Skip to main content

Walter Andrew Clayton Jr.

Securities and investment fraud Attorney at Sarasota, FL

5.0   5 reviews
  • State Years
    Florida - FL 35 years
    New York - NY 36 years
    New Jersey - NJ 36 years
  • Licensed for 35 years
    State FL
    Acquired 1988
    Status
    Member in Good Standing No misconduct found
  • Licensed for 36 years
    State NY
    Acquired 1987
    Status
    Due to Register within 30 Days of Birthday No misconduct found
  • Licensed for 36 years
    State NJ
    Acquired 1987
    Status
    Active No misconduct found

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

About Walter

Learn Walter’s areas of practice.

3
Practice areas
  1. Securities and investment fraud
    50%
    Representation of investors in disputes against securities brokerage firms and investment advisors. Also represent securities industry employees in claims against their employers, most often in claims involving wrongful termination and/or defamation.

    31 years, 500 cases

  2. Litigation
    45%
    Business litigation, ordinarily involving closely-held companies with shareholder disputes and securities-related matters, such as fraud and misrepresentation in connection with raising investment capital. Also involved from time to time in probate and trust litigation when issues of investment management are in dispute.

    36 years, 400 cases

  3. Mediation
    5%
    The mediation of civil disputes is a small but growing part of my practice. I have been certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a civil litigation mediator since 2001.

    22 years, 25 cases

     Most people know me as "Drew Clayton." I have had the good fortune of practicing law in a legal arena that is both interesting and challenging.  For several years before I became an attorney in 1987, I worked in mutual fund marketing for Oppenheimer in New York City and as a retail stock broker for L.F. Rothschild, Unterberg, Towbin and Smith Barney.  That experience has proven to be invaluable in my representation of people who have disputes with their brokerage firms because it has provided me with an insight into the securities business that few attorneys have.

 

     In addition, I have been lucky enough during the course of my career to deal with complex commercial litigation issues in state, federal, and bankruptcy court.  That breadth of experience has enabled me to represent clients in a wide variety of business-related disputes as well.

 

     I practiced law in New Jersey and New York for five years before moving to Florida in 1992. 

 

Contact Walter

Icard Merrill
2033 Main Street, Suite 600
Sarasota, FL, 34237

Reviews

5.0 / 5.0
  5 customer reviews
5 Star
 
100%
4 Star
 
0%
3 Star
 
0%
2 Star
 
0%
1 Star
 
0%
Posted by JOELLE | January 9, 2010
Former Client
We could not believe how how sincere and hard working this attorney had been in solving our case. Nothing else need be said. He gets thumbs up from us ALL THE WAY
Posted by Janet | October 27, 2009
Professional and Caring
Through a long, over two years, litigation, the Claytons have been accomodating to our health problems while pressing our case to a beneficial conclusion with as ilttle trama. as was possible, The discovery process was difficult because my mother, the principal litigant, has memory problems, so a good deal of research was required to piece together the history of the case. We found the Claytons (Andrew and Jessica) to be patient, understanding, and very responsive to our needs.
Read less
Posted by Wil | October 27, 2009
Walter Andrew Clayton Jr. Review
Drew is analytical, decisive and conclusive and has superb communications skills. He possesses the ability to understand each and every situation and recommend the best possible solution. I have worked with Drew on many different corporate matters that were resolved formidably in our favor. If it were not for Drew the corporation and its owners would have been in a much less favorable monetary position. I would highly recommend him to any corporation or individual.
Read less
Posted by Dan | October 27, 2009
Excellent Attorney!
Very Knowledgeable, uses good expert witnesses, very careful about details, excellent planning & strategy, even tempered and a joy to work with.
Posted by Jeremy | October 27, 2009
Arbitration Hearing
Drew Clayton represented me and my wife at an arbitration hearing in which we were claiming improper handling of our investments by brokers Raymond James. He readily grasped our problem, prepared most meticulously and carefully explained our fee options, ie either contingency or hourly billing. The hearing ran for several days at a hotel in which all concerned stayed. It seemed to us that Drew and his assistant worked continously on our behalf, laboring on the case until late each evening. His performance throughout was most professional and compared very favorably with that of our opponents' lawyers. We prevailed in the matter and were awarded a decent amount of recompense. Were I to have a similar problem Drew would definitely be my first choice and I recommend him most heartily
Read less

Cost

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer

Contact for Details

Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

  • Attorney
  • Icard Merrill
  • 2016 - Present
  • President
  • The Clayton Law Firm, P.A.
  • 1996 - 2016
  • Major
  • United States Army Reserve Judge Advocate General's Corps
  • 1989 - 2002

Education

  • Seton Hall University School of Law
  • JD - Juris Doctor
  • 1987
  • Seton Hall University
  • BA - Bachelor of Arts
  • 1982
  • Washington and Lee University
  • N/A

Legal Cases

  • Bellehumeur v. A.G. Edwards, et al.
  • $1.2 million plus attorney fees
  • I.L. and F.L. v. Shields & Co., Inc., et al.
  • $1.36 million award
  • Karen Rushing, Clerk of Court and Comptroller of Sarasota County v. Wells Fargo, N.A. as successor to Wachovia Bank, N.A.
  • Settled for $23.75 million

Associations

  • Sarasota County Bar Association
  • Director
  • 2013 - Present
  • American Inns of Court
  • Florida Steering Committee
  • 2012 - Present
  • University Place Community Development District
  • Supervisor
  • 2008 - Present
  • Judge John M. Scheb American Inn of Court
  • President 2010-2011
  • 1993 - Present
  • Sarasota Transitional Housing Committee
  • Chairman
  • 2008 - 2010
  • Sarasota Human Services Advisory Council
  • Member
  • 2003 - 2007
View all associations

Languages Spoken

  • English

Honors and Awards

  • Florida Super Lawyers
  • Thomson Reuters
  • 2015
  • Legal Elite
  • Florida Trend Magazine
  • 2014
  • Florida Super Lawyers
  • Thomson Reuters
  • 2014
  • Florida Legal Elite
  • Florida Trend Magazine
  • 2013
  • Florida Super Lawyers
  • Thomsen Reuters
  • 2013
  • Florida Super Lawyers
  • Thomson Reuters
  • 2012
  • Professionalism award
  • Judge John M. Scheb American Inn of Court
  • 2012
  • AV-rating
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 1998
View all awards

Speaking Engagements

  • Understanding Finance - It's More than Money Financial Series
  • Hot Button Issues in Investment Disputes
  • 2010
  • Charlotte Estate Planning Council
  • Current Issues in Investment Disputes
  • 2010
  • PIABA Annual meeting
  • Duties after the sale
  • 2009
  • Venice Estate Planners
  • Current topics in investment-related disputes
  • 2009
  • Sarasota Estate Planners
  • Current topics in investment-related disputes
  • 2009
View all speaking engagements

Attorney endorsements

Received (8)
Given (5)
Endorse Walter
Litigation Attorney | Jul 15
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I highly endorse this lawyer. Drew is a detail oriented, highly skilled litigator whose ethics are above reproach."
Litigation Attorney | Nov 03
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse Andrew Clayton. Drew is a very hardworking attorney who has exceptional knowledge of both procedural and substantive law."
Litigation Attorney | Feb 11
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"I opposed Drew on a major piece of litigation in 2012. He's a terrific litigator - as good as it gets."
Securities and investment fraud Attorney | Feb 05
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I have known Drew Clayton for nearly 20 years and would recommend him as a knowledgeable, professional and ethical litigation attorney. He is well regarded in our legal community and would be an excellent choice for your securities or investment fraud case."
Securities and investment fraud Attorney | Nov 11
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer's work. Mr. Clayton is an excellent securities litigation lawyer."
Securities and investment fraud Attorney | Oct 28
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"I have known Drew Clayton for many years, and we are usually on opposing sides in litigation of securities and investment fraud matters. Drew is a very capable lawyer, and an excellent advocate for his clients. He has a thorough understanding of the securities laws, as well as the procedural aspects of arbitration and litigation, and knows how to effectively advance his clients' positions. One aspect of Drew's practice that I have always particularly appreciated is his professionalism. Drew will always take the ethical high road, and when he wins he does so with integrity. He is a man of his word, and you can count on what he says. I enjoy working with Drew because I know he will bring his best to every engagement."
Securities and investment fraud Attorney | Oct 27
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I highly endorse this lawyer's work. Drew Clayton and myself worked together on several securities arbitation cases. He is knowledgeable, congenial and, most importantly, highly ethical in all his dealings with clients and other counsel. I would recommend his work to any client who need a top notch lawyer."
Securities and investment fraud Attorney | Oct 27
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer's work. Drew Clayton is an outstanding lawyer who provides aggressive legal services to investors who have been mishandled by brokers and brokerage firms. Drew is highly regarded in the legal community, the President Elect of our local America Inn of Court chapter and a former military officer. Without reservation I highly recommend this lawyer to prospective clients. His ethics are impeccable and his law talents are immense!"
View more endorsements
Guardianship
Personal injury
Litigation
Litigation

Avvo Contributions

This attorney hasn't created any legal answers in Q&A or legal guides recently on Avvo.

Sarasota Securities and investment fraud Lawyer Walter Andrew Clayton Jr.
Walter Andrew Clayton Jr.
Securities and investment fraud Attorney
Sarasota, FL
Licensed for 36 years