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.

Walter Andrew Clayton Jr.

Securities and investment fraud Attorney at Sarasota, FL

About
Contact
Reviews
Cost
Resume

Former Client

Professional and Caring

About Walter

Learn Walter’s areas of practice.

Practice areas

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.
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31 years, 500 cases
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.
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36 years, 400 cases
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

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Reviews

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5.0 / 5.0

5 customer reviews

5 Star

100%

4 Star

3 Star

2 Star

1 Star

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.

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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.

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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

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Cost

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

Gerald O'Brien

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."

Laurie Zimmerman

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."

Jack Cobetto

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."

Sheryl Edwards

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."

Robert Persante

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."

Peter King

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."

Allan Fedor

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."

W Snyder

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!"

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Guardianship

Personal injury

Litigation

Litigation

Litigation

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Walter Andrew Clayton Jr.

About Walter

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Contact Walter

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