Joseph C. Coates III focuses his practice on securities litigation, regulatory and class actions and serves as the head of the West Palm Beach Securities Litigation Group. Joe has represented most of the major broker/dealers in all aspects of their business, including federal and state courts, regulatory matters, and arbitrations. His representation of clients include appearances as appellate counsel in securities litigation cases in federal and state courts. Joe also focuses on shareholder derivative, corporate governance and merger and acquisition litigation.
Joseph C. Coates III
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2011 Awarded Practice Areas
Commercial Litigation Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) Litigation - Securities
Awarded Practice Areas
Commercial Litigation Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) Litigation - Securities
Biography
Locations
West Palm Beach, Florida
Education
- Florida State University, graduated 1988
Bar Admissions
Affiliations
- Florida Office of Financial Regulation, Commissioner’s Advisory Council - Appointed
- Palm Beach County Bar Association - Member
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Litigation - Securities, West Palm Beach (2025)
- Litigation - Securities, West Palm Beach (2022)
- Litigation - Securities, West Palm Beach (2020)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Commercial Litigation
- Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
- Litigation - Securities
Awards:
- AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5
- Chambers USA Guide, 2007-2012
- Daily Business Review, "Top Dealmaker of the Year - Corporate Finance Category," 2013
- Super Lawyers magazine, Florida Super Lawyers, 2013
News & Media
Case History
Cases
- Areas of Concentration
- Securities fraud defense
- Class actions
- Securities arbitration
- Complex commercial litigation
- Shareholder derivative/ corporate governance
- Other Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
- Significant Representations
- Obtained dismissal of securities fraud class actions for Fortune 500 Companies.
- Defended broker-dealer firms in hundreds of arbitration proceedings.
- Defeated class certification of putative nationwide class actions brought against national broker-dealers in the Middle District of Florida and Florida state courts.
- Defended broker-dealers in federal and state court litigation.
- Represented public companies and corporate directors in merger litigation and derivative actions.
- Prosecuted a claim on behalf of a power company's cable television subsidiary in a breach of partnership and right of first refusal case.
- Defeated a qui tam action in the Middle District of Florida against a national health care corporation.
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