Overview

Josh Roberts, executive partner of the Jacksonville office, is a civil trial attorney with broad commercial litigation experience throughout Florida's state and federal courts. Through his diverse civil practice, Mr. Roberts represents clients in trade secrets litigation, real estate and construction litigation, banking litigation, class actions and typical business disputes, including shareholder disagreements, fraud, misrepresentation, negligence and enforcement of non-compete and non-solicitation agreements.

Mr. Roberts is a staunch advocate on behalf of his clients and is comfortable in any forum, from the negotiating table at mediation, to the courtroom in jury and non-jury trials and on to the appellate courts. He works closely with his clients to devise a legal strategy customized to their unique needs, taking into consideration the strategic, practical, financial, reputational and business concerns that are important to them.

Prior to law school, Mr. Roberts worked in politics and the healthcare-technology industry in Washington, D.C., and Jacksonville.

Representative Matters

  • Representing the Volunteer Life Saving Corps (VLSC) in its dispute with the City of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, resulting in a resolution allowing the VLSC to provide lifesaving services – which it has provided since 1912 – along Jacksonville Beach
  • Leading a two-week civil jury trial that resulted in a favorable jury verdict of nearly $15 million plus legal costs (the second highest jury verdict in the State of Colorado in 2019), on behalf of a national homebuilder against a wood products manufacturer arising out of the manufacturer's negligence, misrepresentation and fraudulent concealment
  • Representing a bank in defending negligence and UCC Article 4A claims based upon fraudulent wire transfers, including dismissal of claims with prejudice in the Middle District of Florida, affirmed by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeal
  • Representing a financial institution enforce a finance lease and guaranty under UCC Article 2A, including final summary judgment entered in favor of client
  • Representing a trustee in protecting real property against misappropriation by co-trustee at the trial court and at the appellate level on a matter of first impression. Heiskell v. Morris, 182 So.3d 714 (Fla. 1st DCA 2015)
  • Representing condominium developers in mass litigation on $100 million-plus in development projects on matters related to the Interstate Land Sales and Full Disclosure Act (ILSA), the Florida Condominium Act, false advertising laws and Florida common law
  • Representing an electronic voting machine manufacturer in obtaining favorable rulings that lead to the dismissal of a federal class-action lawsuit seeking an injunction in connection with the use of electronic voting machines and software in the 2016 U.S. presidential election
  • Representing a consumer in a multimillion-dollar class action against a manufacturer of sunglasses alleging claims under the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act and Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act
  • Representing a national transportation and logistics company in a case brought by a former agent asserting $20 million-plus in claims based upon fraud and misappropriation arising out of a complex accounting scheme carried out by the agent

Other Commercial Litigation

  • Representing a national transportation and logistics company in the termination of a Motor Truck Agent Agreement and "business divorce" against adverse national transportation company
  • Representing a financial institution in a $20 million funds transfer dispute at the trial and appellate levels
  • Representing a client in trade secrets litigation against claims brought by a competing company under the recently enacted Computer Abuse and Data Recovery Act along with a common law breach of fiduciary duty causes of action, and prosecuting defamation based counterclaims against the plaintiff
  • Representing an international manufacturer of plumbing products against a multimillion-dollar claim for the alleged breach of contract and tortious interference brought by a distributor
  • Representing a health plan against a healthcare provider arising out of claims of breach of contract and fraudulent inducement
  • Representing a manufacturer of a baby-monitoring technology in pursuing claims against a former executive for breach of fiduciary duty, misappropriation of trade secrets and violation of non-compete agreement
  • Representing, at the trial court and appellate level, a national transportation and logistics company on a $5 million-plus claim against a consignee-manufacturer asserting causes of action for unjust enrichment and breach of contract
  • Representing financial institutions, banks and consumer finance companies against claims alleging violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), Federal Debt Collection Practice Act (FDCPA) and Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act (FCCPA), including claims with potential liability greater than $10 million
  • Prosecuting commercial foreclosure actions on behalf of national banks, financial institutions and investors — ranging from commercial properties to residential developments and multifamily housing projects — including navigation of the workout and settlement process when applicable
  • Prosecuting commercial foreclosure action on behalf of a national bank under a Small Business Agency (SBA) loan against owner of veterinary clinic and equine center
  • Representing a national bank in the enforcement of a finance lease and guaranty against a company that leased commercial telecommunications equipment

Other Real Estate Litigation

  • Representing a developer against claims related to alleged defects in the construction of a bulkhead along the Intracoastal. The court dismissed all of the plaintiffs’ claims at the earliest stages of the case.
  • Representing the developer of two ocean-front condominium towers in a multimillion-dollar construction defect case against the general contractor
  • Representing a commercial marina tenant in a lawsuit, including and maintenance of a lis pendens, against a landlord for violation of the lease agreement including unreasonable interference, failure to maintain the premises and trespass
  • Representing a commercial landlord in jury trial against an anchor tenant for breach of the lease agreement and successfully resolving tortious interference claim against a nearby commercial property owner before trial
  • Representing a limited partner against the general partner of a partnership designed to own and manage commercial real estate; the representations included claims for fraud and mismanagement, and required complex multistate enforcement of the judgment against the general partner
  • Representing a rail company in enforcing adjacent property owner's obligations under an easement that included requiring the adverse party construct a roadway and utilities on the easement
  • Representing general contractor in multimillion-dollar claim against a professional engineer for defective design of a lock system on Lake Okeechobee
  • Representing the seller of a commercial property against improper demand for payment of the broker's commission
  • Representing a national homebuilder against construction defect, misappropriation and accounting violations alleged by a homeowners' association
  • Representing a property insurance company on claims litigation
  • Representing the owner and seller of a multifamily housing development against a buyer for breach of the purchase and sale agreement
  • Representing a national multifamily development investment fund on its various real estate and commercial litigation matters
  • Representing a cellular tower company in multiple disputes with land owners related to easement and other contractual rights
  • Representing a national homebuilder in various contractual and construction defect disputes with buyers
  • Representing a commercial landlord in eviction of tenant and enforcement of lease agreement

Credentials

Education
  • University of Florida Levin College of Law, J.D., cum laude
  • University of Florida, B.A., Public Relations
Bar Admissions/Licenses
  • Florida
Court Admissions
  • All State Courts in Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
Memberships
  • Leadership Jacksonville, Class of 2022
  • Chester Bedell American Inn of Court, Associate, 2008-2009; Barrister, 2021
  • Jacksonville Bar Association, Litigation Section Chair, 2017-2018
  • Police Athletic League of Jacksonville Inc., Board Member, 2013-2018
Honors & Awards
  • The Best Lawyers in America guide, Commercial Litigation, 2020-2024
  • Outstanding Services Award, American Bar Association Military Pro Bono Project, 2012, 2020, 2021
  • Holland & Knight Pro Bono All-Star, 2021
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
  • Rising Star, Florida Super Lawyers magazine, 2013-2017 
  • Florida Law Review

Publications

Speaking Engagements

News