Rebecca M. Plasencia

Partner
Rebecca Plasencia Headshot

Overview

Rebecca M. Plasencia is an attorney in Holland & Knight's Appellate and Litigation Practice Groups. Her practice areas include appeals, complex commercial litigation, product liability and creditors' rights. Since joining Holland & Knight's Appellate Team, Ms. Plasencia has argued appeals in the Florida District Courts of Appeal and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Ms. Plasencia has also worked on numerous appeals before the Florida Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court. She has also litigated cases in state and federal courts and worked on several arbitration disputes.

In her commercial litigation practice, Ms. Plasencia has defended hotels in consumer class actions arising from the imposition of automatic gratuities and service charges at restaurants. Ms. Plasencia also represents financial institutions and law firms in cases alleging a variety of tort claims, including aiding and abetting fraud, aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty, and conspiracy. She has also represented a wide range of clients in claims arising from employment agreements, including obtaining emergency injunctions to prevent dissemination of trade secrets.

Ms. Plasencia routinely assists trial lawyers from the inception of a case, using her appellate knowledge to ensure that legal issues arising during the course of litigation are well-positioned for a favorable outcome, both at the trial and appellate levels. Ms. Plasencia has extensive experience in litigating nuanced jurisdictional and venue issues, including forum non conveniens motions and motions to compel arbitration. She also assists in litigation matters that arise after appeal, including postjudgment execution and enforcement of creditors' rights.

Before entering private practice, Ms. Plasencia served as a law clerk to the Honorable Paul C. Huck of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, from August 2004 to September 2005. While at the University of Miami School of Law, Ms. Plasencia was a member of the University of Miami Law Review and the Moot Court Board. As a Moot Court Board member, Ms. Plasencia participated in numerous competitions and received the Best Oral Advocate Award for her participation in the Advanced Moot Court Competition in 2002. Ms. Plasencia interned for the Honorable Rodolfo Sorondo Jr., at the Florida Third District Court of Appeal and served as a Constitutional Law Dean's fellow to Professor Keith Rosenn at the University of Miami School of Law. She also interned at the Florida Office of the Attorney General, Criminal Appeals Division, during which time she argued several cases before the Florida Third District Court of Appeal.

Representative Experience

  • Successfully defended class action lawsuits brought against hotels under Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA) for the imposition of automatic gratuities
  • Successfully represented financial institutions in fraud and Ponzi scheme lawsuits
  • Obtained a favorable settlement of lawsuit brought under California consumer protection law
  • Successfully reversed on appeal a multimillion-dollar jury verdict entered against a cruise line
  • Successfully represented a business entity in complex commercial litigation matter in both trial and appellate level arising from a merger and acquisition
  • Successfully represented one of the world's largest producers of electronic devices in arbitration in a suit brought by a distributor and obtained multimillion-dollar award on behalf of client
  • Successfully represented a media conglomerate on appeal, obtaining affirmance of dismissal of claims
  • Successfully defended on appeal multiple cases dismissing complaints for forum non conveniens
  • Successfully defended a manufacturer of medical device in a product liability suit, obtaining dismissal on forum non conveniens grounds and affirmance on appeal
  • Successfully defended title insurers on appeal, obtaining affirmance of dismissal of lawsuits arising from misappropriation of escrow funds
  • Successfully defended foreign entities on appeal, obtaining reversal of trial court's order denying motions to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction
  • Successfully represented a municipality on appeal in personal injury lawsuit, obtaining affirmance of dismissal of lawsuit

Credentials

Education
  • University of Miami School of Law, J.D., summa cum laude
  • University of Notre Dame, B.A., History and Government, magna cum laude
Bar Admissions/Licenses
  • Florida
Court Admissions
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • 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 Middle District of Florida
  • All State Courts in Florida
Memberships
  • The Florida Bar
  • Cuban-American Bar Association
  • Dade County Bar Association
  • Dade County Defense Bar Association
  • Third District Court of Appeal Historical Society
  • Federal Bar Association
Honors & Awards
  • Holland & Knight Pro Bono All-Star, 2020
  • Holland & Knight Rising Star, Class of 2020
  • University of Notre Dame: Rev. Marvin R. O'Connell History Award 
  • University of Miami Law Review
  • Order of the Coif
  • Best Oral Advocate, University of Miami School of Law, Advanced Moot Court Competition, 2002
Spoken Languages
  • English
  • Spanish

Publications

News