Harry A. Payton

Payton & Associates, LLC represents domestic and international corporations and high net worth individuals in a broad spectrum of complex commercial litigation cases in Florida state and federal courts, as well as in mediation and arbitration.  As a boutique firm, we provide our clients with personal attention from senior level attorneys, and the highest quality legal representation available in firms of any size.  Our attorneys understand the intricacies of business and formulate innovative strategies to achieve each client's litigation objectives. We offer advice and strategy to help our clients avoid disputes in the future.

The firm is handling an increasing number of cases involving intra-family business disputes for high-profile clients. Many clients have homes outside of the United States but have interests in Florida.  Whether the clients reside in Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, France, Spain or the U.S., the attorneys at Payton & Associates want to protect clients against the risk of wrongdoing by family members in business with each other or sharing in financial estates.

We serve as counsel for plaintiff and defendant in the following types of cases:

• Shareholder agreements and minority shareholder squeeze-outs
• Partnership disputes involving accounting
• Officer and director breaches of fiduciary duties
• Interference with contractual relationships
• Breach of contract
• Non-compete agreements
• Non-disturbance and non-circumvention agreements
• Lender liability claims
• Partnership disputes over valuable art
• Professional liability

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Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer • Board Certified Business Litigation Lawyer

Harry A. Payton, managing member of Payton & Associates LLC, represents domestic and international corporations and high net worth individuals in complex business litigation matters involving commercial real estate; construction; corporate, shareholder and partnership disputes; fine art; intra-family business disputes; estate litigation; and professional malpractice cases for plaintiff and defendant involving attorneys, accountants, architects and engineers.

Harry is one of 90 lawyers in the state of Florida with dual board certification* in civil trial and business litigation. He is included in the 2018 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America for “Litigation- Real Estate.” His excellent legal skills have earned him inclusion in the South Florida Legal Guide's list of Top Lawyers in Complex Commercial Litigation and Real Estate Litigation since 2005, and recognition on the list of Florida Super Lawyers® since 2006. For over 30 years, he has received an AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating™ from Martindale-Hubbell®, which recognizes lawyers for their strong legal ability and high ethical standards. He is recognized and respected by the legal community for his high standards of professionalism. In 2012, he was appointed to serve on the Supreme Court of Florida's Committee on Professionalism for the 11th Judicial Circuit, and chairs the mentoring committee.

As Miami's importance as a global gateway increases, the firm continues to expand its capability to render top-notch legal services to clients throughout the world through memberships in respected international professional organizations. Harry is proud to be member of IR Global for Commercial Litigation. He is on the steering committee of the IR Global "Private Client" group, and plays an influential role in its development. He hosted a session at the annual conference in London in September 2013-2015, in Amsterdam in 2016, and Berlin in 2017. In addition, he is president of the Miami chapter of the International Network of Boutique and Independent Law Firms (INBLF), a group of highly credentialed boutique law firms in major commercial centers throughout the U.S. and Canada, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and Central and South America. Harry is the Business Litigation member of INBLF, Miami.

*Only seven percent of eligible Florida Bar members, approximately 4,800 lawyers, are board certified. Certification is The Florida Bar's highest level of evaluation of the competency and experience of attorneys in the 26 areas of law approved for certification by the Supreme Court of Florida.

Areas of Practice:

Complex Commercial and Business Litigation
Commercial Real Estate Litigation
Commercial Foreclosure Litigation
Lender Liability
Construction Litigation
Professional Liability
Shareholder and Partnership Disputes
Business Torts
Probate and Estate Litigation
Intra-Family Business Disputes
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Art Law
International Business Law
Condominium Litigation

 

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