Mr. Solowsky is an “AV” rated lawyer who has been practicing law in Miami for 40 years. He has repeatedly been recognized as one of South Florida's premiere litigators by The South Florida Legal Guide, Florida Trend Magazine, Florida Super Lawyers, Florida's Legal Elite, and South Florida Business Journal. His practice primarily focuses on matters involving complex commercial litigation and contract based class actions. Mr. Solowsky is a highly skilled trial attorney.
In 2001, after 10 years of hard-fought litigation, Mr. Solowsky and other lawyers helped obtain a jury verdict of over $500 Million against Exxon Corporation in a federal class action on behalf of over 10,000 present and former Exxon service station dealers nationwide. The NATIONAL LAW JOURNAL recognized his law firm as the third "winningest" law firm in the country for the year 2001 based upon that jury verdict. That verdict was affirmed on appeal by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and then by the Supreme Court of the United States. Exxon ultimately paid in excess of $1 billion.
In another case, Mr. Solowsky, representing the Mayor of Miami and the Chair of the Miami City Commission, filed a class action lawsuit against the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) on behalf of the residents of Miami, seeking to stop a last-minute bait and switch by FDOT regarding the construction of a signature bridge to replace I-395. Mr. Solowsky successfully negotiated a settlement which included the formation of a community Steering Committee configured to provide the local community with a voice in the ultimate approval of the design and concept of the Signature Bridge Project.
Mr. Solowsky represented 344 homeowners in 8 condominium associations of the Village Homes at Country Walk who sued their insurance company for Hurricane Andrew claims. Mr. Solowsky litigated for the homeowners for five years against the insurer and obtained a favorable verdict.
Mr. Solowsky was appointed in 2002 by the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida to serve on the Ad Hoc Committee for Local Rules and Procedures of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and he served on the Committee for five years.
Mr. Solowsky was an Adjunct Professor of the University of Miami Law School for fourteen years where he taught pleading and discovery classes. He has also taught at Florida International University. Mr. Solowsky has also testified before the Banking Committee of the United States Senate.
Mr. Solowsky is very committed to participating in the growth of the City of Miami. Mr. Solowsky served on the Board of Directors of the Miami Sports & Exhibition Authority from 2013-2017 and again in 2018. Mr. Solowsky was the Miami City Manager’s Permanent Designee to the Board of Directors of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust from 2013-2017. Mr. Solowsky served on the City of Miami’s Charter Review and Reform Committee from 2014-2016. Mr. Solowsky was pro bono General Counsel and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Downtown Development Authority of the City of Miami. Mr. Solowsky was also instrumental in the acquisition and development of 1814 Brickell Park.
In 2013, the City of Miami recognized Mr. Solowsky’s important contributions and proclaimed October 8th as “Jay Solowsky” day.
Mr. Solowsky is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Miami Jewish Health Systems, Inc., f/k/a Miami Jewish Home and Hospital for the Aged at Douglas Gardens. Miami Jewish Health Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries (MJH) is the largest and most innovative provider of healthcare for seniors in the southeastern United States. As a not-for-profit group of affiliated organizations. Founded in 1940 as a 23-bed nursing home, MJH now treats approximately 12,500 residents and patients annually ranging in age from 5 years old to 107 years, encompassing all ethnic and religious groups. MJH directly and indirectly employs 1,300 people and has a budget of $140 Million. Mr. Solowsky has served in various roles with MJH since 2001 and has been its Chairman since 2016.
In the 1970’s, Mr. Solowsky served as an intern and then Interim Assistant to the Governor of Massachusetts in the administration of Francis W. Sargent.
Education:
University of Massachusetts (B.A., cum laude, 1975)
University of Miami (J.D., cum laude, 1979)
