Profile:
Mr. Eckard is the founding partner in this defense oriented firm. The firm also has a support staff including a paralegal, legal assistant and administrative secretary. The firm was established in 2000 after Mr. Eckard went into private practice after leaving the State Attorney's Office, 6th Judicial Circuit, where he prosecuted both felony and misdemeanor criminal cases. He has tried over 25 jury trials and over 100 bench trials. In 2000 Mr. Eckard became Of Counsel to the AV rated law firm of Florin Roebig, P.A. where he handled employment litigation cases.
Mr. Eckard 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. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1999 and had been admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the United States Court of International Trade and the United States Supreme Court.
Mr. Eckard has been a 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 and to explore legal issues effecting U.S. entities doing or wishing to do business there.
Mr. Eckard has written several articles including "Doing Business in Cuba, Now and Post-Embargo" and "Protecting and Enforcing Intellectual Property Rights in Developing Countries with a Special Comparative Study on Cuban Intellectual Property Laws". Mr. Eckard has represented various entities against the United States Treasury Department, Office Foreign Asset Controls, in regards to travel to Cuba, pursuant to 31 CFR 515 .
Mr. Eckard has served on the Board of Directors for the Palm Harbor Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the American Bar Association, the Clearwater Bar Association and the Barney Masterson Inns of Court.
In 2004, Mr. Eckard was part of a delegation of lawyers, federal court judges and law professors that participated in a joint-cooperation agreement with the City of St. Petersburg, Russia and its legal community. The Honorable Elizabeth Kovachavich, Chief Judge, Middle District of Florida, headed the delegation. The delegation traveled to St. Petersburg, Russia and participated in a weeklong legal and judicial exchange of information and ideas to help promote and assist in Russia's legal system reforms.
In the area of civil litigation, Mr. Eckard has personally handled, both as plaintiff and defense counsel, cases including, but not limited to breach of contract , breach of promissory notes, fraud, unfair deceptive trade practices, open account, account stated, injunctions, writs of replevin, misrepresentation, lis pendens actions, breach of warranty, fraudulent transfers, shareholder suits, RICO (racketeering) and secured transactions under article 9 of the UCC and other commercial litigation. Additionally, Mr. Eckard has defended claims on behalf of companies for alleged violations of the Do Not Call Registry ("DNC List") and claims under the Telecommunications Protection Act ("TCPA"). Mr. Eckard has also been admitted to practice law pro hac vice in the State of California involving claims of breach of contract, fraud, RICO and intentional infliction of mental distress, in the Eastern District of New York Federal Court against the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), the Southern District of Florida Federal Court and New York Supreme Court.
Mr. Eckard's past and present clients include a commercial airline, commercial trucking company, professional athletes, 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 company and insurance agents, churches, agricultural business' and an entertainment service company. He also represents clients against the Florida Office of the Attorney General in civil litigation under the economic crimes department against the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the United States Federal Trade Commission regarding telemarketing violations. Mr. Eckard has been a frequent guest lecturer at Stetson University College of Law in the area of commercial torts.
Mr. Eckard has represented parties with features in the Miami Herald, Cuba Embargo, Feds: Pair lied to U.S., profited from illegal travel, Friday February 23, 2007; The Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel, Cuban Travel Case, Two men charged in alleged Cuban travel scheme, Friday, February 23, 2007. The Tampa Tribune, Religious Fraud Got Visitors Past Cuba Embargo, Friday February 23, 2007.
Mr. Eckard has appeared on The Today Show, Good Morning America and MSNBC, April 4, 2007. Pinellas County Circuit Court Case.
Organization:
Main Office
3110 Alternate US 19 N. Palm Harbor, FL 34683
Phone: (727) 772-1941 Email: robert@roberteckardlaw.com
The Law Office of Robert Eckard and Associates, P.A. is a defense oriented firm representing individuals and businesses facing administrative, civil or criminal prosecution. Principally serving the Tampa Bay Area, but handling cases throughout Florida in both state and federal courts, we welcome the opportunity to become your legal advisor.
We are committed to excellence and integrity. Our firm strives not just to meet, but to exceed our clients' needs and expectations on a daily basis. Due to the complexity of legal systems, both domestically and internationally, we explain all possible remedies before advising on a course of conduct.
We will provide you with the close attention found only in small firms. Our attorney's maintain an open channel of communication with each client and encourage input so that a strategy may be implemented as quickly and efficiently as possible. We have the experience, training, and resources necessary to handle any case we take on and will work tirelessly to ensure the best outcome possible.
The Law Office of Robert Eckard and Associates, P.A., large firm results, small firm attention.
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