Raoul Cantero
Biography
Overview
Former Justice Raoul G. Cantero leads White & Case's Miami office and its Disputes practice. He is board-certified in appellate practice and is ranked Band 1 by Chambers USA in Florida Appellate Practice. He also focuses on cross-border disputes relating to Latin America and is a certified arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association and the International Centre for Dispute Resolution. Mr. Cantero has represented many global clients at the trial and appellate levels, specializing in complex, class-action, and high-profile litigation. In his 30 years as a lawyer, he has handled over 400 appeals. The publication LawDragon lists him as one of the top 500 lawyers in the US; and Chambers USA has described him as follows:
Mr. Cantero is a former Florida Supreme Court justice with an "outstanding" presence in the appellate field, offering clients market-leading abilities in their most challenging litigation matters. Clients say: "Raoul's greatest strengths are his ability to analyze, distill and argue complex issues in a simple, understandable way." He is "a pleasure to work with and very smart." "He's an excellent advocate - he's great with strategy and his work product is impeccable." "He is hard-working, good on his feet and across the board the best." "He's a phenomenal appellate attorney." "Raoul has proven to be a very fine appellate lawyer who writes very crisply and efficiently. He is a quick study, has good focus on issues and he's very responsive."
Justice Cantero is also the firm's Office Executive Partner in Miami, leading a contingent of 95 lawyers and over 100 support staff. From 2014-2019, he was Global Executive Partner for Diversity, in which position he oversaw the firm's recruitment, retention, and promotion of minority lawyers. In 2016, Law360 found that White & Case was the most diverse law firm in the US, with over one-third of its attorneys being minorities. In addition, AmLaw has ranked White & Case #1 in the diversity of attorneys for four consecutive years.
Appointed to the Florida Supreme Court in 2002 by then-Governor Jeb Bush, Mr. Cantero was the first justice of Hispanic descent and one of the youngest ever to sit on the Court. In his six years as a justice, he heard hundreds of appeals and authored well over 100 opinions.
Experience
Trial Wins
The Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, ex rel., the Attorney General vs. Brian Kuei Tung, et al., Case no. 04-11813-CA-30
$131 million judgment for international client following jury trial
Raoul was one of two partners on the White & Case team that secured a trial victory on behalf of The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. This case involved allegations of corruption and bid-rigging in connection with construction of the Piarco International Airport. Our firm was hired for this matter following 18 years of litigation, and our team took the case to trial only 10 months after we were retained. Following a three-and-a-half-week trial, the jury returned a verdict for our client. Final judgment was thereafter entered in favor of The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago for $131 million
Representative Appeals as counsel
Commodore, Inc. v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's, London, 342 So. 3d 697 (Fla. 3d DCA 2022)
Main Street Entertainment v. Guardianship of Faircloth, 342 So. 3d 232 (Fla. 1st DCA 2022)
Save Grove Isle v. City of Miami, 331 So. 3d 318 (Fla. 3d DCA 2021)
Citizens Prop. Ins. v. Manor House, 313 So. 3d 579 (Fla. 2021)
Preserve Grove Isle v. Grove Isle v. Grove Isle Yacht & Tennis Club, 319 So. 3d 786 (3d DCA 2021)
Jain v. Buchanan Ingersoll, 322 So.3d 1201 (3d DCA 2020)
Shoma Coral Gables, LLC v. Gables Inv. Holdings, LLC, 307 So. 3d 153 (Fla. 3d DCA 2020)
People's Trust Ins. Co. v. Lavadie, 306 So. 3d 285 (Fla. 3d DCA 2020)
Singh v. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, 325 So. 3d 124 (5th DCA 2020)
Lazzari v. University of Miami, 314 So. 3d 374 (Fla. 2020)
Hallums v. Infinity Ins. Co., 945 F.3d 1144 (11th Cir. 2019)
IDS Prop. Cas. v. MSPA Claims I, 263 So. 3d 122 (Fla. 3d DCA 2019)
Halifax Hosp. Med. Ctr. v. State, 278 So. 3d 545 (Fla. 2019)
Villella v. Ansin, 263 So. 3d 823 (Fla. 3d DCA 2019)
League of Women Voters v. Scott, 257 So. 3d 900 (Fla. 2018)
IDS Property Casualty Insurance Company, v. MSPA Claims 1, LLC, etc., 263 So. 3d 122 (Fla. 3d DCA 2018)
Hudson v. Marin, 259 So. 3d 148 (Fla. 3d DCA 2018)
Bean v. Univ. of Miami, 252 So. 3d 810 (Fla. 3d DCA 2018)
People's Trust Ins. Co. v. Tracey, 251 So. 3d 931 (Fla. 4th DCA 2018)
Marin v. Infinity Auto Ins. Co., 239 So. 3d 751 (Fla. 3d DCA 2018);
State v. Bayfront HMA Med. Ctr., LLC, 236 So. 3d 466 (Fla. 1st DCA 2018)
Venice HMA, LLC v. Sarasota Cnty., 228 So. 3d 76 (Fla. 2017)
Kopel v. Kopel, 229 So.3d 812 (Fla. 3d DCA 2017)
Reyes v. Infinity Ins. Co., 221 So. 3d 775 (Fla. 3d DCA 2017)
Wells Fargo Bank v. Pruco Life Ins., 200 So. 3d 1202 (Fla. 2016)
Okeechobee Aerie 4137 v. Wilde, 199 So. 3d 333 (Fla. 4th DCA 2016)
McCall v. Scott, 199 So. 3d 359 (Fla. 1st DCA 2016)
DynCorp Intern. v. AAR Airlift Group, 664 Fed. Appx. 844 (11th Cir. 2016)
Broward Exec. Builders v. Zota, 192 So. 3d 534 (Fla. 4th DCA 2016)
Advisory Opinion re Solar Energy Choice, 188 So. 3d 822 (Fla. 2016)
Yacht Club v. Lexington, 599 Fed. Appx. 875 (11th Cir. 2015)
Solares v. City of Miami, SkyRise Miami, 166 So. 3d 887 (Fla. 3d DCA 2015)
Fla. Bankers Ass'n v. Fla. Dev. Fin. Co., 176 So. 3d 1258 (Fla. 2015)
Citizens Prop. Ins. v. Perdido Sun, 164 So.3d 663 (Fla. 2015)
Advisory Opinion re Solar Initiative, 177 So. 3d 235 (Fla. 2015)
200 Leslie v. QBE, 616 Fed. Appx. 936 (11th Cir. 2015)
Garden-Aire v. QBE Ins. Corp., 591 Fed. Appx. 868 (11th Cir. 2014)
Sargeant v. Al Saleh II, 137 So.3d 432 (Fla. 4th DCA 2014)
Travelers Ins. Co. v. Harrington, 154 So. 3d 1106 (Fla. 2014)
North Carillon, LLC v. CRC 603, LLC, et al., 135 So. 3d 274 (Fla. 2014)
Florida Power & Light Co. v. Hayes, 122 So. 3d 408 (Fla. 2013)
Odebrecht Construction, Inc. v. Secretary, Florida Department of Transportation, 715 F 3d 1268 (11th Cir. 2013)
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy v. Graham, 113 So. 3d 742 (Fla. 2013)
Scott v. Williams, 107 So. 3d 379 (Fla. 2013)
Chalfonte v. QBE Ins. Co., 94 So.3d 541 (Fla. 2012)
In re Legis. Reapportionment, 89 So.3d 872 (Fla. 2012)
Florida Gaming Centers v. DBPR, 71 So. 3d 226 (Fla. 1st DCA 2011)
Austin Building Co. v. Rago, Ltd., 63 So.3d 31 (Fla. 3d DCA 2011)
General Star Indemn. v. Atlantic Hosp., 57 So.3d 238 (Fla. 3d DCA 2011)
Buckley Towers. v. QBE Ins. Co., 2010 WL 3551609 (11th Cir. 2010)
Penzer v. Transportation Ins. Co., 29 So. 3d 1000 (Fla. 2010)
Honeywell Intern., Inc. v. Guilder, 23 So. 3d 867 (Fla. 3d DCA 2009)
Nack Holding LLC v. Kalb, 13 So. 3d 92 (Fla. 3d DCA 2009)
MCI Express v. Ford Motor Co., 832 So. 2d 795 (Fla. 3d DCA 2002)
Tejada v. In re Forfeiture, 820 So. 2d 385 (Fla. 3d DCA 2002)
Coca-Cola v. Hagan, 813 So. 2d 167 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002)
Weber v. Bonilla-Mathe, 807 So. 2d 170 (Fla. 3d DCA 2002)
Verizon Florida, Inc. v. Jacobs, 810 So. 2d 906 (Fla. 2002)
Hagan v. Coca-Cola Bottling Co., 804 So. 2d 1234 (Fla. 2001)
Stensby v. Effjohn OY AB, 806 So. 2d 542 (Fla. 3d DCA 2001)
Sachs v. Innovative Healthcare, 799 So. 2d 355 (Fla. 3d DCA 2001)
Rigal v. Levine, Busch, 796 So. 2d 637 (Fla. 3d DCA 2001)
Ocean Bank v. Save Import, 797 So. 2d 609 (Fla. 3d DCA 2001)
Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Cons. Serv. v. Miami-Dade County, 790 So. 2d 555 (Fla. 3d DCA 2001)
Infinity Radio Inc. v. Whitby, 780 So. 2d 248 (Fla. 4th DCA 2001)
USG&G v. Ziegler, 771 So. 2d 1284 (Fla. 3d DCA 2000)
GTC, Inc. v. Garcia, 791 So. 2d 452 (Fla. 2000)
Sunshine Bottling v. Tropicana, 757 So. 2d 1231 (Fla. 3d DCA 2000)
Otero v. The Midland Life., 753 So. 2d 579 (Fla. 3d DCA 1999)
USF&G v. Romay, 744 So. 2d 467 (Fla. 3d DCA 1999)
American Reliance v. Kiet Invs., 703 So. 2d 1190 (Fla. 3d DCA 1997)
Garcia v. Reyes, 698 So. 2d 257 (Fla. 1997)
Elkins v. Syken, 672 So. 2d 517 (Fla. 1996)
Acosta v. Richter, 671 So. 2d 149 (Fla. 1996)
Kinney System, Inc. v. Continental Ins. Co., 674 So. 2d 86 (Fla. 1996)
Representative Opinions as Justice – Majority
Old Port Cove Holdings v Old Port Cove Condominiums, 986 So.2d 1279 (Fla. 2008)
Florida House of Rep. v. Crist, 999 So. 2d 601 (Fla. 2008)
Chames v. DeMayo, 972 So. 2d 850 (Fla. 2007)
Garcia v. Federal Ins. Co, 969 So. 2d 288 (Fla. 2007)
State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Roach, 945 So. 2d 1160 (Fla. 2006)
State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Nichols, 923 So. 2d 1067 (Fla. 2006)
Taurus Holdings, Inc. v. USF&G, 913 So. 2d 528 (Fla. 2005)
Rotemi Realty, Inc. v. Act Realty Co., 911 So. 2d 1181 (Fla. 2005)
Boca Burger, Inc. v. Forum, 912 So. 2d 561 (Fla. 2005)
Lashkajani v. Lashkajani, 911 So. 2d 1154 (Fla. 2005)
Cowan Liebowitz & Latman, P.C. v. Kaplan, 902 So. 2d 755 (Fla. 2005)
W. Fla. Elec. Coop. Ass'n v. Jacobs, 887 So. 2d 1200 (Fla. 2004)
Aramark Uniform & Career Apparel v. Easton, 894 So. 2d 20 (Fla. 2004)
St. Joe Corp. v. McIver, 875 So. 2d 375 (Fla. 2004)
Nehme v. Smithkline Beecham Clinical Labs., Inc., 863 So. 2d 201 (Fla. 2003)
Representative Opinions – Concurring
Betts v. Fastfunding The Company, Inc., 950 So. 2d 379 (Fla. 2006)
Gulfstream Park Racing Ass'n v. Tampa Bay Downs, Inc., 948 So. 2d 599 (Fla. 2006)
Am. Home Assur. Co. v. Nat'l R.R. Passenger Corp., 908 So. 2d 459 (Fla. 2005)
Indem. Ins. Co. of N. Am. v. Am. Aviation, Inc., 891 So. 2d 532 (Fla. 2004)
Knowles v. Beverly Enterprises-Florida, Inc., 898 So. 2d 1 (Fla. 2004)
Representative Opinions as Justice – Concurring in Part and Dissenting in Part
Florida Department of Corrections v. Abril, 969 So. 2d 201 (Fla. 2007)
McKenzie Check Advance of Fla., L.L.C. v. Betts, 928 So. 2d 1204 (Fla. 2006)
Am. Home Assur. Co. v. Plaza Materials Corp., 908 So. 2d 360 (Fla. 2005)
Sullivan v. Sapp, 866 So. 2d 28 (Fla. 2004)
Representative Opinions as Justice – Dissenting
Sanders v. City of Orlando, 997 So. 2d 1089 (Fla. 2008)
Massey v. David, 979 So. 2d 931 (Fla. 2008)
Marsh v. Valyou, 977 So. 2d 543 (Fla. 2007)
Willis v. Gami Golden Glades, LLC, 967 So. 2d 846 (Fla. 2007)
American Wall Systems, Inc. v. Madison Intern. Group, Inc., 944 So. 2d 172 (Fla. 2006)
Ryan v. Lobo de Gonzalez, 921 So. 2d 572 (Fla. 2005)
Jones v. Fla. Ins. Guar. Ass'n, 908 So. 2d 435 (Fla. 2005)
Cardegna v. Buckeye Check Cashing, Inc.,894 So. 2d 860 (Fla. 2005), reversed, 126 S. Ct. 1204 (2006)
Berges v. Infinity Ins. Co., 896 So. 2d 665 (Fla. 2004)
Discussion with Arguing Attorneys at the CLE seminar, "Practicing Before the Supreme Court", sponsored by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Committee, the Government Lawyers Section, and the Appellate Practice Section, June 9, 2022
Rule of Law Town Hall held at Miami Dade Community College – a rare, bipartisan discussion among experts on how political polarization, misinformation, and a loss of civility are threatening the rule of law and democratic society, Miami, FL, May 25, 2022
"Interlocutory Appeals and Punitive Damages" at the Miami Law Con 2022 CLE event organized by the Miami Dade Bar Association, Miami, FL, April 22, 2022
"Conversations with Leaders" virtually hosted by the Young Professionals Council of Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc., November 12, 2020
"Jurisdiction of the Florida Supreme Court," Appellate Practice Section, Part of the 20-21 APS Audio Webcast Series, The Florida Bar, February 16, 2021
"Strategies for Recruiting and Retaining Diverse Talent," Dade County Bar Association Annual Bench and Bar, Miami, FL, March 6, 2020
"Technology & Appeals," ABA's 2019 Appellate Practice Regional CLE Program, Miami, FL, May 16, 2019
Keynote Address for Florida's Hispanic Heritage Judicial Reception & Celebration, Miami, FL, March 8, 2018
Moot Court Panelist, Jenny Rubin v. Islamic Republic of Iran, Rosemary Barkett Appellate American Inn of Court, Miami, FL, November 8, 2018
"Diversity in the Law: Implicit Bias vs. Effective Inclusion," Hispanic Heritage Month Program, The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, October 26, 2018
"Can You Spot Your Implicit Biases?," Miami-Dade Chapter of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers, June 29, 2017
ABA Section of Litigation Practice Committee, Moot Court Judge at CLE Appellate Practice Workshop, Miami, FL, April 28, 2017
"Civility and Professionalism in the Practice of Law," St. Thomas University School of Law, Miami, FL, March 30, 2017
"Revisiting the Relationship Between Outside Counsel and In-house Counsel," Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA, March 3, 2017
"Arbitration in the Finance and Banking Industry," Institute of Transnational Arbitration Conference, White & Case, Miami, FL, February 24, 2017
"Effective Oral Arguments," National Organization of Bar Counsel Conference, Miami, FL, February 3, 2017
Asian Pacific American Bar Association, South Asian Bar Association, and the Florida Muslim Bar Association: Student Mentoring, Miami, FL, September 7, 2016
Practicing Before the Florida Supreme Court: Oral Arguments, The Florida Bar, Miami, FL, June 9, 2016
"How Florida Protects the Legal Profession & the Public," Dade County Bar Association, Miami, FL, April 19, 2016
"How to Persuade a Tribunal: The Fundamentals of Advocacy in International Arbitration and Litigation," the International Arbitration Master Series, Miami International Arbitration Foundation and the University of Miami International Arbitration Institute, Miami, FL April 12, 2016
Constitutional Revision Commission Conference, The Good Government Initiative, University of Miami, Miami, FL April 11, 2016
"Don't Print! Legal Writing & Reading in The Digital Age," Hispanic National Bar Association’s 2016 Corporate Counsel Conference, March 17, 2016
"A Frank & Open Discussion with the Bench & Bar," Dade County Bar Association, February 20, 2015
"A Corporate Counsel Series: International Dispute Resolution in the Americas," The ICDR Miami International Arbitration Conference, January 28-30, 2015
Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Opportunities, Wellington, FL, December 11, 2014
"Keeping the Faith: A discussion on the role of religion in the legal profession," FIU Law School, Miami, FL, November 20, 2014
"Risks and Challenges in International Arbitration: The Judge's Perspective," 3rd Joint International Arbitration & Mediation Conference, International Centre for Dispute Resolution and the Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá, October 28, 2014
"Does the Application of Citizens United to Judicial Elections and Merit Retention Efforts Implicate Judicial Independence?," American Academy of Appellate Lawyers Fall Meeting, October 11, 2014
"Preserving a Fair and Impartial Judiciary," National Association of Women Judges, Florida International University College of Law, Miami, FL, October 2, 2014
"Preparing for and Delivering an Effective Oral Argument," Eleventh Circuit Appellate Practice Institute’s 5th Annual Seminar Series, August 21, 2014
"How to Develop an Appellate Practice," Barkett Inn of Court, Miami, FL, March 26, 2014
"How to Develop an Appellate Practice," Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section, Tallahassee, FL, March 18, 2014
The Florida Conference of District Court of Appeal Judges Annual Education Program, The Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section, September 10, 2013
"Advanced Issues and Case Law Update in Entertainment Litigation," The American Bar Association Form, Miami, FL, May 2, 2013
"Pathways to the Judiciary," Harvard Law School Latino Students Association, Cambridge, MA, April 15, 2013
Federal Bar Association, panel on ethics in appellate practice, Miami, FL, March 8, 2013
"Embracing Professionalism," Florida International University College of Law, Miami, FL, February 28, 2013
"Navigating Class Action Appeals," Eleventh Circuit Appellate Practice Institute and The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Committee and The Appellate Practice Sections of the Alabama State Bar, The Florida Bar and the State Bar of Georgia, February 8, 2013
"Judicial Campaigns, Money and the Future of Justice," American Constitution Society for Law and Policy, The Honorable Robert N. Scola, Jr., Judge, United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, January 15, 2013
"Drafting Motions for Summary Judgment," Circuit Court Boot Camp, Miami, FL, May 17, 2012
"The Continued Need for Judicial Independence," Broward County Bar Association, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, May 3, 2012
"Class Actions on Insurance Coverage," ABA Seminar, Tucson, AZ, March 2, 2012
"Recent Alien Tort Claim Act Cases," Moderator, International Litigation and Arbitration Conference, Miami, FL, February 24, 2012
Florida State University Commencement Ceremony, Tallahassee, FL, April 30, 2011
"The Lawyer's Conduct in the Courtroom: a Judicial Perspective," panel on professionalism and ethics in the practice of law, Florida International University, Miami, FL, February 17, 2011
Dade County Bar Association – panel on Diversity in the Judiciary, February 15, 2011
"Florida's adoption of the UNCITRAL model rules," International Law Section of the Florida Bar, June 25, 2010
"Discretionary Jurisdiction in the Florida Supreme Court," Appellate Practice Section Telephone Seminar, May 18, 2010
"Effective Advocacy in State Supreme Courts," Heritage Foundation, April 21, 2010
Pathways to Success, Miami-Dade College Honors College, Miami, FL, March 25, 2010
"Effective Oral Advocacy in Appellate Courts," ABA Appellate Judges' Education Institute, November 21, 2009
"Legends & Leaders" speaker, 6th Annual Minority Mentoring Picnic, Hialeah, FL, November 14, 2009
"Fundamentals of Briefing and Oral Argument," Cuban American Bar Association, June 17, 2009
"Diversity and Access to Justice: Perspectives from the Bench and Bar," Hispanic National Bar Association, March 7, 2009
"Judicial Collegiality," Florida's Annual United Judicial Conference, December 10, 2008
"Professionalism," St. Thomas University Law School's Inn of Court, November 20, 2008
"Comparative Judicial Approaches to Arbitration," the International Chamber of Commerce's Conference on International Arbitration in Latin America, November 10, 2008
Keynote Speaker, Broward County Hispanic Bar Association's luncheon celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, October 15, 2008
"Opinion Writing," Florida Court Law Clerks, by video conference to 34 locations, June 24, 2008
"Practicing before the Florida Supreme Court," Florida Bar Government Lawyers Section, Tallahassee, FL, June 12, 2008
"The Importance of Judicial Independence," World Justice Project Rule of Law Conference, Miami, FL, May 13, 2008
"The Obligations of Young lawyers and the Importance of Leadership Roles," Palm Beach County Bar Association Leadership Seminar, West Palm Beach, FL, April 25, 2008
"Preparing for Oral Argument," Justice Teaching Institute, Tallahassee, FL, April 21, 2008
"Opinion Writing," New Appellate Judges College, Orlando, FL, March 3, 2008
"Elections vs. Merit Retention," Federalist Society's State Supreme Courts Luncheon, Washington, DC, November 16, 2007
"Florida Supreme Court Jurisdiction," Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section, Tallahassee, FL, May 18, 2007
"Judicial Independence," Highland County Law Day, Sebring, FL, April 30, 2007
"Arbitration from the Judicial Perspective," International Center for Dispute Resolution / AAA, Arbitration in America Seminar, Coral Gables, FL, February 23, 2007
"The Schiavo Case and Judicial Restraint," Coral Gables Rotary Club, Coral Gables, FL, July 6, 2006
"Principles of Appellate Practice," Florida State University School of Law Moot Court Team Banquet, Tallahassee, FL, April 19, 2006
"Operation and Jurisdiction of the Florida Supreme Court," Florida Supreme Court Interns, Tallahassee, FL, October 5, 2005
Florida State University Commencement Ceremony, Tallahassee, FL, April 30, 2005
"Judicial Review, Accountability, Decision-Making," Judicial Institute of Business Leaders, Tallahassee, FL, January 13, 2005
Florida State University College of Law Commencement Ceremony, Tallahassee, FL, December 13, 2003
"Discretionary Jurisdiction in Florida Supreme Court," Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Miami, FL, November 14, 2003
"The Lawyer as Story Teller," Florida Bar Convention Seminar on Writing, Orlando, FL, June 26, 2003
Salute to Education Ceremony, Miami, FL, May 29, 2003
Miami-Dade Community College South Campus Commencement Ceremony, Miami, FL, May 3, 2003
"Florida Supreme Court's Jurisdiction Over Certified Questions of Great Public Importance," Florida Bar Local Government Lawyers Section, Orlando, FL, February 24, 2003
"Florida Should Review Entire Death Penalty Process," Tallahassee Democrat, March 2017
"Three Simple Ways to Improve Written Advocacy," Trial Advocate Quarterly, Summer 2015
"Six Former Florida Justices Speak Up against GOP Attempts to Politicize Judiciary," The Miami Herald, September 2012
"Board of Contributors: Ex-Justice Doles Out Advice on Improving Appellate," Daily Business Review, September 2011
"Former Justice Cantero: Florida Supreme Court Does Not Need More Members," The Miami Herald, April 2011
"Three Simple Ways to Improve your Briefs," Florida Bar Journal, February 2011
"What I Learned from My Fiction Writing Professor, Part II," The Record, Winter 2011
"What I Learned from My Fiction Writing Professor, Part I," The Record, Fall 2010
"The Carrot and Stick Approach to Professionalism," The Professional, Summer 2008
"Certifying Questions to the Florida Supreme Court — What's So Important?," Florida Bar Journal (originally published in The Record, a journal of the Florida Bar's Appellate Practice Section), May 2002
"Changes to the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure," Florida Bar Journal, December 1997
"Discovery from Medical Experts: How Much is Too Much?," 16 Trial Advocate Quarterly, Winter 1997
"Nonfinal Review of Insurance Coverage Issues: Wading Through the Quagmire," Florida Bar Journal, October 1995
Florida Trend's Florida Legal Elite, 2021
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Judicial Review Rated 2020, 2021
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated 2020
Thomas A. Horkan, Jr. Distinguished Catholic Leader Award (Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops) 2019
Lex Christi, Lex Amoris Award by the Miami Catholic Lawyers Guild 2018
Southern District of Florida's Hispanic Heritage Month Committee 2018
Band 1 Florida Appellate Litigation, Chambers USA, 2011-2021
Distinguished Leaders in Law Award Honoree, Daily Business Review, 2017
Lawyer of the Year, Appellate Practice, The Best Lawyer in America, 2017
Leading American Lawyers Honoree, Lawdragon 500, 2016, 2017
Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree, Daily Business Review, 2015
Order of Certus, Litigation Counsel of America, 2014
Jurisprudence Award Honoree, The Anti-Defamation League, 2014
Miami's 100 Most Influential People, Poder Hispanic Magazine, 2013
Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, 2013
Most Effective Lawyer, Winner, Appellate Law, Daily Business Review, 2012
Eleventh Circuit Litigation Star (Florida Appellate), Benchmark Litigation, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Local Commercial Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation, 2012, 2013
Florida Legal Elite (Appellate Practice), Florida Trend, 2011, 2012, 2017-2020
Board-Certified by the Florida Bar in Appellate Practice since 1995
Nominated: Appellate Practice, The Best Lawyers in America, 2011-2017
Inducted into the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, 2010
Top 100 Most Influential Hispanics, Hispanic Business Magazine, 2003, 2008
Primum Regnum Dei Award (Archdiocese of Miami), 2008
Federalist Society of Florida Judiciary Award, 2008
Florida Bar William Hoeveler Professionalism Award, 2008
Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section James Adkins Award, 2008
Nova Southeastern Law School Honorary Degree, 2006
Dade County Bar Association Legal Ethics Award, 2005
Florida State University College of Arts and Sciences Graduate of Distinction Award, 2002
Fulbright Scholarship, 1987
