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Richard N. Asfar

  • Bio
  • Education
  • Memberships
  • Notable Work
  • Involvement

Richard N. Asfar

Appellate Director, Managing Partner - Tampa Office

Ric Asfar is an accomplished civil litigator and appellate advocate. He has successfully represented businesses, individuals, interest groups, and government entities in a wide range of high-stakes matters. As Practice Director of Appeals at Almazan Law, he leads the firm's Tampa office and brings unique insight and extensive experience in handling complex litigation matters across federal and state courts.

Ric's self-proclaimed status as a "law geek" who reads thousands of appellate court opinions annually has made him a go-to resource for other attorneys facing challenging legal issues. Beyond his professional achievements, Ric's journey is rooted in the values of hard work and perseverance instilled by his immigrant parents who operated a tailoring business in Queens, New York.

Today, Ric balances his demanding legal career with family life, cherishing time with his family. When not in the courtroom or crafting appeals, he can be found exercising, following New York sports teams, and staying current with newly published legal opinions.
 

Publications

  • “What I Learned About Diversity From (Gasp!) Reality TV,” Lawyer Magazine, Vol. 23, No. 4, February 1, 2013
  • “FJA Reading File,” Florida Justice Association (Prepared over 25 weekly case law updates synthesizing all noteworthy Florida state appellate court opinions for the entire FJA membership between November of 2017 and December 2021)
Languages
  • English
  • Turkish

Education

  • City University of New York—Baruch College, B.A. (cum laude, 2002)
  • University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, J.D. (with distinction, 2006)
    • President, Student Bar Association
    • Assistant Comment Editor, Pacific McGeorge Global Business & Development Law Journal
    • Vice President, Middle Eastern South Asian Association
    • Captain, McGeorge Runners' Club
    • Dean's List
    • Member, Roger J. Traynor Honor Society
    • Outstanding Student Achievement Award (Day Class of 2006)

Memberships

Admissions

  • Florida Bar
  • California Bar (inactive)
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit

Accolades

  • AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell(since 2016)
  • The Best Lawyers in America® (2024, 2025)
  • Super Lawyer, Florida Super Lawyers (2021-2024)
  • Legal Elite, Florida Trend Magazine (2019-2023)
  • Top Lawyers, Tampa Magazine (2021-2024)
    • Recognized for appellate practice and commercial litigation
  • Rising Star, Florida Super Lawyers (2012-2019)

Notable Memberships

  • Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section
  • Hillsborough County Bar Association
  • American Inns of Court
    • Current member, J. Clifford Cheatwood Inn
    • Past member, Tampa Bay Inn
    • Past member, Consuelo M. Callahan Inn
    • Past member, Anthony M. Kennedy Inn

Select Experience

  • Served as law and motion counsel in several lengthy catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death trials resulting in tens of millions of dollars in jury verdicts for clients (all affirmed in their entirety on appeal)
  • Briefed and argued a number of appeals resulting in favorable opinions or affirmances for a variety of clients
  • Favorably resolved a number of construction defect claims alleged against contractor clients
  • Favorably resolved a number of insurance coverage declaratory relief actions for a variety of business clients
  • Favorably resolved a number of construction lien claims for property owner clients
  • Submitted appellate amicus briefs in support of prevailing parties for various public interest groups
  • Procured a number of favorable orders causing trial courts to recede from significant adverse rulings for trial attorneys via motions for rehearing or reconsideration
  • Favorably resolved a number of personal injury claims (including catastrophic injury claims) alleged against a variety of business clients
  • Favorably resolved a number of contested residential mortgage foreclosure actions, commercial foreclosure actions, and Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases for creditor clients
  • Favorably resolved pre-suit a number of employment law mass claims for employer clients
  • Successfully defended the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation as Receiver in a number of actions alleging various commercial claims
  • Obtained favorable declaratory relief judgment declaring municipal ordinances void and stricken on constitutional and preemption grounds
  • Represented storm restoration contractor in related lawsuits resulting in favorable seven-figure recovery
  • Procured favorable seven-figure recovery pre-suit for commercial property owner in construction defect matter
  • Resolved high eight-figure property damage claim pre-suit against contractor client without any client contribution to settlement
  • Favorably resolved several interrelated lawsuits seeking millions in damages involving defamation claims, employment claims, fraud claims, and conversion claims for contractor client
  • Favorably resolved multi-million dollar lawsuit alleging defamation and tortious interference claims against performing arts venue client
  • Favorably resolved six-figure slayer statute lawsuit against electronic stock trading platform client
  • Favorably resolved multi-million dollar lawsuit alleging various contract and business tort claims against defense contractor client
  • Successfully opposed petition for review to the California Supreme Court

Select Opinions

  • Florida Gulf Coast Chapter Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc. v. City of St. Petersburg, 374 So. 3d 946 (Fla. 2d DCA 2023)
  • Kloppe v. Off Lease Only, Inc., 349 So. 3d 907 (Fla. 4th DCA 2022)
  • Money v. Home Performance Alliance, Inc., 313 So. 3d 783 (Fla. 2d DCA 2021)
  • Cavey v. Wells, 313 So. 3d 188 (Fla. 2d DCA 2021);
  • Williams v. CVT, LLC, 295 So. 3d 883 (Fla. 2d DCA 2020)
  • R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. v. Nally, 253 So. 3d 576 (Fla. 2d DCA 2018) (table)
  • R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. v. McCabe, 245 So. 3d 684 (Fla. 2d DCA 2018) (table)
  • Olympus Ins. Co. v. Basagic, 241 So. 3d 803 (Fla. 2d DCA 2017) (table)
  • Citizens Property Ins. Co. v. Albrecht, 240 So. 3d 662 (Fla. 2d DCA 2017) (table)
  • Charles v. Southern Baptist Hosp., 209 So. 3d 1199 (Fla. 2016) (appearing for amicus curiae AARP)
  • Allen v. State Farm Florida Insurance Company, 209 So. 3d 11 (Fla. 2d DCA 2016)
  • Shindorf v. Bell, 207 So. 3d 371 (Fla. 2d DCA 2016)
  • Burford v. Matheny, 185 So. 3d 1240 (Fla. 2d DCA 2016) (table)
  • Allen v. State Farm, 198 So. 3d 871 (Fla. 2d DCA 2016)
  • Eatman v. Fed. Deposit Ins. Corp., 2011 WL 2436290 (M.D. Fla. May 20, 2011), adopted by 2011 WL 2413469 (M.D. Fla. Jun. 14, 2011)
  • Waters v. Amtrust Bank, 64 So. 3d 1267 (Fla. 1st DCA 2011) (table)
  • Professional Title LLC v. Fed. Deposit Ins. Corp., 2011 WL 855338 (N.D. Fla. Mar. 9, 2011)
  • Lima v. CitiMortgage, Inc., 61 So. 3d 1133 (Fla. 3d DCA 2011) (table)
  • Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors of Orion Bancorp v. Assignee Polsky (Fed. Deposit Ins. Corp.), 2011 WL 855338 (M.D. Fla. Sept. 17, 2010)

Involvement

Civic Engagement

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, Inc., former Big Brother
  • City of Tampa Citizens Budget Advisory Committee (2014-2016)
  • The Tampa Connection, Class of 2013
  • Pacific McGeorge School of Law Alumni Board (2006-2014)
  • Glazer Children's Museum, Volunteer