Biography
FLORIDA BAR BOARD CERTIFIED IN BUSINESS LITIGATION AND CIVIL TRIAL
Harry A. Payton represents domestic and international corporations and high net worth individuals in complex business litigation matters involving commercial real estate, commercial foreclosures, and lender liability; litigation involving fine art; corporate, shareholder and partnership disputes; probate, will and trust litigation; and intra-family business disputes. He is one of 88 attorneys in the state of Florida with dual board certification in Civil Trial and Business Litigation.
Payton is recognized by many legal professionals for his high standards of professionalism. He has received Martindale-Hubbell's highest peer review rating, "AV Preeminent 5 out of 5," since 1983. His legal skills and experience have earned him inclusion in the South Florida Legal Guide's list of Top Lawyers in Complex Commercial Litigation and Real Estate Litigation since 2005, recognition from Florida Super Lawyers in Business Litigation since 2006, and recognition in The Best Lawyers in America© for Litigation-Banking and Finance and Litigation-Real Estate since 2018.
Harry serves on The Florida Bar Standard Jury Instructions (SJI) Committee - Contract and Business Cases. Previously, he was appointed to serve on the Supreme Court of Florida's Committee on Professionalism for the 11th Judicial Circuit, and chaired the mentoring program subcommittee. He also served on The Florida Bar's Judicial Nominating Procedures Committee and The Florida Bar's Judicial Administration and Evaluation Committee.
Harry has deep experience in international business matters. His membership in international organizations expands the firm's capabilities to render professional legal services to clients throughout the world. He is a member of IR Global, an association of over 1150 professionals, in the areas of law, accounting and finance. And he is president of the Miami chapter of the International Network of Boutique and Independent Law Firms (INBLF), a network of highly credentialed attorneys from boutique law firms across the U.S. and Canada, as well as full-service international firms that understand the issues, laws, and business cultures in countries throughout the world.
Education
- Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, District of Columbia
- LL.B.
- Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
- B.S.
- Honors: cum laude
Practice Areas
Complex Commercial and Business Litigation
Bar Admissions
- Florida
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida
- U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
Honors
- Selected for inclusion in Florida Super Lawyers®, since 2006
- Selected for inclusion in South Florida Legal Guide, Best Litigators: Corporate & Business, since 2005
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© for Litigation–Banking and Finance and Litigation-Real Estate since 2018
- Recognized in America’s Top 100 Civil Defense Litigators® since 2020
- Recognized for earning and maintaining Florida Bar board certification status in civil trial for 30 years
- Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Rated AV Preeminent, since 1983
- National Guard, Honorable Discharge
Certified Legal Specialties
- Board Certified Civil Trial, The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education
- Board Certified Business Litigation, The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education
Published Works
- The Art of Deal Making: Using External Expertise Effectively, December 2020, IR Global and the ACC
- A Financial Advisor’s Duties Dealing With GDPR, WealthManagement.com, November, 2018
- International Asset Sequestration: Achieving Effective Judgment Awards, IR Global Virtual Round Table Series, Private Client Working Group, April, 2018
- International Asset Protection Planning: The Debtor's Dilemma - Planning For and Protecting Against Future Judgments, IR Global Private Client Working Group, International Asset Protection Planning | Round Table Series, December, 2016
- A Guide to Partnering with Outside Litigation Counsel, American Bar Association's Section of Litigation, Corporate Counsel Newsletter, 2013
Classes & Seminars
- Panelist: Litigating Business Claims and Business Law at the Spellman-Hoeveler Inns of Court’s Bench & Bar Conference, at the Hyatt Regency, Miami, February 2022
- Guest Lecturer: Anatomy of a Cyber Crime, Dade County Bar Association, June 2021
- Discussion Leader: The impact of General Data Protection Regulations adopted in the European Union on U.S. litigation in federal court; INBLF and IR Global conferences in Rome and London, October, 2018
- IR Global International Asset Protection Planning l Round Table Series, December 2016 Private Client Working Group
- Program Leader and Panelist: 2011 Florida Distressed Real Estate "When Workouts Don't Work Out: Litigation, Receivers, Lender Liability and More," and "Workouts & Recapitalization." Sponsored by Green Pearl Events, Miami, Florida, January 2011
Professional Associations
- The Florida Bar, Member
- Dade County Bar Association, Member
- Florida Supreme Court Standard Jury Instructions Committee (Contracts and Business), Member, 2018 to 2024
- ABA Section of International Law, Art & Cultural Heritage Law Committee, Member, 2014 to Present
- ABA Forum Committee on Entertainment and Sports Industries, Arts & Museums, Member, 2014 to Present
- The Florida Bar: Business Law Section and Trial Lawyers Section, 2014 to Present
- IR Global, Commercial Litigation, "Private Client" committee, 2013 to Present
- International Network of Boutique and Independent Law Firms (INBLF), President, Miami Chapter, 2012 to Present
- Professionalism Committee for the 11th Circuit, Chair, Mentoring Subcommittee, 2012 to Present
- The Florida Bar, Judicial Nominating Procedures Committee, July 2011-2016; Judicial Administration and Evaluation Committee, 2008-2011
- The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education: Chair 2005-2006