Mr. Randazza’s practice is focused on First Amendment, Media, Internet, and Gaming Law.  Randazza has experience litigating libel defense cases, other First Amendment litigation, drafting online agreements, and counseling internet and land-based gambling operations on various nuances of gaming law.  Mr. Randazza handles all aspects of intellectual property matters from trademark registrations to complex intellectual property litigation before federal courts, the USPTO, and in international arbitration actions.  Mr. Randazza also handles challenges to unconstitutional zoning restrictions and licensing requirements imposed by local municipalities against First Amendment protected businesses.

His First Amendment scholarship began while he was still an undergraduate at the University of Massachusetts, where he earned a B.A. in Journalism cum laude with a concentration in First Amendment studies.

After gaining experience as a journalist, Randazza attended Georgetown University Law Center where he earned his juris doctor degree, served as president of the Student Bar Association, and was named champion of the law school’s annual negotiation competition.  As a summer associate, Randazza worked for Rydin Carlsten Advokatbyrå, a prominent Swedish law intellectual property law firm.  While at Rydin, Randazza served as second chair in an international arbitration resulting in a $90 million award for the firm’s client, and began to develop his expertise in international arbitrations and international intellectual property protection.

Following his law studies, Randazza completed a research and teaching fellowship at the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications. While at this position, he lectured on First Amendment, copyright, trademark, and internet law, at the University of Florida, as well as at national and international conferences.  He also served as a member of the international commercial arbitration moot court team. Concurrent with his fellowship, Randazza earned a Master of Arts in Mass Communication from the University of Florida with a focus on Media and First Amendment Law.

Randazza is the author of numerous publications and law review articles on First Amendment and media law, negotiation theory, gaming law, and property law issues. He has lectured at conferences of journalists, lawyers, and government officials in the United States and in Asia.  Mr. Randazza is a professor of law at Barry University School of Law where he teaches Trademark Law, Copyright Law, Entertainment Law, and Sports Law.

Randazza is licensed to practice law in the state courts for Florida and Massachusetts, the Federal courts for the Southern, Middle, and Northern Districts of Florida, the Federal District of Massachusetts, before the First and Eleventh District Courts of Appeal, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and before the United States Supreme Court. He is a member of the American Civil Liberties Union, the First Amendment Lawyers Association, the Free Speech Coalition, and he serves on the Media and Communications Law Committee for the Florida Bar.  Randazza is rated BV by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating available for an attorney with his level of experience.

Mr. Randazza may be reached at mrandazza@firstamendment.com or at the AIM screen name mrandazza007

Derek B. Brett, Associate

Mr. Brett's practice is focused on First Amendment, Media, Internet, and Civil Rights Law. Additionally, Mr. Brett has a background in complex criminal defense in both state and federal court. Prior to joining Weston, Garrou, Walters & Mooney, he practiced with the prominent white collar defense boutique of the Law Offices of Mark L. Horwitz, based in Orlando.

Brett obtained his Bachelor's Degree, Summa Cum Laude, from the University of Central Florida in 1993, and his Juris Doctor, Cum Laude, from the Florida State University, College of Law, in 1996. While at F.S.U., Brett received a public interest law fellowship through the Florida Bar Foundation. He completed his fellowship work with Volunteer Lawyers' Resource Center, assisting in the post-conviction defense of those sentenced to Florida's Death Row. Also, while at F.S.U., Brett served for two (2) years as President of the Law School's National Lawyers Guild chapter, and copy editor for the Journal of Progressive Legal Thought.

Professionally, Brett served for five (5) years as an assistant public defender in both Orlando and Fort Myers, Florida, rising to the level of senior felony attorney, responsible for supervision of other attorneys, and defense of complex cases, including life felonies and sex crimes. During this time, Brett gained extensive trial experience, bringing over forty (40) cases before juries. His tenure with the Horwitz firm exposed Brett to a wide range of federal criminal and civil litigation involving tax evasion, money laundering, and racketeering cases.

For approximately two years, Brett was employed in the Washington, DC, Office of Gordon, Silberman, Wiggins & Childs, P.C., litigating class action, civil rights cases – in conjunction with the NAACP and the Washington Lawyers' Committee on Civil Rights and Urban Affairs – and violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Since 2003, Brett has served as an adjunct professor of constitutional law at the University of Central Florida. His students are schooled in issues of federalism; separation of powers; free speech law; civil rights; free exercise of religion; separation of church and state; and voting rights. In 2006, Brett was honored with Phi Alpha Delta's UCF Political Science Professor of the Year Award.

Brett has remained involved in the leadership of several civic, legal and political organizations, including Orange County's Educational Facilities Board; the City of Orlando's Affordable Housing Board; the Orange County Bar Association; the Central Florida Inns of Court; the First Amendment Lawyers Association; the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; the Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; and the American Constitution Society. From 2003-2005, Brett was actively involved on the Central Florida American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Legal Panel, and from 2004-2005, served on the ACLU's State Executive Board. In 2004, Brett was the recipient of the Paul Wellstone Grassroots Activist of the Year Award, awarded for his strong efforts to advance progressive institutions and causes. Further, since 2007, Brett has served as Board of Trustees Secretary with his Synagogue, the Congregation of Reform Judaism.

Brett serves on the national board of directors for the American Jewish Congress, a group co-founded by the eminent Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, and boasting a distinguished history of championing civil rights and civil liberties for all Americans. Further, since 2004, Brett has served as regional co-chairperson of a large attorney organization designed to ensure elections fairness and voting rights.

Brett serves as a frequent commentator and panelist on local and national news and talk shows, addressing a wide range of issues ranging from the Iraq War to current civil rights litigation. In July 2005, Brett squared off against (now former) U.S. Congressman Mark Foley during an appearance on the FOX News Network's "O'Reilly Factor," in a discussion of the constitutional implications of federal sex offender legislation. Similarly, he has made several appearances on CNBC and other FOX News shows, addressing a wide range of issues impacting civil rights and liberties. Brett also makes regular appearances in locally-sponsored debate events. These debates have included discussions of First Amendment rights; the Bush v. Gore decision; and affirmative action.

Brett is licensed to practice before the Florida and District of Columbia Bars, and holds federal bar memberships with the United States Supreme Court; the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit; the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida; and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida.

In July 2007, Brett was named one of Florida's "Best Up & Coming Lawyers" by Florida Trends magazine.