More than a decade ago, College of Law alumni Amanda Bender ’11 and Gunnar Mandrisch ’13 were classmates. More recently, they found themselves collaborating on a once-in-a-lifetime deal: the largest residential transaction in Miami-Dade County history. The subject of the sale, a 1.84-acre parcel with 200 feet of Biscayne Bay waterfront, is rumored to be the new home of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and family by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and other news sources. Bender, the managing partner of Stein, Bender & Brookland, represented the seller in this record-breaking $170,000,000 transaction.
Bender told the New York Post that the sale set "a record, historic price for Miami-Dade County," adding that "the house isn't even finished — the buyers still have to design their space."
In such a complex project, effective collaboration across stakeholder groups is critical. Mandrisch, a board-certified construction lawyer and principal at Arminius Law, ensured that the winding-up of the construction project was handled effectively, efficiently, and in the best interest of his client, the contractor, while working hand-in-hand with Bender to ensure that Bender’s client was also protected and able to close out the project in order to effectuate the sale. The residence is reported to include nine bedrooms, eleven bathrooms, and various recreational and other spaces, and is set to be finished sometime before the end of 2027.
Both lawyers credit the training they received at FIU Law for preparing them to advise on matters of such large scope with tenacity, proficiency, and skill.
“My contracts professor Scott Norberg obviously made a lasting impression, but my entire experience at FIU Law gave me the tools needed to excel in the profession,” said Bender.
“The odds are low that two alumni of the same school would be so involved in a milestone transaction like this, but FIU Law made it possible,” Mandrisch added. “The relative ease with which Amanda and I were able to collaborate is a great reminder of how important relationship-building during law school is, and how reputation carries forward. We first met during law school and were classmates, which made it much easier for us to establish a good working relationship and collaboration right from the start.”
You can learn more about the transaction at Elle Decor and Robb Report. Bender and Mandrisch anticipate hosting a student event on transactional practice and networking this coming fall.