Attorneys & Staff
Attorneys
Daniel A. Jones, Vice President and General Counsel
djones89@svenmeier.com
Daniel A. Jones joined Florida Atlantic’s Office of the General Counsel in 2013. As the University’s chief legal officer, his responsibilities include serving as legal counsel to the Board of Trustees; providing legal and policy analysis and advice to the University President and all senior administrators; directing all litigation and administrative proceedings involving the University at the hearing, trial and appellate levels; supervising and coordinating representation with outside counsel; and assisting in the development of University compliance plans for federal and state regulations. In addition to his responsibilities as General Counsel, Mr. Jones serves as Adjunct Instructor for the Department of History in the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters and the Department of Higher Educational Leadership and Research Methodology in the College of Education. He received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Samford University, his Master of Arts in History from Florida Atlantic University, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Alabama School of Law. Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Jones was commissioned as an officer in the United States Air Force, where he served for four years as a litigator in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. After completion of his Air Force service, Mr. Jones practiced as a Senior Associate with the law firm of Hightower & Partners in West Palm Beach. In 2010, he joined the Florida Attorney General’s Office as an Assistant Attorney General, serving as litigation counsel for the State of Florida. Mr. Jones is licensed to practice in New York and Florida.
Elizabeth F. Rubin, Senior Corporate Counsel
erubin@svenmeier.com
Elizabeth F. Rubin joined the University's Office of the General Counsel in 2006 repesenting mulitple units throughout the University on transactional matters and general legal advice. After a short hiatus as the University's Chief Compliance & Ethics Officer from 2018-2022, she returned to the Office of the General Counsel in 2022 as Senior Corporate Counsel. Her focus is on governance, corporate, compliance and real estate matters, as well as public-finance, public-private partnerships and special projects. She also provides primary legal support to the FAU Finance Corporation and FAU's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. Prior to joining the University, Ms. Rubin served as in-house counsel to multiple Fortune 500 companies. She has a JD and a BS from the University of Cincinnati, where she was a Lead Articles Editor on the University of Cincinnati Law Review Board.
Audra K. Lazarus, Senior University Counsel, Research and Health Affairs
audra.lazarus@svenmeier.com
Audra K. Lazarus, Senior University Counsel for Research and Health Affairs, joined Florida Atlantic University’s Office of the General Counsel in September 2008. She serves as the University’s attorney for research and health affairs, providing primary legal counsel to the College of Medicine, College of Nursing, College of Dentistry, Student Health Services and the Division of Research. Ms. Lazarus received a B.A., magna cum laude, from Dartmouth College in 1996 and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She earned a J.D. with honors from Columbia Law School in 1999, where she was a member of the Business Law Review. Prior to joining the University, Ms. Lazarus was Assistant General Counsel for the College of Medicine at the University of Miami. Before serving in that role, she was an associate for many years in the New York corporate tax departments of Cravath, Swaine and Moore, and Simpson, Thacher and Bartlett. Ms. Lazarus is a member of the New York Bar and the Florida Bar, the Florida Bar Association, the National Association of College and University Attorneys, and the American Health Lawyers Association.
Tori L. Winfield, Senior University Counsel
twinfield@svenmeier.com
Tori L. Winfield joined the University in 2016 as Associate General Counsel and serves as primary legal counsel to the Office of the Provost and Division of Academic Affairs. In that capacity, Ms. Winfield advises the Provost, Deans, and other academic administrators on matters including compliance with laws, regulations, and policies governing employment and contractual relationships. She is also the primary legal advisor to the University Police Department, Human Resources, and other institutional clients.
Ms. Winfield graduated with honors from the University of Miami and obtained her Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida where she also received the Book Award in Legal Research & Writing. Prior to joining the University, Ms. Winfield was employed as Senior Litigation Counsel for a national multi-line insurer where she directly handled and supervised litigation in the Southeast, an associate at regional defense firms where she specialized in employment law, and a law clerk to United States District Court Judge Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Ms. Winfield is an avid public speaker who routinely advised clients on federal and state employment laws and was selected by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to speak at its training seminars on varying topics in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. She is the author of various training materials and an article published in the Florida Bar Journal. Ms. Winfield is licensed to practice in Florida and Mississippi, enjoys an AV Preeminent rating, and is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys.
Wendi Appelbaum, Associate General Counsel
wappelbaum@svenmeier.com
Wendi S. Appelbaum joined the University in 2019. As Associate General Counsel, she serves multiple client groups throughout the University, providing primary transactional and other legal support to the University's financial and business operations, including, but not limited to, Procurement Services, the Office of Information Technology, the Division of Facilities, and the University's K-12 Programs. Ms. Appelbaum received her B.A. in Psychology, with certifications in both Non-Profit Management and American Sign Language, from the University of Central Florida. She received her Masters in Business Administration from the University of Miami School of Business, and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law. Prior to joining this University, she served as Associate General Counsel at Florida International University, and as Associate Counsel at a private global transportation company.
Andrea G. Amigo, Associate General Counsel
Andrea G. Amigo joined the University’s Office of the General Counsel in 2024. She graduated with honors from the University of Florida with her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Bachelor of Arts in Criminology. She received her Juris Doctorate degree and graduated cum laude from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. While in law school, Ms. Amigo was an intern for the Legal Aid Society and Full Representation Clinic where she litigated family law cases and landlord/tenant disputes. She was also a certified legal intern for the State Attorney’s Office in the domestic violence unit where she assisted in the prosecution of domestic violence cases. Ms. Amigo has been recognized by the Supreme Court of Florida, the Young Lawyers Division of The Florida Bar, and the Florida Pro Bono Coordinators Association for her exceptional pro bono service. She was a mediator for the Citizen Dispute Resolution where she helped citizens resolve disputes including property damage claims and landlord/tenant disputes outside of court. She was a teacher for the Teen Parent Project where she educated students on family law issues and their legal duties as young parents. She is a member of the Florida Bar and currently serves as a Committee Chair for the Palm Beach County Florida Association for Women Lawyers. She is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Southern, Middle, and Northern Districts of Florida; the Fourth District Court of Appeal; and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeal. Prior to joining the University, Ms. Amigo was a partner at an insurance defense firm in West Palm Beach where she specialized in civil litigation defending clients in a variety of matters in state, federal, and appellate courts involving governmental liability, general negligence, personal injury, premises liability, employment discrimination, police practices, and land use disputes.
Staff
Suzanne Prescott, Office Administrator and University Agency Clerk, Legal Assistant
spresco4@svenmeier.com
Cassandra A. Rey, Senior Paralegal
cassrey@svenmeier.com
Cassandra A. Rey joined Florida Atlantic University’s Office of the General Counsel in 2019. She serves as the University’s paralegal assisting the University’s Counsel with research, subpoenas, pretrial preparation, litigation matters, transactional items, regulations and Board of Trustees meetings. She also serves as the liaison between the Office of the General Counsel and other agencies and departments.
Ms. Rey obtained her Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies and Psychology from Nova Southeastern University. She is a Florida Registered Paralegal and also a member of the Florida Bar, National Association of Legal Assistants, National Federation of Paralegal Association and South Florida Paralegal Association. Prior to joining the University, Ms. Rey worked as a corporate paralegal for a healthcare staffing company and as a paralegal in various south Florida law firms supporting attorneys with civil litigation, family, probate and immigration matters. In her spare time, Ms. Rey enjoys biking, baking and traveling with her family.