Elizabeth Somerstein is a partner in the Land Use & Zoning practice group at Greenspoon Marder LLP, concentrating her practice on representing real estate developers, property owners, and national corporations in all aspects of the regulatory process involving complex land use and zoning matters.
Ms. Somerstein’s legal experience involves the processing of approvals required for the development of land, including amendments to comprehensive plans, zoning changes, platting, site planning, variances, vacation of easements and roadway rights-of-way, and municipal annexations of land. Additionally, Ms. Somerstein’s work involves drafting local ordinances, along with handling a wide range of code compliance issues. She is active with hearings for all stages of development, including planning and zoning boards, as well as city and county commissions. Ms. Somerstein represents clients in drafting easements and various declarations of restrictive covenants, including declarations relating to affordable housing. Further, Ms. Somerstein assists clients with extending deadlines within developmental approvals based on applicable executive orders issued by the State of Florida.
Ms. Somerstein is credentialed by the U.S. Green Building Council as a LEED AP BD+C, an advanced professional credential obtained by only those professionals with significant expertise in the design and construction phases of green buildings, serving the commercial, residential, education, and healthcare sectors.
Elizabeth is very active in the community and serves on various boards and committees, including currently serving as a member of the Broward County Cultural Council and Gold Coast Builder Association Government Affairs Committee. Ms. Somerstein previously served as Chair of the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Sustainability Advisory Board.
Ms. Somerstein earned a bachelor’s degree in art history from Emory University and subsequently earned her Juris Doctor degree at the University of Miami School of Law, graduating Magna Cum Laude.
Court Admissions
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
Bar Admissions
- Florida
Education
- LEED AP BD+C Professional Credential
- J.D., University of Miami School of Law, magna cum laude, Order of the Coif
- Writing Editor, University of Miami Intern-American Law Review
- “Grey Quill Award,” Recipient
- B.A., Art History, Emory University
Professional and Community Involvement
- Gold Coast Builder Association Government Affairs Committee, Member
- Leadership Broward, Class XLI
- Broward County Cultural Council, Member
- Officer of the Board, 2024-2025
- Leadership Broward Engagement Committee, Member
- Nova Southeastern University, Levan Ambassadors Board, Member
- City of Fort Lauderdale, Sustainability Advisory Board, Chair of the Board
- Ghost Light Society, Steering Committee
- Broward County Bar Association, Member
- Order of the Coif, Member
- Silver Knight Alumni Association, Member
- South Florida Emory Alumni Association, Member
Recognitions
- Best Lawyers®, “The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch,” Commercial Litigation, 2021-2025
- City of Fort Lauderdale, “Green Your Routine Award” 2023
- South Florida Legal Guide, “Top Up & Comer Lawyer Under 40,” 2021
- Super Lawyers magazine, “Florida Rising Stars,” Land Use & Zoning, 2019
- Daily Business Review, Honoree, “On the Rise” Professional Excellence Awards, 2019
- South Florida Business & Wealth magazine, Nominee, “Up & Comers,” 2018
Publications
- Author, “Senate Bill 360 in the Wake of the Recent City of Weston Ruling,” October 25, 2010
- Co-Author, “New Challenges to Protecting a Landlord’s Interest from its Tenants’ Creditors,” March 10, 2010
- Author, “Copyright Abolition and Attribution,” Review of Law & Economics: Vol. 5: Iss. 3, Article 5, 2009
- Author, “Provenance: Issues in Museum Administration” ALI-ABA Course of Study, Legal Issues in Museum Administration, April 2009
- Author, “Who is really protecting Barbie: Goliath or the Silver Knight? A defense of Mattel’s aggressive international attempts to protect its Barbie copyright and trademark,” 39 University of Miami Inter-American Law Review, 559, 2008
In the News
- Featured, “Q&As With DBR’s 2019 On the Rise Honorees,” Daily Business Review, May 6, 2019
- Featured, “Meet Liz Adler of Greenspoon Marder in Brickell and Miami Beach,” VoyageMIA, May 2, 2019
- Featured, “DBR Announces 2019 Professional Excellence Awards,” Daily Business Journal, March 15, 2019
- Featured, “Alumni Welcome,” NSU University School Viewpoint, Spring 2018
- May 23, 2023 Client Alert: Live Local Act (SB 102)
News
- Nov 19, 2024 Greenspoon Marder Partner Elizabeth Somerstein Elected as Officer of Broward Cultural Council Board
- Nov 12, 2024 Greenspoon Marder Partner Elizabeth Somerstein Secures Approval for 286-Unit Housing Development in Davie, Florida
- Oct 28, 2024 Greenspoon Marder Partner Elizabeth Somerstein Secures Approval for Redevelopment of Iconic Signature Grand Property in Davie, Florida
- Aug 15, 2024 21 Greenspoon Marder Attorneys Listed in The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch® 2025 Edition
- Aug 17, 2023 23 Greenspoon Marder Attorneys Listed in The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch® 2024 Edition
- Mar 8, 2023 Greenspoon Marder Promotes Four Attorneys to Partner in 2023
- Jan 9, 2023 Greenspoon Marder Attorney Elizabeth Somerstein Adler Recipient of Honorary Award Presented by the City of Fort Lauderdale
- Aug 18, 2022 18 Greenspoon Marder Attorneys Listed In The Best Lawyers In America: Ones To Watch® 2023
- Mar 11, 2022 Greenspoon Marder Senior Counsel Elizabeth Somerstein Adler Appointed to the Broward County Cultural Council
- Jan 31, 2022 Greenspoon Marder Elizabeth Somerstein Adler Credentialed as LEED AP BD+C Professional
- Aug 19, 2021 Nine Greenspoon Marder Attorneys Listed In The Best Lawyers In America©: Ones To Watch 2022
- Apr 9, 2021 Greenspoon Marder Attorneys Recognized By The South Florida Legal Guide As “Top Lawyers” And “Top Up & Comers” For 2021
- Dec 14, 2020 Greenspoon Marder Senior Counsel Elizabeth Somerstein Adler Elected To Serve As The Chair Of The City Of Fort Lauderdale’s Sustainability Advisory Board
- Nov 20, 2020 Greenspoon Marder Senior Counsel Elizabeth Somerstein Adler Reappointed To The City Of Fort Lauderdale’s Sustainability Advisory Board
- Nov 2, 2019 Greenspoon Marder supports the 10th Annual Ghost Light Society Soiree benefitting the Broward Center’s Arts-in-Education Programs
- Oct 9, 2019 Greenspoon Marder Senior Counsel Elizabeth Somerstein Adler Earns LEED AP BD+C Professional Credential
- Sep 23, 2019 Greenspoon Marder Senior Counsel Elizabeth Somerstein Adler Inducted As A Member Of The NSU Levan Ambassadors Board
- May 23, 2019 Greenspoon Marder Senior Counsel Elizabeth Adler To Be Honored At The Daily Business Review’s Florida Legal Awards
- Sep 17, 2018 Greenspoon Marder Attorney Elizabeth Somerstein Adler Appointed to the Steering Committee for the Broward Center of Performing Art’s Ghost Light Society
- Jun 6, 2018 Greenspoon Marder Attorney Elizabeth Somerstein Adler Recognized As A 2018 “Up and Comer” By South Florida Business & Wealth
- Feb 11, 2018 Greenspoon Marder Supports The B’Nai B’rith Justice Unit’s 38th Annual Installation Brunch
- Feb 2, 2017 Greenspoon Marder Associate Elizabeth Somerstein Adler Elected to Serve on Board of Broward B’Nai Brith’s Justice Unit
- Dec 17, 2016 Greenspoon Marder Attorney Elizabeth Somerstein Adler Reappointed for a Second Term to the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Sustainability Advisory Board
- Jun 9, 2016 Greenspoon Marder Attorney Elizabeth Somerstein Adler has been Appointed to the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Sustainability Advisory Board