Lawyer Image

Brian C. Willis

Associate
Bank of America Plaza
101 E. Kennedy Boulevard
Suite 2800
Tampa, FL 33602
Direct813.221.7165
Fax813.229.1660
bwillis@slk-law.com

Assistant

Joanne Del Valle
Direct813.676.7217
jdelvalle@slk-law.com

Brian Willis represents individuals and corporations involved in business, contract and real estate disputes.  He has assisted clients from a wide variety of industries including real estate, manufacturing, health care, construction, state and local government, community associations, banking and finance, and venture capital and start-up companies.

Brian represents clients during the pre-suit process, mediation, arbitration, and in both state and federal court. He has represented clients before administrative boards and has appellate experience before Florida’s First and Second District Courts of Appeal. He has experience working on complex class action litigation and multi-district litigation.  Brian publishes a widely read blog, The Florida Rules Decisions Reporter, providing updates on pertinent cases throughout Florida.

 

Representative Matters

  • Successfully represented an international company in a jury trial to recover damages from the manufacturer of defective industrial packaging equipment.
  • Defended educational institution accused of racial discrimination in the selection and supervision of interns, resulting in favorable summary judgment ruling for the client.
  • Obtained favorable summary judgment ruling on behalf of land owner sued for criminal acts that occurred on adjacent property.
  • Investigated bank's compliance with Reg. W and Reg. O.
  • Recovered delinquent rents due to commercial shopping center owner after initiating litigation.
  • Obtained emergency injunctions on behalf of building owners to obtain access to residential units.
  • Defended closed circuit television station operator from defamation claims brought by outside vendor that was the subject of 'scam warning' broadcast.
  • Defended construction company sued by a former employee for defamation, resulting in favorable jury verdict.

Honors

  • Tampa Bay Business Journal, Up & Comer Award, 2010
  • Rising Star by Florida Super Lawyers, 2011 and 2012
  • Florida Trend Magazine People To Watch, April, 2013

Professional and Community Affiliations

  • Connect Tampa Bay, President and Co-Founder
  • The Spring of Tampa Bay, Development Council
  • Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, Board Member, Development Committee
  • Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority (TBARTA), Citizen Advisory Committee, 2009-2011
  • Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners, Citizen Advisory Committee, 2010-2012
  • Friendship Trail Bridge Committee
  • Downtown Partnership, Tampa's Riverwalk Committee
  • St. Joseph's Children's Hospital, toy delivery
  • Sulpher Springs Community Garden Project
  • Plant High School, Guest Speaker

News Releases

Blogs

05.14.2013Amendment to Rule 1.490 re Use of Magistrates in Residential Foreclosures
04.30.2013Record Evidence Did Not Support Finding of Fraud on the Court - Ford v. Stimpson
04.12.2013Effective Immediately - You Do Not Get Extra 5 Days for Mailing of Proposal for Settlement
03.25.2013Trial Court Could Look Beyond Four Corners of Complaint To Dismiss Case Based on Forum Selection Clause
01.25.2013Defaulted Party Still Entitled to Hearing on Attorneys' Fees - ZHOU v. CATERPILLAR FINANCIAL SERVICES CORP.
01.17.2013Offer of Judgment Not Valid in Case With Monetary and Non-monetary Claims - Horowitch v. Diamond Aircraft Indus., Inc.
12.31.2012Happy New Year - Top 10 posts of 2012
11.07.2012Amendment 5 Defeated - Election Wrap-up
11.06.2012Election Day - Amendment 5 News Coverage Roundup
11.01.2012Florida Constitutional Amendment 5 News Roundup
10.23.2012Roundup of Coverage on Proposed Constitutional Amendment 5
10.19.2012Prejudgment Attachment
10.16.2012Understanding Florida's Constitutional Amendment 5
10.15.2012Error to enter Summary Judgment while discovery pending - Almond Entertainment, Inc. v. Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC
10.11.2012Proposed Constitutional Amendment 5
09.04.2012Rules Updates - New E-discovery and E-mail Service Rules Effective September 1st
08.10.2012ABA Blawg 100 Nominations
08.07.2012New Rules for Service of Pleadings and Documents by E-mail
07.09.2012Florida Supreme Court implements e-discovery amendments - Effective September 1st
06.27.2012Email Service Delayed To September 1, 2012
06.25.2012Service by Email
06.13.2012Prevailing Party Entitled to Recover Attorneys' Fees Paid by Third Party - Rogers v. Vulcan Manufacturing Co., Inc.
05.31.2012Trial Court Should Have Released Disputed Property in Storage - Wells v. Redmont
05.18.2012New Additions to the Florida Legal Wiki
05.01.2012Class Representative Lacked Typicality - Baptist Hospital, Inc. v. Baker

Publications

09.20.2012"Prejudgment Attachments and Fraudulent Conveyance Claims in Fidelity Litigation: Securing Assets Prior to Judgment-East of the Mississippi"
2012"2012 Update on the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure"
12.01.2011"Common Sense Tips to Avoid Financial Loss - Community Update"
06.01.2010"Hillsborough County Transit Referendum: Market Minute Update – Net Lease Commercial Advisory"
06.01.2010"Transit Talk: What will transit bring?" – Urban Charrette

Events and Presentations

04.16.2013"Transportation Options for Tampa Bay," NAIOP Tampa Bay Watch
08.14.2012Employment Law Update: For Executives, Managers, Business Owners and Human Resources Professionals
01.01.2012"Legal Analysis of Florida Supreme Court High Speed Rail Lawsuit," WTSP Channel 10
01.01.2012"TBARTA: A Connected Region for Our Future," Tampa Interbay Rotary and South Tampa Chamber of Commerce
01.01.2010"Florida Rules of Civil Procedure Update 2010," National Business Institute & West LegalEd Center

Alternate biographies


Assistant


Education

  • J.D., George Washington University, 2007
  • B.S., magna cum laude, Florida State University, 2004

Bar and Court Admissions

  • Florida
  • District of Columbia
  • United States District Court Middle District of Florida
  • United States District Court Northern District of Florida
  • United States District Court Southern District of Florida

Languages