Stovash, Robert J.

Areas of Practice

Banking Law & Litigation
Business Law & Commercial Litigation
Construction Law & Litigation
Real Estate & Commercial Landlord/Tenant Law & Litigation
Business Torts Litigation
Employment Litigation
Government Relations
Appellate Litigation
Mediation Services

Focus of Practice

Mr. Stovash has practiced law in Orlando, Florida for over twenty-two (22) years.  Mr. Stovash acts as counsel statewide for numerous individual and corporate clients, including national banks, general contractors, companies both small and large, and entrepreneurs.  His practice includes the representation of clients in the areas of banking law and litigation, business law and commercial litigation, governmental relations, employment litigation, construction law and litigation, and real estate and commercial landlord/tenant law and litigation.  Mr. Stovash regularly appears before state and federal trial and appellate courts in Florida, and before mediation and arbitration panels throughout Florida.  Mr. Stovash is an "AV" rated attorney, the highest rating achievable for legal ability and ethics by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, which is the facilitator of the peer review process that rates attorneys. The Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the Judiciary. *

In addition to his law practice, Mr. Stovash also maintains a mediation services practice. Mr. Stovash is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator. As a Mediator, Mr. Stovash assists litigants in finding creative ways to resolve their legal disputes.

*      Martindale-Hubbell ratings fall into two categories - legal and general ethical standards. The ratings, "CV," "BV" and "AV" are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.

Education

Juris Doctorate, Wake Forest University School of Law, Winston Salem, North Carolina, 1988
              Order of the Barristers Award for Excellence in Courtroom Advocacy
              Chief Justice, Moot Court Executive Board
Bachelor of Arts, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, 1985
              Major:  Political Science

Bar Admissions

The Florida Bar
United States Supreme Court
United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Client Benefits

Mr. Stovash understands that most legal problems and legal disputes are complex and difficult to understand.  With common sense and a business-oriented approach to handling legal matters and solving legal disputes, Mr. Stovash works to ensure that the law and the legal system are fully understood by his clients.  Mr. Stovash believes that even the most complex legal issue or dispute can be explained to, and fully understood by, his clients.  Indeed, Mr. Stovash takes pride in being able to explain the law and provide easily understood advice to his clients so that they can make decisions that are in the best interest of their business organizations and their overall business objectives.  In every legal dispute he handles, Mr. Stovash uses his litigation and negotiation skills to attempt to timely and cost-effectively resolve the dispute without the necessity of a costly trial.  In the event a trial or final hearing becomes necessary to pursue or protect a client's interests,  Mr. Stovash uses his trial advocacy skills to appropriately plan and argue his client's legal positions.   

Significant Matters

Mr. Stovash recently completed a two week jury trial in a race and sex discrimination/harassment case, which resulted in a defense verdict in favor of a corporate client.  He also recently successfully resolved (a) a complex tax shelter case against a major accounting firm and national law firm on behalf of an individual client, (b) a major land use case involving a construction and debris facility, (c) a complex construction dispute on behalf of a road building contractor and its sureties, and (d) several commercial and residential loan disputes on behalf of a bank client which commanded significant media attention.   

Community Involvement

Mr. Stovash is very active in community and civic affairs.  Currently, Mr. Stovash serves as a Commissioner on the Planning and Zoning Commission and Local Planning Agency for Orange County, Florida. In 2009, he was the Chairman of the Commission and Land Planning Agency. Mr. Stovash has previously served on the School Board of Pine Castle Christian Academy, the Beacon Foundation of Pine Castle Christian Academy, the Orlando Light Rail Southern Alignment Task Force, the Board of Governors of the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Leadership Council of myregion.org - A Regional Development Program, the Board of Directors for the Foundation for Building Community, Inc., and the Board of Directors of BusinessForce, Inc.  Mr. Stovash is a past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Small Business Chamber of the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce and a past President of the Board of Directors of MicheLee Puppets, Inc., an Orlando-based not-for-profit corporation.  He is also a graduate of "Leadership Orlando."

In July 2009, Mr. Stovash was recognized as one of Florida Trend Magazine's Florida Legal Elite^TM, which is a select group of attorneys voted by other attorneys in the state as among the best in Florida.  The group represents less than 2% of the nearly 63,000 members of The Florida Bar practicing law in the state of Florida.  In 1999, Mr. Stovash was selected as a 40 Under 40 Award recipient by the Orlando Business Journal,joining an elite group under the age of 40 identified as the next generation of Central Florida leaders.

Mr. Stovash is a member of the Business Law and Trial Lawyers Sections of The Florida Bar.   He is also a member of the Litigation and Business Law Sections (Banking Law Committee) of the American Bar Association, the Orange County Bar Association, and the Florida Bankers Association.  During his career, Mr. Stovash has provided pro bono representation to dependent and abused children through the Orange County Legal Aid Society's Guardian Ad Litem Program.  For his efforts on behalf of these children, Mr. Stovash received an award from the Florida Supreme Court in 2008, 2009 and 2010 for outstanding pro bono service.