Commercial Litigation Litigation - Banking and Finance
Megan Costa DeLeon
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2012 Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
A first-chair trial lawyer, Megan Costa DeVault prosecutes and defends complex commercial, business, and real estate litigation in state and federal courts. On behalf of Fortune 500, publicly traded, and privately owned business, including builders, developers, investors, financial institutions, and corporate fiduciaries, she litigates contractual disputes, shareholder class actions, and derivative suits, including serving as lead counsel in dozens of trials and arbitrations.
Owing to the complexity of her litigation experience, Megan’s clients appreciate her extensive knowledge in managing and executing large-scale e-discovery projects, with a focused effort to minimize business disruption and avoid costly consequences of non-compliance.
In all representation, Megan draws on her master’s-level business education to provide clients with legal counsel that aligns with company objectives.
Overview
- Stetson University, J.D., graduated 2001
- Stetson University, MBA, graduated 2001
- Florida, The Florida Bar
- 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, Historical Society - Member
- Central Florida Inns of Court - Barrister Member, 2009-2010
- Habitat for Humanity, Orlando - Board Member
- Leadership Orlando, Class 79 - Graduate
- Orange County Bar Association - Member
- Orlando Health Foundation, Women's Advisory Council - Member, 2010-Present
- Orlando Science Center, Community Council - Member, 2008-Present
- Orlando Sports Foundation - Member
- The Florida Bar, Trial Lawyers Section - Member
- United Negro College Fund - Advisory Board, Member, 2009-Present; Scholarship Committee, Chair, 2010-Present
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
- Florida, The Florida Bar
- 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, Historical Society - Member
- Central Florida Inns of Court - Barrister Member, 2009-2010
- Habitat for Humanity, Orlando - Board Member
- Leadership Orlando, Class 79 - Graduate
- Orange County Bar Association - Member
- Orlando Health Foundation, Women's Advisory Council - Member, 2010-Present
- Orlando Science Center, Community Council - Member, 2008-Present
- Orlando Sports Foundation - Member
- The Florida Bar, Trial Lawyers Section - Member
- United Negro College Fund - Advisory Board, Member, 2009-Present; Scholarship Committee, Chair, 2010-Present
- Stetson University, J.D., graduated 2001
- Stetson University, MBA, graduated 2001
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Commercial Litigation
- Litigation - Banking and Finance
Additional Areas of Practice:
- Litigation - Real Estate
- Litigation - Trusts and Estates
Awards:
- Orlando Business Journal 2007, "Women Who Mean Business," Nominee
- Orlando Business Journal 2009, Recognized as the "40 Under 40," Outstanding Female of the Year
- Orlando Business Journal 2010, "Women Who Mean Business," Up and Comer, Finalist
- Florida Trend's Legal Elite 2011, Listed as an "Up and Comer" for Commercial Litigation
- United Negro College Fund, Champion of Education Award, 2012
- Super Lawyers Magazine 2010-2012, Listed in Florida as a "Rising Star" for Business Litigation and General Litigation
- Orlando Business Journal 2013, Recognized as one of the "Women to Watch" in Orlando
- Super Lawyers Magazine 2013-2016, Listed in Florida for Business Litigation and General Litigation
News & Media
Additional Information
- Published Work and Lectures
- Akerman's Guide to Doing Business in Florida: A Legal Guide for Out-of-State and Foreign Businesses, Author, "The Foreclosure Process," 2011, 2013, and 2016
- Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Board of Directors Presentation, Co-Presenter, "Creating, Delivering, and Reporting Value: A Roadmap for In-House Counsel," August 2014
- Lorman Education Services, Lecturer, Mortgage and Receivership in Florida, July 2010
- Representative Experience
Real Estate Litigation
- Representation of residential home builder sued by a group of disgruntled purchasers seeking to enforce various contracts containing terms detrimental to builder.
- Representation of national homebuilder in prosecution of claims against engineer for violations of the Florida Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act and fraud.
- Representation of national homebuilders in arbitrations involving contractual disputes with subcontractors and involving claims brought by purchasers for damages due to alleged faulty construction.
- Representation of builders, developers and investors in connection with due diligence activities related to the purchase of distressed assets or loan documents directly from financial institutions. Representation includes counseling clients during the acquisition and assignment of defaulted loan documents, together with the subsequent prosecution of any foreclosure action needed to obtain clear title to the real property collateral.
- Representation of landlords in issues involving eviction, holdover tenancy, restrictive lease covenants, property maintenance and repair, abandonment of property, removal of fixtures and personalty, and CAM charges.
- Representation of national builders and developers in complex litigation involving disputes with Homeowners and Condo Associations relating to turnover of association control to owners and underlying maintenance and construction defects alleged to have occurred prior to turnover.
- Representation of developer in defense of claims against purchasers seeking to rescind their purchase contracts. Sullivan v. Fl Land Partners, LLC, Case No. 5d12-2839 (Fla. 5th DCA, Oct. 1, 2013)
- Representation of client in a matter involving the reversal of trial court order due to violation of procedural due process. Winthrop v. Castellano, Case No. 5D12-4759 (Fla. 5th DCA, April 17, 2013)
- Representation of client in emergency matter involving the disqualification of opposing law firm which obtained client's confidential, attorney-client communications from opposing party. Castellano v. Winthrop, 2010 WL 322177 (Fla. 5th DCA)
Financial Institution and Foreclosure Litigation
- Representation of financial institution in dispute over alleged fraudulent alteration of loan documents and improper defeasance of securitized loan.
- Representation of financial institutions in state-wide, large-scale, complex commercial loan workouts, foreclosures, and lender liability litigation.
- Coordination of litigation throughout Florida for numerous financial institution clients involving assets and liabilities exceeding $100 million, collectively.
- Representation of special servicers in multi-million dollar CMBS foreclosures.
Commercial and Fiduciary Litigation
- Representation of large consortium of international clients to protect, maintain, and preserve investment assets in the United States valued at more than $12 million.
- Representation of limited liability company and manager member in multi-million dollar dispute involving claims of misappropriation, breach of fiduciary duty and other business torts.
- Representation of majority member of limited liability company in judicial dissolution action involving misappropriation of company assets, civil theft and conversion.
- Representation of corporate fiduciaries involving disputes concerning mismanagement of trust assets.
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