Robert Rivas

Robert Rivas

also known as Robert D. Rivas, Rob Rivas

5.0
Rating: 9.0

Licensed for 34 years

Appeals Lawyer Practice Areas: Appeals, Constitutional, Commercial ... +4 more

About Robert

Biography

Practice Areas

7

Practice Areas

Appeals 35%

I conduct all types of appeals in state and federal courts

35 years | 100 cases

35%
Constitutional 24%

I conduct all types of constitutional litigation and appeals in state and federal courts

35 years | 100 cases

24%
Commercial Real Estate 15%

I conduct civil trial litigation and appeals in all types of commercial matters.

35 years | 200 cases

15%
Libel and Slander 10%

I defend lawsuits for libel and slander, and appeals from such cases.

35 years | 100 cases

10%
Litigation 10%

This category overlaps with almost all the others.

35 years | 200 cases

10%
Civil Rights 5%

This category overlaps with constitutional law and appeals.

35 years | 50 cases

5%
Communications and Media 1%

This category overlaps with constitutional law and libel/slander.

35 years | 50 cases

1%

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer


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Licenses

Licensed in Florida for 34 years

State: Florida

Acquired: 1991

Member in Good Standing

No misconduct found

Location

No contact information is available for this lawyer

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Robert Rivas's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

4 Client Reviews

5 star (4)
4 star (0)
3 star (0)
2 star (0)
1 star (0)

Posted by Warren | August 2, 2013

Supportive litigater with a BIG heart

I retained Robert 6 years ago for an appeal of a case which had dragged on for 5 years. He won the appeal handily. The case was remanded back to the lower court and Robert assumed that litigation as well, as he was familiar with the case. Robert brought the case to a successful conclusion, although i...t dragged on for another 5 years. Robert goes above and beyond the normal Attorney/Client relationship with constant communication and personal support.

Posted by Wendell | July 30, 2013

Wendell's review

I have known and worked with Robert Rivas as President of Final Exit Network for the past two years. Final Exit Network is a 501 (c)(3) organization, devoted to providing mentally competent persons who become members information on how to end their lives peacefully, painlessly, and quickly when they... are suffering from an irreversible medical condition that is more than they can bear. We also offer a compassionate presence to any member who chooses to end his or her suffering. Authorities in GA, AZ, and MN have brought charges against our volunteers and Final Exit Network as violating their laws against assisted suicide. We believe, and we publicly state, that we do not violate laws against assisted suicide. Robert has lead our defense teams in all three jurisdictions, as well as personally argued on behalf of our volunteers and the organization, and has brought us to victory in GA and AZ. The legal issues in MN are ongoing, but we have good reason to believe that our team will also prevail there. On top of his legal knowledge and acumen, Robert is articulate, circumspect, trustworthy, a fine writer and editor, and a pleasure to work with.

Posted by Len | July 30, 2013

Excellent Attorney

Robery Rivas is without a doubt one of the finest appellate attorneys you will come accross. His help with many of my cases, past and present, proved to be invaluable.

Posted by Sue | July 30, 2013

Robert Rivas Top Notch

I am very happy and thankful to Robert Rivas for all of his help. Quick response to emails and phone calls. Professional, courteous, knowledgeable and understanding. I trust him and I trust what he says. I have, and will continue to follow any advice that Robert gives me. I would definitely rec...ommend Robert Rivas to all my friends and colleagues.

See All Client Reviews

Robert Rivas's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Robert
Gabriel Itskovich headshot
Gabriel Itskovich

Unknown lawyer | Jan 19

Relationship: Co-worker

"I endorse this lawyer."

Leonard Wilder headshot
Leonard Wilder

Appeals lawyer | Sep 12

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"One of the finest appellate attorneys I know. We have worked together on several appeals and Robert is truly an expert when it comes to appellate work."

Mark D Nyvold headshot
Mark Nyvold

Constitutional lawyer | Aug 13

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. I worked with Mr. Rivas as local counsel on a criminal appeal that raised a First Amendment free-speech issue. It quickly became apparent to me that he is a highly skilled attorney with very strong writing and oral argument skills. He is able to discern the most important points in what are often complex legal and factual situations, and to state in clear and persuasive language the outcome the court should adopt. Mr. Rivas is an open and personable person, easy to work with, and has good listening skills. I would recommend him to anyone who wants high quality representation in an appellate case."

View All Endorsements
Leonard Wilder headshot
Leonard Wilder

Litigation lawyer

Donald Franklin Samuel headshot
Donald Samuel

Criminal defense lawyer

David Kephart headshot
David Kephart

Criminal defense lawyer

Adam Jay Hodkin headshot
Adam Hodkin

Commercial real estate lawyer

Jeffrey David Fisher headshot
Jeffrey Fisher

Family lawyer

Thomas Richard Julin headshot
Thomas Julin

Communications and media lawyer

Leonard Martin Reeder Jr. headshot
Leonard Reeder

Communications and media lawyer

Christine D. Hanley headshot
Christine Hanley

Employment and labor lawyer

Pamela S Mac'Kie headshot
Pamela Mac'Kie

Government lawyer

Michael A Cohn headshot
Michael Cohn

Litigation lawyer

Robert Rappel headshot
Robert Rappel

Health care lawyer

Frank Paul Terzo headshot
Frank Terzo

Chapter 11 bankruptcy lawyer

Experience

Rating:  9.0 (Superb)

Honors

2013

AV Rated Since 1997, Martindale-Hubbell

2010

Board Certified - Appellate Practice, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education

1999

Hall of Fame, Independent Florida Alligator

1998

President's Pro Bono Service Award, Florida Bar

1998

Class 16, Leadership Florida

1991

Valedictory score on Bar Exam, 4th District, Florida Bar

1991

Summa Cum Laude, Nova Law School

Work Experience

2007 - Present

General Counsel, Final Exit Network, Inc.

2004 - Present

Partner, Sachs Sax Caplan, P.L.

1996 - 2004

Principal, The Rivas Law Firm

1993 - 1996

Associate, Holland & Knight

1991 - 1993

Associate, Foley & Lardner, LLP

1989 - 1989

Summer Clerk, Florida Fourth District Court Of Appeal

1985 - 1988

Deputy Metro Editor, The Palm Beach Post

1985 - 1985

Freelance writer, Central America and the Caribbean

1984 - 1984

Foreign Editor, Caribbean Business

1983 - 1984

Volunteer, Peace Corps

1979 - 1983

Staff Writer, The Miami Herald

Associations

1997 - Present

Florida Bar Foundation

Lifetime Member

1994 - Present

ABA Media Law Committee

Member

1991 - Present

American Bar Association

Attorney Member

1991 - Present

Palm Beach County Bar Association

Attorney Member

2002 - 2011

Media Law Resource Center, Defense Counsel Section

Attorney Member

2000 - 2012

Tallahassee Bar Association

Member

1996 - 2002

Libel Defense Resource Center, Defense Counsel Section

Attorney Member

Sample of Legal Cases

Final Exit Network, Inc. v. Georgia, 290 Ga. 508, 722 S.E.2d 722 (2012)

We won

Palm Beach County Health Care Dist. v. Professional Medical Educ., Inc., 13 So. 3d 1090 (Fla. 4th DCA 2009)

We won

Metlis v. Rhodes, 28 Media Law Rptr. 1990 (Fla. 15th Cir. April 7, 2000)

We won

WFTV, Inc., d/b/a Palm Beach Newspapers, Inc. v. Florida Municipal Power Agency, 7 Fla. Law Weekly Supp. 187 (Fla. 2d Cir. 1999)

We won

State v. Lehyan, 6 Fla. Law Weekly Supp. 356 (Fla. Palm Beach County Court 1999)

We won

Integrated Med. Svcs. v. Lower Florida Keys Health System, Inc., 6 Fla. Law Weekly Supp. 279 (Fla. 16th Cir. 1999)

We won

Metlis v. Rhodes, 26 Media Law Rptr. 1697, 5 Fla. Law Weekly Supp. 402 (Fla. 15th Cir. Feb. 24, 1998)

We won

Borges v. City of West Palm Beach, 858 F. Supp. 174 (S. D. Fla. 1993) (1993 WL 723406)

We won

Mayersdorf v. Paramount Boynton, L.L.C., 910 So. 2d 887 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005)

We won

Acquadro v. Bergeron, 778 So. 2d 1034 (Fla. 4th DCA 2001), rev. granted, 797 So. 2d 584, affirmed, 851 So. 2d 665 (Fla. 2003)

We won

Memorial Hospital-West Volusia, Inc. v. News Journal Corp., 784 So. 2d 438 (Fla. 2001)

We won

Florida Youth Conservation Corps, Inc. v. Stutler, 2006 WL 1835967, 2006 Lexis 44732 (N.D. Fla. June 30, 2006)

We won

Fabel v. Masterson, 951 So. 2d 934 (Fla. 4th DCA 2007)

We won

Advisory Opinion to the Governor re: Appointment or Election of Judges, 983 So. 2d 526 (Fla. 2008)

We won

Advantage General Ins. Co., Ltd. v. KILN/QBE Intern., 8 So. 3d 1213 (Fla. 4th DCA 2009)

We won and made new law

United Teachers of Dade v. Stierheim, 213 F. Supp. 2d 1368 (S.D. Fla. 2002) (Ungaro-Benages, J.)

We won

McIver v. Krischer, 65 U.S.L.W. 2544, 1997 WL 225878 (Fla. Cir. Ct. Jan. 31, 1997), rev’d, 697 So. 2d 97 (Fla. 1997)

We won at trial and lost on appeal

See More Legal Cases

Education

1991

Nova Southeastern University - Shepard Broad Law Center

JD - Juris Doctor

1979

University of Florida

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Speaking Engagements

2013

on the First Amendment and the Right to Death With Dignity

Too many to list, I often speak to groups and in the media

1998

21st Annual Local Government Law in Florida Seminar

CLE, “Public Records and Government in the Sunshine Laws: Media Perspective, Developing Case Law and Legislative Update"

1997

University of Miami Law School health law class

Guest Lecturer on Law and Ethics of Physician Aid in Dying

1997

Nova University Law Center’s Health Law Class

Guest Lecturer on Law and Ethics of Physician Aid in Dying

1997

Florida Freedom of Information Summit, Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, University of Florida

Open Government Laws

1995

Public Interest Law Association

Panelist on the effect of O.J. Simpson trial on media and trial coverage issues

Publications

1993

The Florida Bar Journal WHEN IS A ‘PRIVATE’ DOCUMENT A PUBLIC RECORD?, 67 Fla. Bar Journal 52 (Dec.1993)

1992

Nova Law Review Rivas, ACCESS TO ‘PRIVATE’ DOCUMENTS UNDER THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT, 16 Nova Law Rev. 1229 (1992)

1991

The Florida Bar Journal Rivas, PROBATE OF A LOST WILL IN FLORIDA, 65 Fla. Bar Journal 44 (Oct. 1991)

1990

Nova Law Review Rivas, A PROPOSAL TO FIX FLORIDA’S BROKEN SYSTEM OF POST-CONVICTION RELIEF FROM ILLEGAL SENTENCES, 14 Nova Law Rev. 1147 (1990)

Activity

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