Wesley James Martinez

Wesley James Martinez is a trial lawyer in Holland & Knight's Jacksonville office, where he represents clients in high-stakes commercial litigation and government investigations. Mr. Martinez’s substantial first-chair trial experience allows him to guide his clients through a broad range of legal challenges while remaining prepared to effectively prosecute their interests in court when called upon to do so.

In his commercial litigation practice, Mr. Martinez handles issues arising from contract disputes, business torts, Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) violations, allegations of discrimination and retaliation, trade secrets litigation, allegations of Anit-Terrorism Act (ATA) violations, healthcare law violations, fraud, civil conspiracy, defamation, construction defects, professional negligence, class actions and appellate matters. He has represented clients with commercial operations in a host of industries such as manufacturing, hospitality, cannabis, healthcare, land development, finance and insurance.

Mr. Martinez has represented individuals, non-public and publicly traded companies to include Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies, bringing an effective and authentic zeal to the defense of their interests. He has secured relief for clients in federal, state and appellate courts, as well as before Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services (JAMS) and the American Arbitration Association (AAA) in a host of arbitration matters. 

Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. Martinez was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy, including as an attorney with the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps, where he successfully tried numerous high-stakes criminal matters to verdict. During his tenure, he was assigned as lead defense counsel for dozens of clients at all stages of complex criminal litigation throughout the southeast United States.

Finally, Mr. Martinez keeps an active pro bono practice, recently assisting the Office of the Federal Public Defender try a bankruptcy fraud case to verdict and securing acquittals to the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) lead counts.