Spotlight On: Telese Zuberer, President, Icard Merrill
April 2025 — In an interview with Invest:, Telese Zuberer, president of Icard Merrill, shared the various initiatives through which the law firm supports the local community and noted significant trends concerning real estate given the increasing demand for housing. She highlighted the steps Icard Merrill takes to hire and retain top talent, including adapting to virtual working conditions.
What have been some achievements and milestones over the last 12 months?
2024 was quite an eventful year for our firm. To start with, the Lakewood Ranch expansion was a significant development. We already had an office there, but we expanded our footprint by combining spaces for a larger, unified office. We held a ribbon-cutting ceremony, which served as a major reintroduction of our space. While we have not yet held a ribbon-cutting for our Sarasota office, we undertook a similar project there. Sarasota is not officially our main office, but it serves as our hub. We upgraded the space and consolidated our offices in the Sarasota building, giving it a fresh new look after 30 years without any significant updates.
In addition to these expansions, 2024 saw other achievements we are very proud of. For instance, the city of Sarasota issued its first-ever Legacy Business Proclamation. This honor recognized three businesses in the Sarasota area for their longevity and impact. We were one of the three businesses honored, being the oldest business, established in 1953. This recognition was a significant testament to our enduring presence and contributions to the community. We were also recognized in the 2024 Best Law Firms in the U.S. by Best Lawyers. Furthermore, a record number of 12 attorneys from our firm were nominated as either Best Lawyers or Ones to Watch. This milestone reflects our growth and excellence in the legal field.
What trends are shaping the legal industry, and are there any specific sectors driving the demand for your services?
There are several trends shaping the legal industry, particularly in this region. One prominent area is real estate, specifically condominium and homeowner associations. With the region’s growth, there is an increased demand for housing, leading to numerous new developments and reinventions of existing areas. This growth has brought challenges, especially following the Surfside condominium collapse. New legislation focusing on building integrity, milestone inspections and structural safety has created significant work for our firm. We assist associations with funding, assessments and compliance with these new regulations.
Hurricane-related issues have also had a considerable impact. Our land use department is particularly busy addressing zoning laws and rebuilding challenges. When properties sustain significant damage, rebuilding must often comply with updated codes, creating complex legal issues. Additionally, insurance claims and property disputes stemming from hurricane damage have kept us occupied.
Beyond real estate, family law, estate planning and litigation remain critical areas. Recent changes to Florida’s civil procedure rules, effective Jan. 1, 2025, require more information to be disclosed before lawsuits can be filed. This change is expected to reduce the number of lawsuits filed while increasing the upfront work required for litigation. These developments have significant implications for our clients and the legal industry as a whole.
How are you helping your clients adapt to these regulatory changes?
The most immediate challenges stem from hurricane aftermath and the new civil procedure rules. These rules demand greater transparency and preparation before filing lawsuits, which increases costs and effort for clients. We are advising our clients to plan for higher litigation expenses and to consider alternative dispute resolution methods, such as mediation, to resolve issues more efficiently. In the property sector, we are assisting clients with navigating new zoning and code requirements, securing necessary approvals, and managing insurance claims. Our corporate clients are also adapting to changes brought on by the Corporate Transparency Act, which has introduced new filing requirements. We are staying at the forefront of these regulatory shifts to ensure our clients remain compliant and well-prepared.
How is your firm responding to the increasing role of technology, particularly AI and data analytics, in your service offerings?
Over the past year and a half, we have been upgrading both our hardware and software to enhance how we conduct business. As of now, our office is nearly paperless, which is a major accomplishment for a long-standing law firm. This past year, we finished clearing out warehouses filled with old files, some dating back to 1953. While other industries might have transitioned to paperless systems much earlier, this shift is significant for law firms, which are typically slower to adopt new technologies. AI is a key part of these updates. The Florida Bar has been proactive in guiding us on the safe and appropriate use of AI, ensuring we maintain attorney-client privilege. For instance, we cannot input client names or sensitive details into regular AI programs. Instead, we rely on a closed-circuit AI system, which allows us to use the technology securely.
We see AI being integrated into legal research databases, enabling us to retrieve information more efficiently. Internally, our software now includes AI tools for form generation and data management. Beyond that, court hearings of an hour or less are now conducted via Zoom, and even trials are increasingly virtual. This shift requires law firms to adapt to virtual platforms, significantly changing how we operate. While our firm is not aiming to be at the cutting edge of technology, we strive to stay just behind it. This approach ensures we adopt tools that are both effective and safe for our clients, while still advancing in areas like mobility.
As a legacy firm, how has Icard Merrill contributed to the local community?
One of our most rewarding recent initiatives was participating in the inaugural CEOs and Schools program in our county. Our firm partnered with an elementary school in Northport, where we spent a day reading to the students and learning about the school’s needs. After this “Day of Impact” on Nov. 21, we committed to supporting the school further by paying off their unpaid lunch bills and exploring mentorship opportunities for the students. Additionally, we were a top sponsor for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Walk this year. We are also deeply involved with organizations like the Argus Foundation for Leadership Education, the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, and Leadership Sarasota. One of our attorneys will serve as the Chamber’s Chair-elect in 2027.
We also support Girls Inc., the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Turning Points, and Teen Courts. A particular point of pride is our role in the 12th Judicial Circuit’s pro bono program, where we serve as guardians ad litem for children. This involves visiting homes, schools and after-school activities to assess the well-being of children involved in court cases. Our findings help the court make informed decisions without directly involving the children. This work is incredibly fulfilling. It allows us to make a meaningful impact on the community while supporting the legal system.
What are your firm’s primary goals and initiatives for the next two to three years?
For 2025, our focus on innovation will include completing the final phase of our technology transition, which incorporates AI-based systems. This is our largest investment for the year, aimed at improving efficiency and internal communication. We are prioritizing the growth and development of our attorneys and staff. Over the past three years, nearly one-third of our attorneys transitioned into retirement. This year, we aim to invest in our current team by empowering them to pursue areas of law they are passionate about. We believe that when attorneys are engaged and enthusiastic about their work, they perform better and contribute more effectively to the firm. This approach not only fosters a sense of belonging but also helps us retain top talent. By focusing on our team’s personal and professional growth, we strengthen the firm and ensure its long-term success.
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