From Robert's interview for the Masters of the Courtroom series on ReelLawyers.com.
EXPERIENCE & PRACTICE AREAS
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 makes him uniquely qualified in handling business crimes.
In the area of civil litigation, Rob has litigated cases against government entities such as the United States Federal Trade Commission, the United States Securities And Exchange Commission, the Internal Revenue Service, the Florida Attorney General’s Office, the United States Treasury Office, United States Customs and Border Protection, Florida Department of Health, United States Drug and Enforcement Administration and the United States Food and Drug Administration. Rob has also litigated cases involving: Investor fraud, Non-Compete Agreements, Trade Secret Agreements, Automotive Floor Plan Financing Agreements, Unfair Deceptive Trade Practices, Civil RICO, Telemarketing Sales Rule and Do Not Call Violations (TCPA).
In the area of criminal defense, Rob has represented individuals, both targets and witnesses, in state and federal courts in Florida and around the country in cases with the Federal Bureau of Investigations, United States Drug Enforcement Administration, vs. Food and Drug Investigations by the Office of Criminal Investigations, and United States Department of Homeland Security. His representation has included cases involving, grand jury proceedings, international narco-trafficking and money laundering related charges, Extradition proceedings, International Child Abduction cases under the Hague Convention, Trading with the Enemy Act, bribery, conspiracy, health care fraud, securities fraud, embezzlement, visa fraud and other white collar crimes and parallel proceedings.
Rob’s past and present clients include a commercial airline, commercial national automobile dealer franchises, commercial trucking company, professional athletes, attorneys, law firms, accountants, physicians and other health care professionals, political candidates, financial services company, restaurants, private equity lenders, real estate development companies, sports memorabilia company, health/fitness clubs, marketing agency, telemarketing companies (both national and international), national fire and water restoration company, insurance companies and insurance agents, churches, agricultural business’ and an entertainment service company, food, drug and cosmetic manufacturer, medical device manufacturer and many others.
BACKGROUND & EDUCATION
Robert Eckard is a native of New York and has been living in Florida for over 30 years. 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 was a former member of the US/Cuba Legal Forum, a not-for-profit organization designed to foster ties with Cuban Lawyers in Cuba, to normalize trade relations between the United States and Cuba. 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, Private Placement Offerings.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & ADMISSIONS
He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1999 and is admitted to practice in Washington, D.C. and admitted to practice in 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 state and federal jurisdictions.
AWARDS & DISTINCTIONS
Rob has been nominated to Florida Trend’s Legal Elite in Commercial Litigation in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2022.
In 2015, Rob was appointed by the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners to the Pasco County Charter Advisory Board.
From 2017-2019, Rob served on the Florida Bar’s 6th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee, Pinellas County, Clearwater, Florida.
Rob was selected as a Super Lawyer for excellence in practice. Only 5 percent of the attorneys in Florida are selected to Super Lawyers in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.