Angel A. Cortinas

More information... About Experience Recognition Activities and Affiliations Areas of focus Education Admissions and qualifications Languages Angel A. Cortiñas is a member of Dentons Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice and managing partner of the firms Miami office. Ranked in Chambers USA for litigation, Angel previously served as an appellate judge on Floridas 3rd District Court of Appeal for more than eight years, where he reviewed civil and criminal appeals from trial courts and authored over 500 opinions. Before that he served as a judge on civil and criminal jury trials by appointment of the Florida Supreme Court. Prior to his judicial tenure, Angel worked for 13 years as a federal prosecutor and was the lead trial attorney in the US Attorneys Offices investigation and successful prosecution of Columbia HCA and Olsten Corporation-the largest fraud case in US history and two of the most comprehensive health care fraud investigations ever undertaken by the federal government. As the former chief of the Fraud Section of the US Attorneys Office in Miami, he oversaw all criminal investigations and prosecutions involving corporate and securities fraud, bank fraud, health care fraud, computer crimes, tax fraud and other white collar offenses. He also worked in and oversaw the offices Health Care Fraud Section for many years, working closely with hospitals, as well as with state and federal regulators. Over the course of his career, Angel has tried over 30 jury trials to verdict in federal court and coordinated over 100 complex grand jury investigations. He has also authored numerous appellate briefs and argued before the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. White Collar Criminal Defense Angel has over 25 years experience defending subjects and targets of white collar criminal investigations and conducting internal investigations; advising companies and individuals on criminal and civil enforcement matters; and providing strategic counsel on legal risk management. He has particular experience in: Criminal and civil fraud matters, including healthcare, accounting and securities fraud Criminal investigations relating to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and other cross-border matters Environmental crimes For almost 15 years, Angel served as an assistant US attorney in Miami, where as chief of the offices Fraud and Healthcare Fraud Sections, he led and supervised over 30 federal prosecutors handling accounting, tax and healthcare fraud and other federal economic criminal offenses, including transnational and multinational fraud and FCPA matters. His extensive grand jury and trial experience allow him to effectively represent business entities and individuals in responding to government investigations and prosecutions. Angel has also taught courses in the US and Latin America on criminal law enforcement, economic crimes, anti-corruption, and Florida Constitutional Law. Angels white collar representations include: The target of a federal investigation in New York on alleged $100 million international tax violations; matter closed without charges being brought The target of a federal investigation in South Florida on alleged fraud and health care fraud tax violations; matter closed without charges being brought Targets of state investigation in South Florida on alleged financial crime violations; matters closed without charges being brought The subject of federal investigation in South Florida on alleged mortgage fraud violations; no charges brought against client A publicly traded company in an internal investigation arising out of accounting claims made by former employee A company in Latin America in implementing FCPA compliance program and ongoing training. The US Government, serving as lead attorney in one of the nations largest fraud and healthcare fraud investigations The US Government, serving as lead attorney in numerous successful federal criminal tax prosecutions Civil Angels civil litigation practice includes the representation of individuals and companies in complex civil business litigation, including legal malpractice defense. Prior to joining Dentons, he successfully defended numerous clients in multi-million dollar state and federal lawsuits , including an AmLaw 50 firm in connection with a professional negligence claim in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, an AmLaw 100 firm in a malpractice claim by a former client in Florida state court, and an AmLaw 100 firm in an ethics claim brought in Florida state court. He also represented an AmLaw 100 firm in disqualification proceedings in federal and state courts. He recently successfully represented a national insurance company in a federal court case where the judge granted a final summary judgment against Medicare Secondary Payer Act claims. Chambers USA wrote that Angel has great judgment and terrific litigation instincts and that he is an excellent resource-he offers a unique perspective because of his time on the bench and his extensive trial experience. Appeals Prior to joining Dentons, Angel successfully represented a Florida developer in the reversal of $24 million judgment in Floridas 3rd District Court of Appeal and successfully represented a Florida power company in affirming an order authorizing the expansion of its Turkey Point facility. His more recent appellate victories include the reversal of a disqualification order in a Florida appellate court and affirmance of a dismissal in favor of a national telecommunications company. Angel is also successfully representing an estate-and-trust beneficiary in an appeal by another beneficiary to invalidate a trust and will, representing an insured and insurance administrator in a pending federal court appeal, successfully representing an investment company in a state court appeal, successfully representing a developer in a challenge brought by a neighborhood association, and successfully representing a client in responding to a petition for a writ of certiorari pertaining to a discovery issue. Mediation, Arbitration & Private Judging Angel regularly handles mediations and has successfully mediated many complex cases and disputes. He treats each mediation as a unique matter and, after studying the particularities of a dispute, seeks to craft novel settlement solutions. He is also engaged for private judging matters, moot judging of appellate oral arguments and arbitrations. Fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, Angel is able to conduct mediations in those languages as well as his native tongue. Experience Prior to joining Dentons in 2022, Angel represented a diverse array of clients, including: Trial counsel in complex civil litigation in Miami-Dade Circuit Court in $60 million lawsuit that resulted in favorable settlement for the clients Successfully represented client in reversal of $24 million judgment in Floridas 3rd District Court of Appeal Successfully represented electric power company in affirming order authorizing expansion of Turkey Point facility Successfully represented national insurance company in obtaining final summary judgments arising out of plaintiffs Medicare Secondary Payer Act and claims AmLaw 50 Firm - Negligence claim by receiver - US District Court for the Southern District of Florida AmLaw 100 Firm - Malpractice claim by former client - Florida state court AmLaw 100 Firm - Ethics claim by opposing party - Florida state court Lead appellate counsel to developer who successfully obtained reversal of $24 million final judgment Developed FCPA compliance policy and program and trained critical employees for international mining company Lead trial counsel in complex civil litigation in Miami-Dade Circuit Court in defense of lawsuit seeking $100 million in damages that resulted in favorable settlement for the clients Trial counsel in defense of seven class action lawsuits in US District Court for the Southern District of Florida brought under the TCPA and Medicare Secondary Payer Act Successfully represented multiple targets of federal and state criminal investigations where no criminal charges were brought against the clients Lead appellate counsel in two environmental law lawsuits challenging commercial developments in Palm Beach County, FL, that resulted in affirmances in favor of the clients. Developed FCPA compliance program for publicly traded company Lead trial and appellate counsel in family law case that resulted in $12 million settlement in favor of client Appellate counsel in multi-million dollar probate case that resulted in affirmance of trial court judgment in favor of client Conducted internal investigation for a publicly traded company client Represented Ultra Music Festival before the Miami City Commission on contract issues Mediated a dispute on preservation of Tequesta Indian site in downtown Miami Mediated modification of landmark homeless settlement agreement in Pottinger, et al. v. City of Miami, US District Court for the Southern District of Florida Argued appeal on behalf of Grand Birch, LLC in Citizens for Responsible Growth v. Grand Birch, LLC, resulting in final order denying petition for a writ of certiorari Lead counsel for US in the Southern District of Florida fraud claims against Columbia HCA and Olsten Corporations subsidiaries Supervised and oversaw all aspects of investigation and prosecution of the top officers of Hamilton Bank regarding $300 million in investor losses due to the collapse of publicly traded Hamilton Bancorp Supervised investigation and prosecution of multiple defendants in Bankest/Banco Espirito Santo regarding $225 million fraud Supervised investigation of Lancer Management Group regarding $500 million in investor losses Lead counsel for US in criminal prosecution of Princess Cruises Inc. for environmental crimes Lead counsel for US on numerous fraud and tax cases Lead counsel for US on numerous environmental cases and investigations Lead counsel on over 30 jury trials in federal court Lead appellate counsel on numerous appeals before the US Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit Recognition Honors and Awards The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation Law, Appellate Practice, 2018-present Chambers & Partners, Leaders in Their Field, Litigation: Appellate, 2021-2025 Attorney Generals Exceptional Service Award, US Department of Justice, 2001 National Crime Victims Award, US Department of Justice, 2000 Activities and Affiliations Local Rules Committee, US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, 2013-2022 Bench and Bar Committee, US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, 2013-2022 Florida Supreme Court, Committee on Jury Instructions in Business Cases, 2006-2008 Florida Bar, Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services, 2005-2010 Miami Senior High School, Mock Trial Team, volunteer coach, 2005-2006 Legal Services of Greater Miami, director, 1991-2001 Miami Senior High, Legal and Public Affairs Program, mentor, 2000-2002 Governors Commission for a Sustainable South Florida, 1994-1995 Brown University Alumni board of governors, 1994-1995 Club of Dade Memberships Subcommittee chair, American Bar Association, Appellate Practice Section Florida Bar Dade County Bar Association Federal Bar Association