Meet Deedee Bitran | Attorney, Activist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Deedee Bitran and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Deedee, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
My grandparents played a big role in raising me and shaping who I am, and they somehow managed to accomplish more in 24 hours than most people accomplish in a lifetime. My grandma is the 41st board certified female surgeon in the United States and she raised three children. She still exercises, teaches Israeli dancing class once a week, cooks and hosts large family shabbat dinners every Friday night, and rescues stray animals. My grandfather was a brilliant pulmonologist, founded a critical care conference for medical professionals, played tennis multiple times a week, painted beautiful photos that he captured on his camera, created pottery and glass art, spearheaded countless meaningful projects to raise money for Israel, and taught medical residents for months at a time annually at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Israel. Needless to say, my two role models truly seized the day. At my grandfather’s 80th birthday, he had about 50 of his closest friends in the room who he had maintained a close relationship with for decades. My grandparents exemplify it all: they gave back to society with their hearts and community efforts, rescued animals, used their brains and careers to help those in need, took care of themselves physically and mentally, and carved out meaningful time for their families and friendships.

Modeling after my grandparents, I have always prioritized academics while giving back to my community. I graduated undergrad from the University of Florida with a 3.99 GPA and maintained multiple jobs simultaneously: I worked at the sports radio station and rock radio station, in the dorms as a resident assistant, in the classroom as a teaching assistant for sign language, and in the medical lab as a research assistant seeking a cure to hearing loss induced by ototoxic medications. During my spare time when I was not working, I participated in Signing Gators, where I would use American Sign Language to sign the national anthem at UF sporting events. I graduated from FIU Law in the top 6% of my class on a full academic scholarship. My husband was out of the country for medical school and I was lucky enough to live with my grandparents when I was in law school. I spent my Saturday nights getting ice cream with my grandparents and then staying up late writing essays on social justice issues and submitting my essays to various national writing contests. In law school, I won seven national writing competitions from my Saturday night writing. That pretty much sums up my approach on balance – I would study vigorously but still made time to pursue advocacy efforts and enjoy a standing Saturday night ice cream date with my incredible grandparents. After law school, I joined Shutts and Bowen LLP, Miami’s oldest law firm, as a business litigator, and my practice is focused on business litigation and employment law. I have been at Shutts since I was a summer associate in law school in 2015 and enjoy advocating for business owners, employers, and developers in my practice.

My grandfather passed away three weeks before my first child was born. I was heartbroken, and I strive to continue his legacy. Israel was always a cause close to his heart. He frequently fundraised to buy bullet proof vests and supplies for lone soldiers in the IDF. When he taught medical residents at Shaare Zedek Medical Center, he did not ask for a salary, and only requested to eat at the food court for free. He taught me that if you believe in something, go find a way to help. Since October 7, 2023, I have been interviewing survivors of October 7th and family members of hostages to try to raise awareness and advocate for the hostages’ safe return home. I assist survivors with organizing speaking engagements, housing, and meals. I presented in January 2024 on a CLE discussing Hamas’ violence on women on October 7th. In February, I moderated a discussion with a former security guard from the Nova music festival whose best friend is still a hostage. Next week, I am organizing a lunch with an Israeli attorney who sues terrorist organizations on behalf of victims and their families. I have also co-authored an article about Hamas’ violence on women and hope to have it published this month.

When I am not helping with Israel advocacy efforts, I frequently work with nonprofits like Sharsheret and Yodeah to present to groups of women and encourage them to get genetic testing and be proactive with their own health. I had a prophylactic double mastectomy after finding out that I have the BRCA mutation and that surgery brought my breast cancer risk from close to 75 percent to under 5 percent. I frequently speak on panels throughout the year about breast cancer and genetic testing. I was the featured speaker at the Sharsheret Gala in December 2022 and shared our journey with hundreds of people.

My husband and two children mean the world to me, and when I am not advocating for Israel, or giving talks to groups of women about the BRCA mutation, I savor every moment I have with them. My kids are two and three years old and they have changed my approach to balance. Being a mother has been the greatest gift from God and I am eternally grateful to be their mother. Our journey to parenthood was not easy and involved IVF and surrogacy, and I think because it was so challenging to become a mother, I cherish the opportunity in a different way. My kids are my greatest accomplishments and my greatest motivation to take a step back from work and activism, and truly be present with them. I love seeing the world through their eyes and look forward to continuing to grow with them.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

I studied speech language and hearing sciences at the University of Florida, worked in a research lab trying to find a cure to combat hearing loss associated with ototoxic medications, taught American Sign Language, and planned on working with the deaf population. After completing one year in an audiology doctorate program, I realized my writing and research skills would be better suited in a career in law. We had a guest speaker in our audiology class who was an attorney and he spoke to us about avoiding liability under the Americans with Disabilities Act. I was absolutely fascinated by the different aspects of the ADA and spent almost an hour after his presentation speaking with him. My father is an excellent attorney, and I have always looked up to him, but I did not consider law as a potential career path for myself until that very moment. I found learning from that guest speaker more interesting than anything I had learned that year in the audiology doctorate program. I truly believe that nothing in life is accidental, and it was fate that I had the opportunity to learn about the ADA. I knew I needed to make a change.

I took my finals in my audiology program in May 2013, intensely studied for the LSAT for two weeks, took the June 2013 LSAT, and started at FIU Law in August 2013 on a full academic scholarship. In the course of a couple of months, I made a lifechanging career switch and never looked back. As an attorney, I enjoy helping business owners, employers, and developers. I litigate cases involving business disputes as well as employment law cases involving discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. My story comes full circle, as I also litigate ADA lawsuits. Part of my job that I love is that I can help employers best position themselves to stay out of trouble when they are proactive. I edit handbooks, craft policies, and counsel employers on how to navigate specific employee issues, with the goal of keeping those employers out of court and maintaining a productive and respectful work environment.

I have learned that it is never too late to make a career switch, and if your strengths are better served in a different field or industry, it is imperative that you listen to your gut instinct and explore those other options. Our time on earth is limited, and we need to do what we can with the time we have to make a positive difference.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Admittedly this is not my specialty. I usually take guests to South Pointe Pier. There is something so simple and breathtaking about the ocean and natural beauty there.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My grandparents.

Website: https://www.shutts.com/professionals-deedee-bitran

Instagram: alameadeedee

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deedee-bitran-b233a8b8

Facebook: Deedee Bitran