Israel J. Encinosa
Partner
Overview
Israel J. Encinosa is a trial attorney based in Holland & Knight's Miami office who focuses on complex civil litigation and arbitration matters, with substantial experience handling domestic and international/cross-border disputes, including class actions. Mr. Encinosa has served as lead counsel in multiple trials and arbitration hearings, including several jury trials in federal and state courts. His trial victories include winning the largest jury verdict in Florida in 2022, which totaled $158.75 million (including $127 million in punitive damages) following a four-week jury trial involving claims of fraudulent and negligent misrepresentations brought on by one of the largest international cruise lines against a manufacturer and servicer of cruise ship propulsion systems.
Mr. Encinosa also has extensive experience representing clients in connection with mergers and acquisitions (M&A) disputes and representation and warranties insurance (RWI) policy claims, including in arbitration and litigation matters. Mr. Encinosa has represented purchasers (private equity and strategic investors), sellers and RWI underwriters.
Representative Experience
- Successfully defended a large international cruise line against claims brought by former chief executive seeking in excess of $90 million following week-long jury trial in the state court complex business litigation division regarding breach of contract and defamation claims
- Obtained $160 million verdict, including $127 million in punitive damage, for large international cruise line following four-week jury trial in Florida state court (complex division) for fraudulent and negligent misrepresentation claims against manufacturer and servicer of cruise ship propulsion systems
- Obtained dismissal of claims for damages in excess of $10 billion brought by a trust claiming to represent the interests of Venezuela's state-owned oil company Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), alleging a global bribery and bid-rigging scheme
- Successfully defended a large international cruise line in a class action lawsuit by obtaining an order dismissing the case and compelling arbitration on an individual (non-class) basis.
- Obtained a multimillion-dollar jury verdict for a corporate finance advisory firm following a one-week federal jury trial in a lawsuit against one of the largest banking institutions in Guatemala premised on claims for breach of written and oral contracts; discovered and proved discovery misconduct that resulted in the additional award of monetary sanctions
- Obtained a multimillion-dollar judgment for one of the largest private hospitals in Venezuela and its U.S. affiliate in connection with a multi-defendant conspiracy to misappropriate funds through multiple fraudulent schemes
- Obtained a multimillion-dollar jury verdict following a two-week Florida state jury trial in a lawsuit against a broker-dealer premised on claims for breach of contract, fraud and breach of fiduciary duty
- Obtained confirmed multimillion arbitral award on behalf of one of the world's top manufacturers of electronics and cellular phones following a weeklong final arbitration hearing against one of its major distributors
- Successfully defended a large international cruise line in a penalty wage class-action lawsuit following a week-long federal bench trial in connection with certain plaintiff parties, and further obtained a favorable settlement in connection with various other plaintiff parties
- Successfully defended a major financial institution following a one-week arbitration hearing against claims by a client alleging breach of fiduciary duty and other securities claims
Credentials
- The University of Chicago Law School, J.D.
- Boston College, B.A.
- Florida
- Illinois
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
- Daily Business Review Professional Excellence Award, Holland & Knight - Litigation Departments - International Large Honoree, 2017
- The Florida Bar's Wm. Reece Smith Jr. Leadership Academy, Fellow
- English
- Spanish