Dean Mead Welcomes Three New Associates

Dean Mead announces the addition of Star Sansone, an associate in the Estate Planning and Taxation departments. She focuses on business planning and transactions and also represents individuals in estate planning and wealth protection.

Sansone is a graduate of the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where she not only received her Juris Doctor, cum laude, but also is a Candidate for a Masters of Law in Taxation. While earning her law degree, Sansone participated in Tax Moot Court, and won Book Awards in Corporations, Income Taxation, Legal Drafting, Corporate Finance, and State and Local Taxation.

Prior to joining the firm as an associate, Sansone worked in the firm’s Gainesville office as a law clerk. She also has worked as a clerk for White & Case, LLP in Miami, Florida, and at Winderweedle, Haines, Ward & Woodman, P.A. in Orlando.

Before attending law school, Sansone earned a Bachelor’s degree, cum laude, and a Master’s degree in Accounting from the University of Florida, as well. As the top accounting student in her class, she was awarded a Fisher School of Accounting Merit Scholarship. In addition, Sansone competed in Division I athletics for the University of Florida’s track and field team while earning her Bachelor’s degree.  She began her career in finance with Bank of America, Merrill Lynch in New York, New York, as a Global Foreign Exchange Trade Analyst.

Jack Bovay, Managing Shareholder of the Gainesville office of Dean, Mead & Bovay said, “We are thrilled to have Star join our firm. With her experience as a CPA, a Wall Street analyst and a competitive athlete, she brings knowledge and insight beyond her years to our team.”

Alexander Van Heyde joined the firm’s Orlando office as an associate in the Real Estate department. Van Heyde joins Dean Mead from Ocala-based law firm Trow & Dobbins, P.A., a general law practice focused on real estate transactions and litigation, including mortgage drafting and bank general counsel services, business and contract transactions, and general litigation.

“I am delighted to join the well-established team of experienced attorneys at Dean Mead,” Van Heyde commented.  “The Real Estate department is comprised of highly-skilled lawyers, who offer a tremendous breadth of professional expertise to our valued clients.”

Van Heyde brings significant legal knowledge to his new role, having held positions as both law clerk and associate at Trow & Dobbins, as well as serving as legal extern for the United States Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida, Ocala, Florida.

Van Heyde began his professional career in the financial services industry, and is well-versed in all facets of residential lending and maintaining broker relationships.  He has been previously employed with Bank of America Corp., Ocala, FL, and Provident Funding Associates, LLP, Maitland, FL.

“I look forward to working directly with Alex on a wide variety of commercial and residential real estate transactions,” said Vicki Berman, shareholder of Dean Mead’s Orlando office.  “His financial background affords him a tremendous advantage in providing well-rounded legal expertise to our clients.”

Van Heyde earned his law degree in 2013 from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, his Master’s in Business Administration with honors from Rollins College Crummer Graduate School of Business in 2010, and his undergraduate degree from Stetson University in 2005.

The firm also announces the addition of Edward Waters to its Tax department in Orlando. Waters joins the firm as an associate, and his practice focuses on providing taxation services for the firm’s business and corporate clients.

Prior to joining the firm, Waters worked with the Louisiana Department of Revenue in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; as a research assistant at Paul M. Herbert Law Center, Louisiana State University; with the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana; at The Shaw Group as a law clerk; and as a research assistant at the Levin College of Law at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

Waters graduated magna cum laude from the Paul M. Herbert Law Center, Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with a Juris Doctor and Diploma of Comparative Law. While there, he received the CALI Award (Top Grade) for Partnership Taxation, won second place in a National Taxation Moot Court Competition, served on the board for Moot Court, was a member of the Order of the Coif, made the Chancellor’s List three consecutive years, and, in 2012 earned the title of “Paul M. Herbert Scholar” for ranking in the top 10 percent of his class.

He also earned a Master of Laws in Taxation from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where he ranked first in his class and received the Book Award in Civil Tax Procedure.

Waters completed his undergraduate studies at Miami University, Richard T. Farmer School of Business in Oxford, Ohio, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business, cum laude, and remained on the Dean’s List from 2006 through 2009.

Dean Mead’s Chair of the Tax department, Stephen R. Looney says, “We are pleased Ed has joined our team. He is a high achiever, and no doubt, our clients will find him to be a great asset in handling their matters.”