From Robert's interview for the Masters of the Courtroom series on ReelLawyers.com.
Robert “Rob” Eckard is the founding partner in this litigation firm. He established the firm in 2000 after leaving the State Attorney’s Office, 6th Judicial Circuit, Clearwater, Pinellas County, Florida, where he prosecuted both felony and misdemeanor criminal cases. Rob is Board Certified in Business Litigation by the Florida Bar (less than 300 lawyers in the State of Florida are Board Certified in Business Litigation), specializes in white-collar criminal investigations and defense, all areas of commercial/business litigation, professional licensing, and administrative proceedings for physicians, health-care professionals, attorneys, accountants, securities dealer/brokers, insurance agents etc. Rob’s background, training, and experience in both business litigation, government investigations, and criminal defense make him uniquely qualified to handle business crimes.
Rob is a 1998 graduate of Stetson University College of Law (honors). He also holds an LL.M. Degree in International Law and Business from Stetson University College of Law and has been a frequent guest lecturer on topics involving international law. Rob has taught courses for the National Business Institute, the Clearwater and St. Petersburg Bar Associations, and others, as well as given CLE’s on topics such as: Evidence, Covenants, Representations, Practicing International Law, Damages in Business Cases, The Intersection of Business Litigation and Probate, The Business Divorce, and Private Placement Offerings for Securities Investments.
Rob was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1999 and is admitted to practice in Washington, D.C., Texas and before the United States District Court for the Middle, Northern and Southern District of Florida, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, the Florida Supreme Court, the United States Court of International Trade, the United States Supreme Court, and the United States Tax Court. Rob has been admitted to practice law pro hac vice in over 15 other states and federal jurisdictions.
In the area of civil litigation, Rob has litigated cases most types of business and commercial litigation cases between private parties as well as against government entities such as the United States Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), the United States Securities And Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), the Florida Attorney General’s Office (“FLAG”), the United States Treasury Department and Office of Foreign Asset Controls (“OFAC”), United States Customs and Border Protection (“USCIS”), Florida Department of Health, United States Drug and Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). Rob has also litigated cases involving investor and securities fraud, Non-Compete Agreements, Trade Secret Agreements, Automotive Floor Plan Financing Agreements, Unfair Deceptive Trade Practices, Civil Racketeering (“RICO”), Telemarketing Sales Rule, and Do Not Call Violations (TCPA).
In the area of criminal defense, Rob has represented United States citizens and foreign parties, as defendants, targets and witnesses, in state and federal courts in Florida and around the country in cases involving the most state law enforcement agencies, Florida Office of the Attorney General, Office of the Florida Statewide Prosecutor, State Attorneys Office, United States Attorneys Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), United States Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Food and Drug Administration by the Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA CID”), and United States Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”). His representation has included cases involving grand jury proceedings, international narco-trafficking and money laundering related charges, cyber-crimes, extradition proceedings, International Child Abduction cases under the Hague Convention, Trading with the Enemy Act (“TWEA”), bribery, conspiracy, health care fraud, securities fraud, embezzlement, visa fraud, and other white collar crimes and parallel proceedings.
Awards and Notable Distinctions
In September 2024, Pinellas County Republican Party Chairman Adam Ross appointed Rob as the Pinellas County GOP Party’s General Counsel.
In July 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Rob to Florida’s 6th Judicial Circuit (Judicial Nominating Commission), and in 2024, he became the Vice Chairman of that Commission.
From 2017-2019, Rob was appointed to serve on the Florida Bar’s Grievance Commission for the 6th Judicial Circuit, Pinellas County, FL (6A), where he served as chair pro tem.
Listed as one of Florida’s Super Lawyers® in Business Litigation for ten consecutive years.
Host of the nationally published Podcast, “Time Is Not On Your Side” featuring special guests and topics on various aspects of the law.
