Bet-the-Company Litigation Commercial Litigation Litigation - Banking and Finance Litigation - Real Estate
Lawrence P. Rochefort
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2010 Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
Larry Rochefort is the chair of Akerman’s Litigation Practice Group, a leading team of trial lawyers advising companies in complex litigation and arbitration across the United States and Latin America. Larry is recognized for Bet-the-Company Litigation by The Best Lawyers in America and as a “Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation.
He represents financial institutions, developers, owners, contractors, insurers, and retailers in real estate, lending, and other disputes. He is particularly adept at working with financial institutions, whether defending against lender liability claims or handling complex litigation, including lender liability defense, class action defense, Fair Credit Reporting Act litigation, replevins, judgment collection matters, proceedings supplementary, Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) litigation, breach of trust and breach of fiduciary duty litigation.
Client relationships include TD Bank, Wells Fargo, PNC, United Community Bank, Fifth Third Bank, CenterState Bank, Comerica, Santander Bank, Sun Life Financial, Publix Super Markets, and Home Dynamics Corporation.
Overview
West Palm Beach, Florida
- University of Miami School of Law, J.D., graduated 1988
- Florida Atlantic University, BA, with high honors, graduated 1985
- Florida, The Florida Bar
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
West Palm Beach, Florida
- Florida, The Florida Bar
- University of Miami School of Law, J.D., graduated 1988
- Florida Atlantic University, BA, with high honors, graduated 1985
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Bet-the-Company Litigation, West Palm Beach (2023)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Bet-the-Company Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Litigation - Banking and Finance
- Litigation - Real Estate
Awards:
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV Rated
- Board Certified in Business Law Litigation, The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education
- University of Miami School of Law, Law Alumni Achievement Award, 2015
- Super Lawyers Magazine 2014-2016 Listed in Florida for Business Litigation, 2012-2014, Listed in Florida for Business Litigation and Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights
- Benchmark Litigation 2014-2016, Listed as a Florida local litigation star for General Commercial Litigation
News & Media
Additional Information
- Published Work and Lectures
- Litigation Management in a New York Minute, Speaker, "Ethics: Business Ethics vs. Legal Ethics," August 5, 2016
- Aspatore (Thomson Reuters), Co-Author, "Real Estate Litigation Strategies: Leading Lawyers on Navigating the Discovery Process, Building a Case, and Responding to Current Developments (Inside the Minds)," 2012
- 17 National Law Journal, B5, No. 32, Co-Author, "Fear of Aids Lawsuits"
- 4 University of Miami Entertainment and Sports Law Review, 257, No. 2, Author, "A Course of Action for Florida Courts to Follow When Injured Sports Participants Assert Causes of Action"
- 12 The Banking Law Journal, 534, No. 6, Consultant, "Government Forfeiture of Collateral: Mortgages and the Innocent Lien Holder Defense"
- Representative Experience
Specific Client Experience
- Woodfield Country Club - Represented developer at trial in a claim brought by homeowner concerning sales office.
- Chicago Title Insurance Company/Ticor Title - Represented insured in multi-million dollar policy claim.
- Peninsula Bank - Represented bank in multi-million dollar lender liability case.
- Publix Supermarkets, Inc. - Represented client in various business disputes.
- EE&G - Represented client in numerous lien foreclosures for work arising out of 2004 hurricane season.
- Regions Bank - Represented client in secured property litigation.
- Wachovia Bank and Wells Fargo - Represented client in large commercial foreclosures and workouts.
- Home Dynamics Corporation - Represented client in many contract disputes, including contract and mortgage disputes, and ILSA claims.
- Sovereign Bank - Represented client in foreclosure of income producing commercial property and in lender liability claims.
- Fifth Third Bank - Represented client in numerous contested commercial foreclosures and lender liability claims.
- TD Bank - Represented client in numerous foreclosures and collection actions and lender liability claims.
- Sun Life Assurance Company - Represented client in commercial property foreclosures involving receivership issues.
Leasing/Land Use Litigation
- Publix Supermarkets, Inc. - Represented client in various real estate litigation matters concerning leased or owned property.
- Bass Pro Outdoor World - Represented client in landlord tenant matter.
- Tommy Bahama West Palm - Represented client in leasehold dispute.
- Represented numerous property owners in restrictive covenant cases.
- Represented numerous property owners in landlord tenant disputes.
Foreclosure and Receivership Litigation/Workouts and Restructuring/Lender Litigation
- Substantial experience in litigating mortgage foreclosures and accompanying receiverships in a variety of state courts throughout Florida.
- Handled real estate litigation involving golf courses, shopping centers, hotels, office buildings, agricultural land, residential and business condominium projects, apartment complexes, and residential developments.
- Handled CMBS foreclosures and receiverships, some including bad boy guaranty claims, and works with special servicers in such foreclosures.
- Involved in a variety of distressed loan purchases and sales, foreclosure judgment purchases and sales, and foreclosure bid assignments.
- Represent numerous financial institutions in the negotiation and enforcement of workouts, forbearance agreements, soft notes, and short sales.
- Handled reforeclosures.
- Represent financial institutions in various types of non-foreclosure litigation, including replevins, judgment collection matters, proceedings supplementary, lender liability defense, class action defense, Fair Credit Reporting Act litigation, Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) litigation, breach of trust and breach of fiduciary duty litigation.
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