Practice Experience

• Mr. Warner is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer and an appellate lawyer, who represents clients in complex litigation and appeals. Mr. Warner practices primarily in the areas of business litigation and real estate litigation, including commercial contract disputes, leases, construction litigation, inverse condemnation, and land use, zoning, and environmental litigation. He is also experienced in defending unfair and deceptive trade practices, consumer class actions, and products liability cases. As a trial lawyer, Mr. Warner has tried numerous jury and non-jury cases to verdict and final judgment.
• As the first Solicitor General of Florida, (1999 – 2002), Mr. Warner represented the State of Florida in appeals before the United States Supreme Court, Florida Supreme Court, and lower state and federal appellate courts. Cases and issues ranged from anti-trust to business regulation, to public records and various constitutional disputes, including the Dale Earnhardt autopsy photo case.
• A sample of representative matters handled by Mr. Warner include representation of: Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. in Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. v Dolgencorp, Inc. and Crest Haven, LLC, 964 So. 2d 261 (Fla. 4th DCA 2007); Lowe’s Home Centers, Inc. in Briarwood Shopping Center, LLC and Gates Capital Group, LLC v Lowe’s Home Center, Inc., 2009 WL 3199794 (Fla. 2nd DCA Oct. 07, 2009); Morgan Stanley & Co. in Morgan Stanley & Co. v Coleman (Parent) Holdings Inc., 955 So. 2d 1124 (Fla. 4th DCA 2007); Butler Pappas in Butler Pappas v. Coral Reef Key Biscayne, Inc., 873 So. 2d 339 (3d DCA Fla. 2003); and Valor Corporation (a major gun distributor) in Pamela Grunow v. Valor Corporation, 904 So. 2d 55 (4th DCA Fla. 2005).

Professional and Civic Activities

• The Florida Bar
  Rules of Judicial Administration Committee, Board Member (2009-2012)
  Judicial Administration and Evaluation Committee, Vice Chair (2006-2007)
  Public Advocacy/Legislation Committee of the Appellate Practice Section, Chair
• Florida TaxWatch, Board of Trustees (2003)
• Helping People Succeed, Inc., Board Member (2003)
  Non-profit organization providing services for developmentally disabled children and adults
• Florida Supreme Court's Judicial Management Council (1997-2002)
• Governor’s Commission on Education (1997-1999)
• Governor’s Task Force on Telecommunications Taxation (1996-1997)
• Martin County Council for the Arts, Past President (1989-1991)
• Children’s Home Society, Former Board Member

Professional Recognition

• AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 editions
• Florida Trend’s Florida Legal Elite
• Listed as a Top Lawyer in South Florida Legal Guide (2009-2010)
• Florida Super Lawyers 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009
• Designated by the Miami Herald (1997 & 1998) as one of the top 6 most influential members of the Florida House of Representatives
• Florida Banker’s Association Legislative Award (1995)

BAR ADMISSIONS

• Florida

COURT ADMISSIONS

• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
• United States Supreme Court
• Florida State Courts
• Florida Supreme Court

Background

• Solicitor General, State of Florida (1999-2002)
  Represented the State of Florida before the United States Supreme Court and the Florida Supreme Court in civil cases involving constitutional issues and other matters of great public importance.
• Visiting Professor, Richard W. Ervin Eminent Scholar Chair in Law, FSU College of Law (1999-2002)
• Florida House of Representatives (1992-1999)
  • Chair, Judiciary Committee and Procedural Council (1996-1998); Chair, Civil Justice Council (1998-1999); Chair, Real Property & Family Law Sub-Committee (1994-1996)
  • Co-Chaired House/Senate Conference Committee on Tort Reform (1998); Member, Select Committees on Telecommunications, Juvenile Justice Reform; Workers Compensation; Governor’s Task Force on Telecommunications Taxation (1996-1997); Governor’s Commission on Education (1997-1999)
• Senior Litigator and Managing Partner, Warner, Fox, Seeley, Dungey & Sweet, LLP (1979-1999)
• Stuart City Attorney (1984-1988)
• Past President, Martin County Bar Association; Chair, 19th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission (1990-1992); Member, Florida Supreme Court’s Judicial Management Council (1997-2002)
• Director and Initial Investor, First People’s Bank of Port St. Lucie (1999-2003)

Education

• University of Florida Law School (J.D., with honors, 1973)
  Member, Law Review
• University of Florida (B.S., Business Administration Finance and Investments, 1970)