William B. Lewis

Recent Representations

Contract Disputes:* Won a $784,000 jury verdict for a small business owner that was underpaid sales commissions by a national distributor. * Obtained settlement equal to 100% of the alleged damages for sellers of business after purchaser breached the sale agreement.

Employment Litigation:* Represented officer of multi-billion dollar publicly traded REIT for alleged breaches of an employment contract and recovered more than 125% of alleged unpaid compensation. * Represented a renowned surgeon and recovered over 98% of his unpaid compensation through a negotiated settlement. * Obtained confidential settlement for former CFO of a multi-national athletic corporation for claims of unpaid severance.
* Won $137,000 jury verdict, plus attorneys’ fees and costs, for a sales representative owed unpaid commissions.

Intellectual Property:* Obtained confidential settlement of claims for misappropriation of trade secrets and breach of a non-disclosure agreement against multi-national public corporation. * Obtained confidential settlement for manufacturing consultant who claimed his trade secrets were misappropriated by an international corporation.

Investment and Securities Litigation:* Obtained confidential settlement for an elderly client against a securities brokerage and advisor that allegedly made misleading statements and sold unsuitable investments.
* Obtained a confidential settlement from a major brokerage for an investor who purchased bonds based on a financial advisor’s alleged misrepresentations. * Won a $400,000 FINRA arbitration award against brokerage that allowed its customer’s retirement funds to be misused. * Obtained a confidential settlement for a financial advisor in a dispute over a commission from a large life insurance contract. * Represented a broker/investment advisor on claims of breach of a Shareholder Agreement and reached a confidential settlement.

Professional Malpractice:* Obtained a confidential settlement for client that alleged attorneys improperly settled a FINRA securities arbitration. * Obtained confidential settlements from an attorney and an accountant who allegedly negligently performed trustee duties. * Represented former executive of a public company, recovering over $540,000 for claims against accountant for providing false information regarding an investment.

Real Estate: * Won a $771,000 jury verdict for breach of an oral contract and fraud related to a real estate investment. * Won verdict after bench trial on behalf of condominium owner being sued under note and mortgage. * Won jury verdict on behalf of partners in investment property whose share of the proceeds was withheld, and recovered over $150,000 in attorneys’ fees.

Shareholder and Partnership Disputes:* Obtained a multi-million dollar settlement for a minority partner in a media company for claims of breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract * Represented owner of a closely-held corporation in shareholder-derivative litigation and prevailed at summary judgment. * Obtained confidential settlement of behalf of a partner of a closely held chemical corporation against manager who had allegedly been self-dealing and misappropriating company funds. * Obtained a confidential settlement on behalf of partner in substance abuse clinic that was locked out of the business.

Memberships

• Florida Bar Association
  • Committee on Professionalism
  • Business Law Section
• Palm Beach County Bar Association
  • Circuit Court Civil Practice Committee, Chair
  • Business Litigation Continuing Education Committee, Chair
  • Judicial Relations Committee
• University of Florida Law Alumni Council
  • Board of Directors
• Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (PIABA)
• Forum Club of the Palm Beaches

Admitted to Practice

• Florida
• New York
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida
• U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Publications & Related Articles

• Our next round of 40 Under 40 honorees for 2020, South Florida Business Journal, July 10, 2020.
• Contingency Fees Allow Businesses to Effectively Pursue Claims During a Recession, Daily Business Review June 11, 2020.
• Customer Service Rep’ Spied on Customer, Used Credit Card to Buy Porn: Suit, NY Post, November 27, 2019.
• Business Trial Group Wins $400k FINRA Arbitration Award, April 16 2019.
• Seven Business Trial Group Attorneys Selected for Super Lawyers and Rising Stars List, June 20, 2018,
• Business Trial Group Wins $771k Verdict for Florida Family, April 24, 2018.
• Business Trial Group Wins Trial on Behalf of Estate, April 18, 2018.{: target="_blank"}
• Business Trial Group Wins Trial on Behalf of Estate, April 18, 2018.{: target="_blank"}
• Seven Business Trial Group Attorneys Selected as Florida Super Lawyers and Rising Stars{: target="_blank"}, June 21, 2017.
• William B. Lewis Appointed to Florida Bar Professionalism Committee{: target="_blank"}, June 14, 2017.
• Business Trial Group Wins Verdict in Sales Commission Case{: target="_blank"}, September 21, 2016.
• Business Trial Group Attorneys William Lewis, Damien Prosser, and Benjamin Webster Awarded Super Lawyers Distinction{: target="_blank"}, June 23, 2016.
• How Commercial Real Estate Brokers Can Recover Unpaid Commissions{: target="_blank"}, June 13, 2016.
• Law Firm Hourly Rates Hit $2,000: How Can Businesses Afford High-Quality Representation?{: target="_blank"}, June 1, 2016.
• Business Trial Group Helps Small Business Owner Win Jury Verdict Against Safeguard America{: target="_blank"}, May 17, 2016.

Education

• University of Florida, Frederic G. Levin College of Law, Juris Doctorate, Cum Laude
  • Florida Journal of Law and Public Policy
• University of Florida Hough Graduate School of Business, MBA, Cum Laude
• Colgate University, B.A., Cum Laude