Brian A. Briz
+1.305.789.7723
Overview
Brian A. Briz is a litigation attorney in Holland & Knight's Miami office. He is a business litigator who has broad experience representing domestic and foreign clients in complex, commercial disputes in federal and state courts and in domestic and international arbitration proceedings.
Mr. Briz is well versed in advising clients on a wide range of commercial matters, including contractual disputes, fraud and business tort actions, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) disputes, securities litigation, healthcare and reimbursement disputes, trade secret and restrictive covenant disputes, partnership and corporate divorce actions, sale of goods disputes, and copyright and trademark litigation. Mr. Briz also has substantial experience defending banks, broker-dealers and registered representatives in financial services litigation matters in state and federal courts, as well as before Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Dispute Resolution Services.
As a native Spanish speaker, Mr. Briz's practice places a particular emphasis on disputes involving Latin America. He has significant experience representing clients in international and cross-border disputes in court and in arbitration proceedings under the auspices of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), American Arbitration Association (AAA), International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), JAMS and in ad hoc arbitration proceedings under the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Arbitration Rules.
Representative Experience
- Represented a Latin American state in an International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) arbitration proceeding brought by a mining company for alleged treaty violations under the Dominican Republic – Central America – United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR)
- Represented the seller of a South American company in an International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration proceeding against a European company regarding a mergers and acquisitions (M&A) dispute involving alleged breaches of representations and warranties
- Represented an international food commodities trader in a breach of contract dispute against an agency of a foreign state brought under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA)
- Defended an Asian agrochemical company in an International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR) arbitration proceeding regarding an earn-out and purchase price dispute arising from the acquisition of a Latin American company
- Represented a Latin American distributor in an ICC arbitration proceeding against an Asian manufacturer of orthopedic implants and instruments arising from alleged breaches of various joint venture agreements
- Represented a Spanish travel and cruise company in federal court and in a related ICDR arbitration proceeding regarding a dispute arising from a share purchase agreement for the acquisition of a South American company
- Defended a European manufacturer of cargo-handling machinery in an agency agreement dispute with a Latin American distributor
- Represented a Latin American telecommunications equipment provider in a China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) arbitration proceeding regarding an agency agreement dispute with a Chinese telecommunications company
- Represented an international operator and franchisor of quick service restaurants against misappropriation of idea and fraud claims
- Represented an international energy advisory and trading firm in a multibillion-dollar fraud and antitrust dispute brought by a litigation trust established for the purported benefit of Venezuela's state-owned oil and natural gas company
- Represented an international supplier of steel pipes and steel pipe fittings in a federal court proceeding against various individuals brought under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) for alleged misappropriation of company funds through a phony invoicing scheme
- Defended a cash management and logistics company in a data breach class action
- Defended leading securities firms and their registered representatives in numerous Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitrations involving claims for securities violations, fraud, negligence, churning, unsuitability and unauthorized trading
- Defended a public company in litigation involving an alleged breach of a registration rights agreement following a de-SPAC transaction
- Defended a broker-dealer in a FINRA arbitration proceeding arising from the termination and unwinding of an over-the-counter equity derivative wherein the customer alleged that the risks were not adequately disclosed and that the unwind was not calculated in a commercially reasonable manner as required under industry standards, and specifically, under the 2006 International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) Equity Definitions
- Represented a global banking and financial services firm in a dispute concerning negotiable instruments issued by a Central American central bank
- Defended a European bank in a putative class action brought by Latin American investors who had invested in a Madoff feeder fund
- Defended a major investment bank and several of its directors in a securities fraud suit brought by a failed startup company
- Represented broker-dealers and registered representatives in proceedings to expunge references to customer complaints maintained in the Central Registration Depository (CRD)
- Defended a global beverage company in a copyright infringement suit over lyrics used in an international marketing and advertising campaign
- Defended a travel-related marketing company in a federal jury trial in a trademark infringement action brought by a competitor
- Defended a haircare products company in a trademark infringement suit brought by a competitor arising from marks used in connection with multiple haircare products
- Represented several companies in actions to enforce non-compete and non-solicitation agreements and in disputes involving the theft or misappropriation of trade secrets in state and federal court, as well as before the American Arbitration Association (AAA)
- Represented managed care organizations (MCOs) and physician groups in various physician practice disputes
- Represented a national healthcare insurance company in a breach of contract dispute administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) arising from the termination of a medical group participation agreement
- Represented a medical group practice in a business divorce dispute administered by the AAA
- Represented a national healthcare insurance company in various reimbursement disputes brought by non-participating providers
- Represented a Medicare Advantage Plan in a breach of contract/reimbursement dispute brought by a participating provider before the AAA
Credentials
Education
- Georgetown University Law Center, J.D.
- University of Miami, BBA, cum laude
Bar Admissions/Licenses
- District of Columbia
- Florida
Court Admissions
- All State Courts in Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Memberships
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Ad Hoc Committee on Rules and Procedures, 2024-Present
- International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR), Rules Revision Committee Member, 2024-Present
- Miami International Arbitration Society, Board of Directors, 2025
- Law360 Editorial Board Member, Florida, 2024
- Campaign for Greener Arbitrations, North America Subcommittee Member, 2021-Present
- International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR), Y-ADR Steering Committee Member, 2017-2021
- American Bar Association, Member of Litigation and International Law Sections
- The Florida Bar, Member of Business and International Law Sections
- Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce – Leadership Miami, 2011-2012
- The Beacon Council – Young Leaders Taskforce, 2008-2009
Honors & Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America guide, International Arbitration - Commercial, 2021-2025
- Florida Super Lawyers magazine, 2022-2024
- Florida Legal Elite, Florida Trend magazine, International Law, 2019-2022
- The Legal 500 Latin America, International Arbitration, 2016-2019
- Rising Star, Florida Super Lawyers magazine, 2009, 2011, 2013-2018
Spoken Languages
- English
- Spanish
