WILLIAM
L. PETROS was born in Washington, D.C. on October 15, 1958. He is a graduate of the University of
Florida (B.A. 1980), Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Eta Sigma; and
Georgetown University Law Center (J.D. cum laude 1983). Mr. Petros has been a member of The
Florida Bar since 1983, the District of Columbia Bar since 1985 and is admitted
in the United States District Courts for the Southern and Middle Districts
of Florida. He is a member of the
Dade County Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Association for Justice, Florida Justice Association, and a founding member
of The Florida Hellenic Bar Association. Mr. Petros has devoted his entire career to civil trial and appellate
litigation in federal and state courts. Florida Trend Magazine has recognized Mr. Petros in its Legal Elite Edition as one of the top 1.6% lawyers in Florida.
Mr.
Petros began his training at the Miami-Dade County Attorney’s Office gaining
extensive trial and appellate experience at one of the most highly respected
local governmental attorney’s offices in the country. Next, he entered private practice with the esteemed law firm
of Anderson, Moss becoming a name partner in 1996. In 1998, he left Anderson, Moss, Sherouse & Petros, P.A.
to form the firm now known as Petros & Elegant. Mr. Petros has since provided personalized, high-quality
representation to select clients involved in complex litigation.
Mr.
Petros is widely regarded as one of the outstanding trial lawyers in
Florida. He has consistently
prevailed in Florida’s state and federal courts on behalf of individual and
corporate clients in a variety of cases. In just the past few years, Mr. Petros has successfully tried numerous commercial
cases. For example, Mr. Petros notably
defended an international hotel corporation against two multi-million dollar actions. In the first case, Mr. Petros obtained
a defense verdict at trial. In the
next action, he obtained a complete defense finding with an award of attorneys
fees and costs in arbitration. Similarly,
Mr. Petros obtained a multi-million dollar judgment following a bench trial on
wrongfully terminated former vice-president of a foreign bank’s claims of
statutory indemnification and breach of her employment contract. In addition, Mr. Petros has
successfully tried multi-party, wrongful death cases. Mr. Petros obtained multi-million dollar awards following both
a trial in federal court on behalf of adult children whose parents died in a
boating accident and after a two-week jury trial in state court on behalf of
minor twins whose mother died during childbirth resulting from the negligence
of the defendants. Mr. Petros’s
consistent success in the courtroom has directly resulted in very lucrative
settlements for the firm’s clients in insurance, medical malpractice and other
types of litigation.
Each year, Mr. Petros volunteers his time and
performs community service. Mr. Petros has supported a diverse group
of organizations, often providing educational and mentoring opportunities
for children in South Florida. Mr. Petros has served as a coach in
youth leagues and in other leadership positions.
Representative Cases
- Robobar – Notably defended at
trial (obtaining a defense verdict) a multi-million dollar breach of contract
and related civil tort claims which involved hotels throughout Europe and North America brought by a manufacturer of in-room bars against international hotel corporation. (Eleventh Jud. Cir. Case No. 93-15059 CA
24)
- M Group – Successfully defended a
multi-million dollar claim in arbitration (obtained a decision for the defense
with an award of attorneys
fees and costs) brought pursuant to St. Lucian law by an entity against an
international hotel corporation involving a resort in the Caribbean. (American Arb. Assoc. No. 50 T 168
00186 00)
- Desaad – Obtained multi-million
dollar judgment following bench trial on wrongfully terminated former
Vice-President of Venezuelan bank’s claims of statutory indemnification
pursuant to the Florida Business Corporation Act and pursuant to her employment
contract. (Eleventh Jud. Cir. Case No. 01-13868-CA-11)
- Orlando – Obtained a multi-million
dollar verdict (following two week jury trial) in
medical negligence action brought on behalf of minor twins against several defendants, including a major
local hospital and obstetrician, where the medical providers failed to properly
assess and treat post-operative complications following
a cesarean section, thereby resulting in the death of the twins' mother. (Eleventh
Jud. Cir. Case No. 02-32509 CA 21)
Background
EDUCATION
• B.A., University of Florida (B.A. 1980), Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Eta Sigma
• J.D., Georgetown University Law
Center (cum laude 1983)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
• Petros & Elegant, P.A. - Coral Gables, FL (2005 - present)
• William L. Petros, P.A. - Miami, FL (1998 - 2005)
• Anderson, Moss, Sherouse & Petros, P.A. - Miami, FL (1987 - 1998)
• Miami Dade County Attorney's Office - Miami, FL (1983 - 1987)
BAR ADMISSIONS
• The Florida Bar
• The District of Columbia Bar
• United States District Court, Southern & Middle
Districts of Florida
• United
States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
• American Bar Association
• American Association for Justice
• Florida Justice Association
• Dade County Bar Association
• Florida Hellenic
Bar Association (Founding Member)
HONORS AND
AWARDS
• Legal Elite, Florida Trend Magazine (recognized among the
top one percent of lawyers in Florida).
COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT
Volunteer
Coaching
• Volunteer head
and assistant coach for youth programs including baseball, basketball, and softball
on Key Biscayne.
Dade County Hellenic Bar
Association
• Founding
Member.
St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church
• Member of
parish council.
Community
Advocate
• Advocate for
community enhancement projects on Key Biscayne.
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