Robert D. Eckard, Esq.

Robert “Rob” Eckard is the founding partner in this litigation firm. He established the firm in 2000 after leaving the State Attorney’s Office, 6th Judicial Circuit, Clearwater, Pinellas County Florida where he prosecuted both felony and misdemeanor criminal cases. Robert is Board Certified in Business Litigation by the Florida Bar (less than 300 lawyers in the State of Florida are Board Certified in Business Litigation), specializes in white-collar criminal investigations and defense, all areas of commercial/business litigation, professional licensing and administrative proceedings for physicians, health-care professionals, attorneys, accountants, securities dealer/brokers, insurance agents etc. Robert’s, background, training and experience in both business litigation, government investigations and criminal defense makes him uniquely qualified in handling business crimes.

In the area of civil litigation, Robert has litigated cases against government entities such as the United States Federal Trade Commission, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, the Internal Revenue Service, the Florida Attorney General’s Office, the United States Treasury Office, United States Customs and Border Protection, Florida Department of Health, United States Drug and Enforcement Administration and the United States Food and Drug Administration. Robert has also litigated cases involving: Investor fraud, Non-Compete Agreements, Trade Secret Agreements, Automotive Floor Plan Financing Agreements, Unfair Deceptive Trade Practices, Civil RICO, Telemarketing Sales Rule and Do Not Call Violations (TCPA).

In the area of criminal defense, Robert has represented individuals, both targets and witnesses, in state and federal courts in Florida and around the country in cases with the Federal Bureau of Investigations, United States Drug Enforcement Administration, vs. Food and Drug Investigations by the Office of Criminal Investigations, and United States Department of Homeland Security. His representation has included cases involving, grand jury proceedings, international narco-trafficking and money laundering related charges, Extradition proceedings, International Child Abduction cases under the Hague Convention, Trading with the Enemy Act, bribery, conspiracy, health care fraud, securities fraud, embezzlement, visa fraud and other white-collar crimes and parallel proceedings.

Robert’s past and present clients include a commercial airline, commercial national automobile dealer franchises, commercial trucking company, professional athletes, attorneys, law firms, accountants, physicians and other health care professionals, political candidates, financial services company, restaurants, private equity lenders, real estate development companies, sports memorabilia company, health/fitness clubs, marketing agency, telemarketing companies (both national and international), national fire and water restoration company, insurance companies and insurance agents, churches, agricultural business’ and an entertainment service company, food, drug and cosmetic manufacturer, medical device manufacturer and many others.

AWARDS & DISTINCTIONS
Robert has been nominated to Florida Trend’s Legal Elite in Commercial Litigation in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2022.

In 2015, Robert was appointed by the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners to the Pasco County Charter Advisory Board.

From 2017-2019, Robert served on the Florida Bar’s 6th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee, Pinellas County, Clearwater, Florida.

Robert was selected as a Super Lawyer for excellence in practice. Only 5 percent of the attorneys in Florida are selected to Super Lawyers in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Practice Areas

Business Litigation
Civil Litigation
Criminal Defense
White Collar Crimes
International Law
Business Transactions
Government Investigation
State and Nationwide Federal and Criminal Defense

Education

LL.M. –  International Law and Business (honors) – Stetson University College of Law (1998)

Admission to Practice

All Florida State Courts (1999)
All Washington D.C. State Courts
All Texas State Courts
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals
Florida Supreme Court
The United States Court of International Trade
The United States Supreme Court
The United States Tax Court

Admitted to practice law pro hac vice in over 15 other state and federal jurisdictions.

Languages

English