Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean M. Cleary.
Hi Sean, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I attended college at the University of Notre Dame and graduated with honors in 1993.
My father and six (6) family members are lawyers and trial lawyers. I started as a lawyer after clerking during law school for some of the best trial law firms. After I graduated from the University of Miami School of Law cum laude, I was hired by the Miami office of a Wall Street law firm to represent Fortune 500 companies as a litigator.
After that, I went to work for two of Florida’s best boutique trial law firms and focused on trial practice in both State and Federal Courts, representing people in significant lawsuits against individuals and corporations. I have handled cases from beginning to the very end, including initial case investigation, filing, and defending the lawsuit, discovery, trial, and even the appeal after trial, in both State and Federal Courts, in Florida, and other states.
In addition to holding many Miami-Dade County and Federal Court positions during the past 24 years, I am currently a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). It is a prestigious group of Florida’s best trial lawyers who are individually selected through peer review based on the number of trials, results, professionalism, and ethics.
I have co-chaired the Southern District of Florida Bench and Bar Conference since 2013 and have served on the Southern District of Florida Local Rules Committee since 2007. Since 2017, I have been recognized as one of The Best Lawyers in America. I have also been named a Florida Super Lawyer since 2006, and I am a member of both the Million Dollar Advocates and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates based on my significant verdicts and settlements.
My cases typically involve significant sums of money, assets, and considerable insurance policies, which we carefully investigate and discover during the litigation process. I enjoy representing people, and at my firm, we take the time to answer questions and explain the litigation process.
In doing so, I earn the clients’ trust and ensure that they are satisfied with my representation.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As a trial lawyer for more than 24 years, there is never a “smooth road” in this business. For example, family law cases are some of, if not the most, stressful lawsuits.
I recognize the high level of stress in these cases, and I take the time to listen to my clients, answer their questions, explain essential details, and, to the extent possible, make them as comfortable as possible with this challenging process. I also try to minimize divorce litigation’s emotional impact on my clients as much as possible.
Lawsuits are not pleasant to be involved with, particularly family disputes. However, I do my very best to help my clients understand the process, navigate through the tricky parts of their case, and then give the best advice I can so that each client makes the best decision for their case.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have my own office, and I am the sole attorney currently working here. I have legal assistants who help me with initial discovery, answer calls, and basic client questions. I focus on the strategic parts of the case, including the filings, conducting discovery (which is the information gathering process), preparation for trial, and the actual trial.
I stay in regular contact with my clients, respond to their questions, and work hard to stay ahead in each case by being efficient with time and diligently preparing the case for trial. I have found that I achieve the best results for my clients by pushing my cases hard and as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Many cases that are ready for trial settle because neither side wants to risk trial. My experience in discovery and trial preparation and trial practice sets my firm apart from others. These skills have taken me more than 20 years to acquire. I genuinely believe the clients benefit from this experience since I have seen almost everything in litigation and know what to expect if a trial becomes necessary.
This allows me to give the best advice I can to my clients. With that said, one of the benefits I offer is in knowing that sometimes a case should settle before trial. I have participated in and successfully resolved hundreds of cases over the years during mediation.
Typically, mediation is required in all cases, and again, the benefits include obtaining certainty, eliminating risk, and ending the stressful and expensive litigation process.
What does success mean to you?
I am proud of my comfort and success in the courtroom. It took me several years to truly become familiar with and then confident in court. My definition of success is a satisfied client whose needs and concerns have been addressed and who feels as though they have been represented by a professional.
My cases involve disputes about money and the valuation of significant assets. I know exactly when to use the resources I have available, including forensic experts, who assist me in uncovering the actual value of assets. This aspect is critical because sometimes a high earner has established a trust, or another means to place family assets into, which need to be discovered, researched, evaluated, etc.
A high-net-worth divorce involves property owned by the couple with a significant monetary value. Among the many issues I deal with are the division of assets and spousal support. As per applicable law, part of our evaluation involves determining which assets are marital property and which are not.
Furthermore, many high-net-worth individuals have complicated agreements, including prenuptial agreements, business agreements, etc., which must be considered and addressed in the litigation.
High-net-worth divorces are more complex than typical family law disputes and involve people litigating over significant assets. Some of these assets are non-traditional assets that can be difficult to divide and can include, but certainly are not limited to, bank accounts, trusts, stocks, other investments, valuable art, antiques, collectibles, personal property, automobiles, aircraft, yachts, and real estate.
Most of these assets need to be appraised and investigated carefully by a knowledgeable forensic accountant or another financial expert. Further, we sometimes need to determine the value of pensions, retirement accounts, stock options, business ownerships or partnerships, and insurance policies.
Using financial experts is very important to trace funds, particularly if assets have been moved, hidden, or intermingled. To sum it up, I enjoy my work, I am energetic, and I constantly try to better the experience and results for my clients.
Contact Info:
- Email: sean@clearypa.com
- Website: https://www.seanclearypa.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Clearypa/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/clearypa
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/seanclearypa
