Kendall Coffey
Partner
kcoffey@coffeyburlington.com
Kendall Coffey is a founding member of the law firm Coffey Burlington, PL, based in Miami, which handles matters in Florida and throughout the United States. Mr. Coffey served from 2009 until 2019 on the Federal Judicial Nominating Commission for South Florida, appointed by both of Florida’s United States Senators, and was the Chair of the Southern District Conference from 2009 to 2017. Mr. Coffey previously served as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, the nation’s largest federal prosecution office at that time. As U.S. Attorney, he was responsible for thousands of federal criminal prosecutions as well as civil lawsuits involved the United States. After his public service, he resumed private law practice with major litigation roles in such high-profile cases as the Elian Gonzalez international custody battle, and the 2000 U.S. Presidential Election Recount.
Today, Mr. Coffey’s practice areas include governmental issues, business disputes and litigation, national and international litigation, fraud cases, contract and loan agreement enforcement, compliance issues, and defense in government investigations. His firm represents businesses as well as individuals facing financial and personal disputes.
A frequent teacher and guest lecturer, he has been a Guest Legal Analyst providing legal commentary over the years for international networks: CNN International, Telemundo, Univision; national networks: CNN, CNN Headline News, FOX, CNBC, MSNBC, NBC; and local television: Telemundo-51 and Univision-23. He is also an adjunct faculty member at Florida International University School of Law, where he has taught International Litigation, Administrative Law, and Negotiations. Additionally, he has taught Florida Constitutional Law, Trial Advocacy, and International Corruption at the University of Miami School of Law, and Florida Criminal Procedure and White-Collar Criminal Law at St. Thomas University School of Law.
Mr. Coffey has been recognized by “Best Lawyers in America” in multiple categories, including being named the 2024 Lawyer of the Year in Miami for Professional Malpractice. He is consistently recognized as one of Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, a Florida “Super Lawyer,” and a “Top Lawyer” by the South Florida Legal Guide. He was also named one of the National Law Journal’s Lawyers of the Year for 2000 as a member of the Gore legal team.
Representative Experiences
Though all cases vary and none is predictive, Kendall’s recent experience includes:
- Lead trial and appellate counsel in historic voter fraud case that established pervasive election fraud in absentee balloting and resulted in client after initially losing, being restored to position as mayor of Miami.
- Lead counsel for major insurance companies in defending against RICO action, claiming multi-billion dollars in damages, and securing dismissal of claims.
- Lead co-counsel in seven-week federal criminal trial alleging corruption at a major port in Florida winning Rule 29 dismissal of all charges.
- Lead co-counsel in federal criminal trial prosecuted under the Espionage Act winning jury acquittal on all counts.
- Lead counsel in successful defense representations of major law firms, including various multi-million-dollar claims, winning defense verdicts from juries as well as success in securing defense summary judgments in attorney liability cases. Named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers in America for Malpractice Defense.
- Lead counsel representing South American financial institutions in winning eight figure judgment under foreign law based on foreign defendant’s breaches of duty.
- Lead counsel in winning multi-million-dollar jury verdict representing major South American banks against major South American Airlines based on claims brought under foreign and U.S. law.
- Won appeal on behalf of investor group in a public works bid challenge against City of Miami.
Professional and Community Involvement
- American Bar Association (Section of Litigation)- Co-Chair, Task Force on Expert Witness Code of Ethics (2010-2011); Member, Special Committee on Haiti (2010-2011); Section of Litigation (2001-2002); Advisory Committee to the Standing Committee on Elections Law (2010-2011); Special Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services (1991-1993)
- The Florida Bar – Legislation Committee (1991-1992); Rules of Civil Procedure Committee (1985-1987); Legal Assistance to the Poor Committee (1991-1996)
- Dade County Bar Association – President (1990-1991); Officer (1985-1990)
Awards and Recognition
- Recognized by Chambers and Partners
- Named 2019, 2021, and 2024 Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year for Professional Malpractice Law Defense.
- Annually recognized as one of Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, Florida “Super Lawyer,” and South Florida Legal Guide’s “Top Lawyers”
- The National Law Journal as one of its Lawyers of the Year for 2000, as Member of Gore Legal Team.
Books and Articles
Mr. Coffey has written extensively on a wide range of legal topics; he has published two books.
Books:
- Spinning the Law: Trying Court Cases in the Court of Public Opinion, Prometheus Books (2010)
- Foreclosures in Florida, LexisNexis (2008)
Articles:
- Coffey has written almost forty articles that have been published, from The Wall Street Journal to the Yale Law and Policy Review, some of his work has been widely cited in numerous court cases.
- Inherent Judicial Authority and the Expert Disqualification Doctrine, Vol. 56 Florida Law Review 195 (2004), cited in BP Amoco Chem. Co. v. Flint Hills Resources, LLC, 500 F.Supp.2d 957, 960 (N.D. Ill. 2007), and American Empire Surplus Lines v. Care Center, Inc., 484 F.Supp.2d 855, 857 n.2 (N.D. Ill. 2007)
- The Due Process Right to Seek Asylum In The United States: The Immigration Dilemma And Constitutional Controversy, 19 Yale Law and Policy Review (May 2001), portions reprinted in Refugee Law and Policy: Cases and Materials (2d Ed.), reprinted in 22 University of Cincinnati Immigration and Nationality Law Review (Fall, 2002)
- Non–Compete Agreements Under Florida Law: A Retrospective and a Requiem! 19 Florida State University Law Review, 1105 (1992), quoted in, Health Care Financial Enterprises, Inc. v. Levy, 715 So.2d 341 (Fla. 4th DCA 1998); cited in Bradley v. Health Coalition, Inc., 687 So.2d 329, 1997 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1997); Kupscznk v. Blasters, Inc., 647 So.2d 888 (Fla. 2nd DCA 1994); and Jewett Orthopedic Clinic, P.A., 629 So.2d 922 (Fla. 5th DCA 1993)
- The Expansion of Lender Liability in Florida, 40 University of Florida Law Review (1988)
- Freezing Cash Before Judgment, The Florida Bar Journal, Vol. 18, No. 5 (May, 1983)
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Education
- University of Florida School of Law, JD with Highest Honors-First in Class
- University of Florida – B.S. with honors
Admitted to Practice
- Supreme Court of the United States
- Supreme Court of Florida
- S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
- S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- S. Court of Appeals, Ninth and Eleventh Circuits
- S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
- S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
Practice Focus
- General Commercial & Complex Litigation
- Law Firm Defense
- Federal and State Government and Grand Jury
- Appellate
- Federal and State Criminal Litigation
- Election law
- Health Care Litigation
- Financial Transactions and Lender Litigation
- Partnership Disputes
- International Arbitration
- International Law
- Anti-Bribery and FCPA Compliance and Defense