When you get sued in Broward County, the first 30 days decide the case.
Top 10 Business Litigation and Defense Lawyers in Fort Lauderdale
If your Fort Lauderdale business is named in a lawsuit, the first month sets the trajectory: what gets preserved, who gets noticed, what defenses survive, and how the insurance plays. The right defense firm moves fast.
Updated May 29, 202613 min readEditorially independent
These 10 Fort Lauderdale firms defend businesses in commercial litigation. Breach of contract, partnership disputes, fraud claims, business torts, trade-secret theft, non-compete fights, and complex commercial disputes in Broward County Circuit Court and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Each firm on this list has a verifiable trial bench and AV Preeminent or Best Lawyers in America recognition for commercial litigation.
How we picked these 10: We reviewed verifiable peer rankings (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, Avvo), bar association recognition, state bar standing, published verdicts and settlements, client review patterns, and board certifications where applicable. Firms that appeared consistently across independent sources made the list. We do not accept payment for placement and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
1
Rosenthal Law Group
Fort Lauderdale, FLFounded 2010Boutique
Practice focus: Business defense, complex commercial disputes, executive disputes
Provides sophisticated representation in business litigation in Fort Lauderdale, serving companies and executives across South Florida in high-stakes commercial matters. AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell and recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for Commercial Litigation.
Fee structure
Hourly
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: AV Preeminent + Best Lawyers recognition for commercial litigation. Strong fit for complex defense work.
Practice focus: Commercial litigation, business torts, IP litigation
Justin Carlin is a Florida Bar Board Certified Specialist in Business Litigation. A credential held by fewer than 200 attorneys statewide. Named a top lawyer by Super Lawyers, The Best Lawyers in America, and South Florida Legal Guide. AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
Fee structure
Hourly
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: Florida Bar Board Certified Business Litigation specialization is the credential to look for in Florida.
Practice focus: Complex commercial defense, business disputes
Experienced legal representation for complex business disputes in Fort Lauderdale and throughout Florida. The firm takes a real-world approach to confronting issues impeding clients' operations. Strong bench across class action and complex multi-party matters.
Fee structure
Hourly
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: Useful for class actions, multi-party litigation, and complex commercial disputes.
Practice focus: Commercial litigation, real estate disputes, partnership splits
The Fort Lauderdale commercial litigation team handles disputes over real estate transactions, construction delays and defects, and corporate partnership disputes. Strong bench for fights between business partners and shareholder oppression cases.
Fee structure
Hourly
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: Particularly strong on partnership and shareholder disputes.
Practice focus: Construction defense, commercial landlord-tenant, collections, condo
Full-service litigation firm with 25 years of experience. Specialty in litigation for construction, commercial landlord-tenant, condominium, and complex collection matters. Strong fit for property-related commercial disputes.
Fee structure
Hourly
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: Best for property-adjacent business disputes. Construction, leasing, condo.
Fort Lauderdale, FLFounded 1985Large (100+ attorneys)
Practice focus: Complex commercial litigation, insolvency, M&A disputes
Florida's largest business-only law firm. Recognized in 20 Tier 1 categories by U.S. News & World Report. The litigation bench handles complex commercial disputes, insolvency-related litigation, and M&A-related claims for mid-market and institutional clients.
Fee structure
Hourly ($425-$800)
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: Best when the case is over $10M, involves multiple parties, or has insolvency exposure.
Practice focus: Business litigation, non-compete, trade secret, trademark litigation
Peter T. Mavrick has 25+ years representing businesses in business litigation, employment / labor litigation, non-competition covenant litigation, trade-secret litigation, and trademark litigation. Strong bench for restrictive-covenant fights.
Fee structure
Hourly
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: Best for restrictive-covenant cases and trade-secret matters.
Fort Lauderdale, FLFounded 1980Large (240+ attorneys)
Practice focus: Commercial litigation, multi-state defense
Nationally recognized firm with 240+ attorneys and 19 offices. The litigation bench handles commercial defense across Florida and out-of-state matters. Useful for mid-market clients with multi-state operations.
Fee structure
Hourly
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: Strong multi-state defense bench.
Practice focus: Defense litigation, professional liability, commercial
National defense firm with a Fort Lauderdale office. Strong professional liability and commercial defense practice. Often appears as panel counsel for major insurance carriers.
Fee structure
Hourly
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: Useful when an insurance carrier assigns Hinshaw through its panel.
Fort Lauderdale, FLFounded 1997Large (Florida's largest insurance defense firm)
Practice focus: Insurance defense, commercial defense
One of Florida's largest defense litigation firms. The commercial-defense bench handles business disputes, insurance coverage litigation, and commercial cases statewide. Strong fit when EPL or commercial-liability insurance is involved.
Fee structure
Hourly
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: Strong insurance-defense bench across all major South Florida carriers.
What to expect on a Fort Lauderdale business defense engagement
Initial response (answer or motion to dismiss): 20-30 days from service. Discovery phase: 6-15 months. Mediation: 6-12 months in. Summary judgment hearing: 12-18 months. Trial: 14-24 months. Appeal to the Fourth District Court of Appeal: 9-18 months. Federal court (Southern District of Florida) typically moves 20-30% faster than Broward County Circuit on standard scheduling orders.
What does a Fort Lauderdale business defense lawyer cost?
Demand-letter response and pre-suit defense: $5,000-$25,000. Motion to dismiss + answer: $7,500-$30,000. Defense through summary judgment: $50,000-$200,000. Defense through trial: $150,000-$1.5M+ depending on complexity. Most firms bill hourly at $350-$750/hour for partners, $225-$450 for associates. Some matters can be defended on a flat-fee schedule when scope is clear (single-plaintiff, fixed pleadings). Insurance-defense panel rates run lower for carriers that have negotiated rate structures.
How to choose between these 10 firms
All ten firms above are competent practitioners. The right pick depends on the shape of your matter, not on which firm has the biggest billboard. The patterns we see:
Pick a boutique when your case is high-stakes but narrow in scope, you want a senior attorney doing the actual work, and you are willing to trade brand recognition for senior attention. Boutiques typically run $325-$525 per hour for the lead attorney and have lower overhead. The risk: if the firm gets conflicted out or busy, your case may stall.
Pick a mid-size firm when your matter has multiple moving parts, or when you need a steady team with a bench behind it. Mid-size firms in Fort Lauderdale typically charge $375-$650 per hour and are the natural fit for most business litigation cases.
Pick a large firm when the matter is genuinely large in dollars at stake, complex in legal issues, multi-jurisdictional, or institutionally sensitive. Large firms charge $450-$850 per hour but bring depth across practice areas. The risk: junior attorneys do most of the day-to-day work unless you push for senior involvement.
What is specific about business litigation cases in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale is its own market. The procedure, the courts, and the strategy are city- and state-specific in ways that matter to your outcome.
The local courthouse matters. Broward County is the venue for most business litigation matters originating in Fort Lauderdale. The judges have published procedures, scheduling preferences, and trial calendars that an experienced local lawyer knows by heart. A firm that has never appeared in front of your judge is starting from scratch on the procedural side, and that costs you time and money.
Filing deadlines are strict. Statutes of limitations, notice requirements, pre-suit certifications, and Florida procedural rules are unforgiving. A missed deadline often means a lost case — full stop. Your first conversation with a lawyer should include a written confirmation of the controlling deadlines.
Florida law has specific quirks. Florida statutes governing this practice area shape strategy, leverage, damages, and settlement value. A firm that primarily practices in another state is starting at a disadvantage even when admitted in Florida.
Local juries and judges have patterns. Verdict patterns, judicial temperament, and settlement norms in Broward County are local knowledge. A trial-capable firm uses venue, judge assignment, and jury demographics strategically.
Red flags to watch for when picking a business litigation lawyer in Fort Lauderdale
Most firms in Fort Lauderdale are competent. A few are problematic. The patterns to avoid:
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can guarantee a result. If a firm promises a specific recovery, dismissal, custody outcome, or settlement number, walk away. Ethics rules in every U.S. state prohibit guarantees, and any lawyer making them is either uninformed or willing to lie to get your business.
The disappearing partner. You meet a senior partner at intake, then never speak to them again. The case is handled by an unsupervised junior or a paralegal. Ask in writing who will be your day-to-day attorney, how often you will hear from them, and what happens when they are unavailable.
Pressure to sign immediately. Reputable firms give you the retainer in writing, time to read it, and the option to take it home. High-pressure intake is almost always a sign of a volume mill rather than a craftsperson's practice.
No verifiable track record. The firm should be able to point to verdicts, settlements, peer rankings, or bar association recognition. "We have helped thousands of clients" is marketing copy. Specific numbers, named cases, and third-party rankings are evidence.
Vague fee terms. "Do not worry about cost" is a red flag. Every legitimate Fort Lauderdale lawyer will give you a written engagement letter with the fee structure, what is covered, what triggers extra charges, and what happens if you fire them.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
Most firms on this list offer a free or low-cost initial consultation. Use it. Bring a list of questions and write down the answers. Compare across at least two firms before you sign.
Who, specifically, will handle my case day to day? Get a name. Get an email. Get their bar number so you can verify their standing.
How many cases like mine have you handled in the last three years? You want a number, not a brochure line.
How many of those went to trial? Settlement skill is important. Trial skill is what gives you leverage to settle well.
What is your fee, and what does it cover? Get the answer in writing before you sign anything.
What case expenses am I responsible for, and when? Out-of-pocket costs (filing fees, deposition costs, expert witnesses) surprise people. Ask now.
What is the realistic range of outcomes for a case like mine? A good lawyer will give you a range. A bad one will promise the high end.
How long will it take? Honest estimate, with the assumptions stated.
How and how often will I hear from you? Email-only? Calls? Monthly updates? Set the expectation now.
What happens if I want to change lawyers later? Rules allow it; the fee is sorted between firms. Make sure you understand the mechanics.
What is the worst-case outcome for my case? A lawyer who refuses to discuss downside risk is selling you something.
Get matched with a vetted Fort Lauderdale business litigation firm
Tell us about your situation. We will forward your details to the firms on this list (or others nearby) best fit for your matter. No fees to you. Confidential.
Frequently asked questions
I just got served. What is the first thing I do?
Three things, in order: (1) preserve every document and communication related to the dispute, including text messages, Slack messages, and emails, by issuing a written litigation hold; (2) notify your insurance carrier in writing (failure to give timely notice can void coverage); (3) call a defense lawyer within 5-7 days of being served. You have 20 days to answer in Florida state court, 21 in federal.
Should I file a motion to dismiss or just answer?
Depends on the complaint. A motion to dismiss is right when the complaint has facial defects, missing elements, expired statute, wrong venue, lack of jurisdiction. An answer is right when the case requires a full factual defense. Many defendants do both: motion to dismiss what is defective, answer what survives.
Does my insurance pay for my defense?
Possibly. Commercial general liability (CGL), employment practices liability (EPLI), errors and omissions (E&O), and director and officer (D&O) policies often include defense coverage. Tender the claim to every carrier in writing, immediately. Coverage disputes are common; some defense firms litigate the coverage as well as the underlying claim.
How long will a Broward County business lawsuit take?
Average commercial case: 14-22 months to trial. Cases with discovery disputes, expert witnesses, or appeals can run 3-5 years. Most cases settle in mediation 9-18 months in, after both sides see what the discovery actually shows.
Can I countersue if the lawsuit is frivolous?
Yes. You can file a compulsory counterclaim with your answer, or a separate lawsuit for tortious interference, abuse of process, or business defamation if the underlying suit is baseless and damaging. Florida also has Section 57.105 fee-shifting for frivolous claims. Useful but narrowly applied.
What is summary judgment and why does it matter?
After discovery, either side can ask the court to rule that there is no genuine issue of material fact and they should win as a matter of law. About 30-40% of Florida commercial cases end at summary judgment. The motion is usually heard 12-18 months into the case.
If we lose at trial, how does an appeal work in Broward County?
Appeals from Broward County Circuit Court go to the Fourth District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach. Federal court appeals from the Southern District of Florida go to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta. Notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days. Most appeals take 9-18 months.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many business litigation matters like mine have you handled in the last three years, and how many went to trial? The answer tells you what kind of lawyer you are actually hiring. — The LawFirmSquare team