Elegant solutions for the most complex legal matters

Our Firm

Bass Law is a boutique law firm focused on complex commercial litigation and appellate practice with a particular emphasis on the use, development, and regulation of land.

Our firm handles the most consequential cases in the fields of administrative law, climate, commercial transactions, constitutional law, land use, local government law, real estate, water, trusts and estates, and zoning.

We are complete lawyers. We emphasize continuity in our legal relationships. We handle cases from the point of initial conflict, through trial, to the final appellate proceedings.

Our Team

Jeffrey S. Bass

Founder

Jeffrey S. Bass is the founding member of the firm. He regularly litigates at the trial and appellate level in both state and federal court. In addition, Jeff maintains a robust practice before administrative agencies and local governments. He represents municipal and county government, universities, businesses, and individuals in all manner of conflicts involving the use and development of real property, property rights, entitlements, constitutional law, zoning disputes, historic preservation, local government law, business disputes, regulatory conflicts, environmental disputes, and trust and estate litigation. Beyond the foregoing, Jeff frequently serves as a counselor to large institutions and national law firms seeking to navigate Florida’s complex regulatory regimes with respect to zoning, land use, and development.

Deana D. Falce

Partner

Ms. Falce centers her practice in the areas of administrative law, business torts, commercial litigation, municipal litigation, and civil appeals, with a particular emphasis on disputes involving the use, development, and regulation of land. Ms. Falce tries jury and non-jury trials in both state and federal court. Ms. Falce has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Land Use and Zoning in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. Ms. Falce joined Bass Law as a partner after working for thirteen (13) years with Jeff Bass at ShubinBass. She graduated cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law in 2010. During law school, she served as Vice President of the Charles C. Papy, Jr. Moot Court Board, Articles Editor of the University of Miami International & Comparative Law Review, and successfully completed the Litigation Skills program with honors. She was also the recipient of the CALI Book Award for Business Associations.

Jennifer D. Bailey 

Partner

An expert problem solver, Judge Bailey (Ret.) spent most of her career in the Civil Division of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit 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, Jennifer conducted over one thousand (1,000) trials. She is a member of the American Arbitration Association’s Construction and Commercial Litigation panels.

Whitney A. Kouvaris

Counsel

Ms. Kouvaris devotes her time to our litigation and appellate practice. Before joining the firm, Ms. Kouvaris served for several years as the Judicial Law Clerk to The Honorable Barbara Lagoa at Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal. She graduated cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law where she served as the Executive Board Research Editor on the University of Miami Psychology, Public Policy & Law Journal. Additionally, Ms. Kouvaris interned at Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal and worked as a teaching fellow within the Miami Law Academic Achievement Program.  

Emily E. Vaughan  

Chief of Staff – Chief Paralegal

Emily serves as the firm’s Chief of Staff and Chief Paralegal providing vitally important support across all of the firm’s practice areas. Prior to working alongside Jeff, Emily ran a professional organization firm – no surprise to anybody who has ever worked with her – because she instantly knows where everything is all of the time. A gifted graphic artist, Emily designs many of the firm’s demonstrative exhibits and ensures the visual continuity of all work product. Emily has provided frontline courtroom support in the firm’s most consequential trial and appellate matters. In addition to the foregoing, Emily provides superlative support to the firm’s land use practice where she analyzes and drafts technical regulatory instruments such as ordinances, resolutions, master plans, site plans, and plats. 

Our New Home

After an incredible thirty-year run in the heart of downtown Miami, we elected to launch our new firm in the City of Coral Gables. Consistent with our climate commitment, we chose a LEED Platinum building and commissioned Touzet Studios to design bespoke space that emphasizes the use of natural materials that resonate with the miles of tree canopy that surrounds us.

Our Practice Areas