Firm Profile

Miami, Florida Business Litigation Attorneys

Harry A. Payton founded Payton & Associates as a boutique business litigation firm, dedicated to its clients and the South Florida community.

We have earned a reputation for professionalism and successful results

With many years of state and federal trial, arbitration, and appellate experience, we represent corporations and individuals in a broad spectrum of business litigation, including:

We are committed to excellence in every aspect of our trial and appellate work. This commitment has been widely recognized. Harry Payton has consistently been designated a Florida Super Lawyer and one of the Best Business Litigators by South Florida Legal Guide. He is rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell, which denotes the highest legal ability and ethical standards.

We believe in giving something back to the community. We are active and hold leadership roles in community organizations, including Jewish Community Services of South Florida, Inc., Greater Miami Jewish Federation and Lawyers for Children.

We are dedicated to serving the legal community. Harry Payton is a leader in the Law Department Consortium, a historic movement to improve the way corporate law departments manage business litigation by advocating a more business-like approach. He is at the forefront of various American Bar Association initiatives. He was one of the creators of a uniform system of billing and budgeting that corporate counsel use to measure the productivity and efficiency of outside counsel.

In-House / Outside Counsel Relationships

Harry A. Payton is a leader in the Law Department Consortium, a nationwide initiative to educate and assist corporate law departments in managing their business litigation in a business-like manner. With a mission of making the jobs of in-house counsel easier, the Consortium is an "invitation-only legal services marketplace where law department leaders collaborate with each other and select outside counsel and suppliers" with deliverables that "focus on time and value, and finding more of both."

To improve the in-house/outside counsel relationship, Mr. Payton urges attorneys to agree on a course of action by evaluating cases at an early stage. This evaluation includes consideration of probability of success; familiarity with opposing counsel, the court system, and locality; potential impact of the lawsuit; and adherence to litigation budget; all in keeping with business objectives. Mr. Payton believes that a business-like approach to litigation and quality service can result in an efficient and cost-effective disposition of cases. By adhering to these standards, we can achieve our clients' objectives at a reasonable cost.

The cost-saving elements he champions include a partnering approach with the client; effective communications; electronic information sharing; the establishment of databases for legal fees, costs and case data; and controlled litigation budgets.