industry sectors in complex litigation matters and conducted internal investigations on white-collar issues for both public and private entities.  

Previously, Medina served as a Certified Legal Intern at the Broward County State Attorney’s Office and gained experience as a Legal Clerk at the Department of Energy’s Y-12 National Security Complex, where she conducted research on intellectual property and compliance matters within the federal regulatory framework.  

Medina earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Central Florida and her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Tennessee College of Law, where she was actively involved in the Health Law Moot Court Team and served on the Student Council on Diversity and Inclusion. She is a Fellow of the Florida Bar’s Business Law Section, a National Delegate for the Federal Bar Association, and is involved with the Jack & Jill Center’s Young Professional Network.  

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About Kluger, Kaplan, Silverman, Katzen & Levine, P.L. 
Kluger, Kaplan, Silverman, Katzen & Levine focuses on complex, high-stakes disputes across a broad range of disciplines and industries, including all aspects of business and corporate litigation; real estate and construction litigation; intellectual property litigation; employment litigation; securities and financial fraud; corporate governance; bankruptcy-related litigation and debtor and creditors’ rights; appeals in state and federal courts; professional liability; intellectual property disputes; class actions; and complex matrimonial, probate and trust litigation. The firm has offices in Miami and Boca Raton, and its veteran litigators have served as lead class counsel in federal multidistrict litigation and trials in federal and state courts throughout the country. Visit klugerkaplan.com for more information.