Mr. Ward is an accomplished complex commercial litigator and trial attorney, with 27 years of significant bench and jury trial experience, representing a vast array of small, medium and large private and public companies in litigation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution.  Throughout his successful career, Phil has worked closely with general counsel, corporate officers, shareholders, management, elected officials, trustees and other professionals, with a team approach toward obtaining the most favorable resolution of difficult problems. 

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Phil was a partner with two prominent national law firms prior to joining Hodkin Stage Ward.

 

Throughout his 27 year career, Phil has managed teams of lawyers and paraprofessionals, as lead counsel, in representations of domestic and foreign companies, in a wide array of large exposure complex litigation, arbitrations and investigations, including -- Corporate Defense of Whistle-Blowers Claims, Representation of ERISA Plans in Employer Withdrawal Liability Arbitrations, coordinating with Company General Counsel and Officers in DOL and DOJ Corporate Compliance Investigations, defense of False Claims Act and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act matters, defense of Patent Infringement, Trade Secret and Unfair Competition Litigation, defense and Prosecution of Trademark and Trade Dress Infringement, Trade Secret and Unfair Competition Litigation, defense of municipality and police department in Civil Rights Action, defense of Health Care Insurance Companies against physician group fraud, defense of the State of Florida as special counsel in dozens of multi-million dollar condominium association construction claims for hurricane damage, defense of Professional Liability Claims, including legal malpractice, medical malpractice and accountant malpractice, defense and civil prosecution of Real Estate Development litigation, including fraud and Contract Breach, Franchise De-Branding Litigation in Hotel/Hospitality Industry, defense and civil prosecution of Environmental Litigation involving toxic substances, product liability defense, corporate defense of Anti-Dumping penalties levied by DOJ for importation of goods, all varieties of emergency and time-sensitive matters involving temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions.

 

In addition to the foregoing litigation, Phil has significant experience with litigation holds involving electronically stored information ("ESI") and corporate compliance with safeguarding same during threats of litigation and pending litigation.  Phil has worked with corporate officers and their IT professionals to ensure such information has been safeguarded in compliance with federal and local requirements to avoid unnecessary litigation penalties and unfavorable inferences that would torpedo successful and favorable results in litigation and alternative dispute resolution of disputes.

 

Admissions & Professional Associations

 

• Florida Bar

• 11th Circuit Court of Appeal

• U.S. District Courts of Florida (Southern, Middle and Northern Courts)

• The Court of International Trade

-Trial Bar for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida

• American Bar Association

• Trial Lawyers/Litigation Section

• Intellectual Property Law Section

• Cyberspace Law Section

• Dispute Resolution Section

• The Federal Bar Association

• The Association of Trial Lawyers of America

• Defense Research Institute

 

Memberships, Civic, Recognition & Publications

 

• Florida Trend "Legal Elite"

• Leadership Broward Foundation

• Board Member, Friends of Hugh Birch State Park

• "Florida Construction Defect and Mold Litigation," National Business Institute

• "Find it Free and Fast on the Net: Advanced Internet Strategies for the Florida Legal Profession.