About Our Firm
Waks & Barnett attorneys practice in the areas of personal injury and wrongful death, with a specialization in Admiralty and Maritime cases. With more than 50 years of combined experience, we have kept the firm small and selective so that we can devote our full attention and resources to our clients and their cases.

We have successfully represented hundreds of people from around the world who have been seriously injured or killed either as passengers or working crewmembers on cruise ships, cargo vessels and recreational boats. Many of these cases have resulted in settlements or judgments exceeding $1 million.

Waks & Barnett has been privileged to represent cruise ship passengers and crewmembers from Florida, throughout the United States and many countries whose lives have been changed by shipboard accidents. Andrew Waks of our firm is Board Certified in admiralty and maritime law by the Florida Bar. He has been the past vice chairman and chairman of the Florida Bar Admiralty Committee and has been appointed vice chair of the Admiralty and Maritime Certification Committee. He has lectured on various maritime topics for the Florida Bar, Southeast Admiralty Law Institute, and Lorman Educational Services, and has recently co-authored the section on personal injury in the Florida Bar Maritime Law and Practice Manual.

Our experience and familiarity with the litigation tactics of the cruise lines and the special requirements and limitations of maritime law give us a unique opportunity to achieve the best results for our clients. We have accepted referrals from colleagues throughout the United States regarding cruise ship cases that must be litigated in South Florida. From our base in Miami, we have handled many other types of admiralty and maritime matters, including insurance claims and cargo losses.

While Waks & Barnett has a special expertise in maritime law, our attorneys are equally capable and experienced in all other types of personal injury cases, having achieved seven-figure settlements in other negligence cases, including medical malpractice and products liability.

Our attorneys are admitted to all state and federal courts in Florida, and are licensed in the District of Columbia. Our staff speak Spanish as well as English. Our concern, first and foremost, is in achieving the best possible result for our clients.

Both Mr. Waks and Mr. Barnett have achieved the coveted AV Rating by the Martindale-Hubbell legal directory. They are members of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers and sustaining members of the American Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Waks is also a member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates.