Phillip Howell’s twenty-plus years of litigation and trial experience allow him to provide clients with an accurate early case assessment, always with an eye toward what the verdict form will look like at trial and the critical issues at mediation. He has a firm grasp of the legal issues and knowledge of the venues in Florida and knows what it takes to achieve his clients’ goals. Phillip has represented diverse businesses to resolve their disputes through the most efficient means possible, from informal negotiations, mediation, and arbitration, to litigation, trial, and appeal.
Before practicing law, Phillip practiced public accounting and maintains his license as a Florida Certified Public Accountant. This background allows him to take the information from experts and cut through it quickly, with a deep understanding of the numbers.
Phillip practices in the areas of commercial and insurance litigation with an emphasis on first-party insurance, maritime, general negligence, construction defect, and professional negligence defense. He regularly defends clients in maritime, products liability, and general negligence claims, representing insurance companies, design professionals, contractors, materials manufacturers, and suppliers. He also regularly defends other professionals, including lawyers and accountants, in professional liability matters.
Phillip has experience litigating fire, explosion, and catastrophic damage cases on behalf of insurers, manufacturers, and equipment testing companies, requiring detailed forensic investigations and responses to regulatory investigators.
In addition to litigation matters, Phillip has handled a broad range of transactional matters, including business and commercial real property sales and purchases, re-financing, defeasance, and foreclosures. He is well-versed in corporate formation, governance, and tax matters. and is admitted to the United States Tax Court.
Phillip is “AV” rated by his peers from Martindale Hubbell, noted for his high professional ethics and preeminent legal ability.
Representative Matters
- Represented a Managing General Agent in a $14 million lawsuit brought by a Florida auto insurer that went through a week-long arbitration. The result was a $12.5 million reduction in what was owed to the plaintiff.
- Represented an owner in connection with a $9 million defeasance transaction.
- Represented a national restaurant chain franchisee in complex business litigation matters involving an $11MM business purchase and related long-term real property leases.
- Represented a developer in a $7 million foreclosure action and related matters, including possible Florida DEP violations.
- Represents major insurance companies in first-party, multi-million-dollar breach of contract and bad faith litigation involving commercial property and condominiums.
- Represents lawyers, accountants, appraisers, insurance agents, and real estate agents in professional negligence matters.
- Represents developers and contractors in commercial construction defect and lien law matters.
- Represents individuals and companies in federal and state tax matters.
