Ricardo A. Duarte

Overview Rick is a Partner in the firms Commercial Litigation Practice Group where he represents companies and individuals in disputes involving breach of contract, trade secrets, non-competition, restrictive covenants, unfair trade practices, fraud, civil theft, and breach of fiduciary duty. Ricks experience also includes defending clients in employment disputes, high-exposure product liability matters, and financial services litigation. In addition to his litigation practice, Rick serves as outside general counsel to businesses across a range of industries, including construction, logistics and transportation, real estate, health care, and hospitality. In this role, he advises clients on corporate governance, employment matters, risk management issues, and strategic decisions where business and law intersect. Rick received his B. A. from the University of Florida and his J. D. from the Emory University School of Law, where he currently serves as an adjunct faculty member teaching rising third-year law students the Kessler-Eidson Program for Trial Techniques. Outside of the office, Rick enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, traveling, golfing, going to concerts, and following Florida Gator athletics. Experience Represented a key executive and investor of a logistics and transportation company, and secured a complete dismissal with prejudice, in a lawsuit alleging fraud and breach of fiduciary duties in which plaintiff sought more than $5,000,000 in damages. Represented the owner of a health care company, and obtained an extremely favorable outcome on clients behalf, in a lawsuit alleging theft of trade secrets and confidential information in which plaintiff sought more than $8,000,000 in damages. Represented the CEO of a health care company, and secured a complete dismissal with prejudice, in a lawsuit alleging breach of contract, conversion, piercing the corporate veil, and alter ego claims. In connection with the successful dismissal, the Court awarded attorneys fees and costs in the clients favor. Represented a prominent South American agricultural company against a competitor in a lawsuit involving an alleged $15,000,000 breach of promissory note. Competitors alleged theories of liability included fraudulent transfer, piercing the corporate veil, as well as a number of different agency theories. Successfully represented a national bank in a complex construction loan dispute involving numerous co-defendants in which the plaintiff sought damages in excess of $2,000,000. Obtained complete dismissal, with prejudice, on behalf of a national bank in lawsuit alleging breach of contract, fraud, conversion, and Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act violations in which the plaintiff sought more than $250,000 in damages. Honors & Recognitions Florida Super Lawyers, Rising Star, Business Litigation (2016 - 2024) Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®: Commercial Litigation since 2024 Languages Spanish