M. Derek Harris

Derek Harris is an experienced commercial litigator who combines strategic insight with a results-driven approach in partnering with clients to achieve their business goals. Derek represents and advises clients through all phases of litigation, including trials of complex litigation cases in state and federal courts in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. He has extensive experience with antitrust, catastrophic personal injury, class action, commercial contract, and insurance coverage and bad faith litigation.

Over the years, Derek has counseled and collaborated with clients to navigate intricate legal challenges and develop innovative solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. Derek’s meticulous attention to detail and commitment to understanding his clients’ businesses and goals has made him a trusted adviser in the courtroom and in business dealings. 

Derek is also deeply committed to community service and mentoring, dedicating time and effort to support others beyond his professional work.  He often shares his knowledge through speaking engagements and legal workshops with local high school students. Much of his pro bono work has involved child advocacy, including representing children in juvenile court with delinquency, early intervention, and educational neglect issues; mentoring; and helping them get on track to achieve academic and personal success. His passion for child advocacy and mentorship reflects his belief in the importance of giving back to the community and living by the motto, “To whom much is given, much will be required.”

Throughout his career, Derek has received multiple awards and recognitions for his work, including honors from the Daily Business Review, the Atlanta Business Chronicle, and Florida Trend, highlighting his impact and effectiveness in the legal field. He is a member of Class V of Leadership Florida’s Connect Florida Program and the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity's Fellows Program. Derek has also served as an associate editor for ABA Litigation News.

Derek is a devoted family man who spends most of his free time on the sidelines with his wife, cheering on their children at their extracurricular activities and instilling in them the importance of connection and shared experiences as the foundation of a fulfilling life.

• Represented insurance companies in high-stakes disability, long-term care, life insurance, and property and casualty insurance coverage and bad faith litigation in state and federal courts. Achieved clients' business goals by working collaboratively to design and implement effective litigation strategies.
• Defended asbestos, automotive, safety system, talc, tobacco manufacturers, electric companies, and child and infant product manufacturers in catastrophic personal injury and product liability actions through all phases of litigation in state and federal courts. 
• Represented hospitals in contract, defamation, and fraud cases. Obtained favorable results through dispositive motions, mediation, and trial. 
• Represented banks and financial institutions in multiple receivership cases. Obtained appointments of receivers to manage business assets following evidentiary hearings. 
• Represented construction companies and general contractors in construction defect, commercial contract, lien, and bonding matters.
• Represented national banking institutions in commercial and residential foreclosure cases. Obtained favorable results through dispositive motions, mediation, and trial. 
• Represented a corporate director in a lawsuit filed by the director’s former employer asserting claims for breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, negligence, civil conspiracy, conversion, unjust enrichment, and disgorgement. Resolved case through mid-trial settlement. 
• Represented corporate officer in litigation to prevent insider sale and transfer of corporation’s assets. Obtained appointment of receiver following trial. 

Representative Cases

• S. Fla. Fair & Palm Beach Cty. Expositions, Inc. v. Joseph, 256 So. 3d 875 (Fla. 4th DCA) (trial and appellate counsel in first impression case involving sovereign immunity and fair associations, case resolved after successfully establishing client’s entitlement to sovereign immunity).
• In re Takata Airbag Prods. Liab. Litig., No. 1:15-md-02599 (S.D. Fla.) (counsel for Takata Corp. and TK Holdings Inc. in federal multidistrict litigation concerning allegedly defective airbags).
• Small v. Ford Motor Co., Southern District of Florida (trial counsel in high-stakes product liability litigation for an automotive safety system manufacturer; jury returned defense verdict).
• HCA Health Servs. of Fla., Inc. v. CyberKnife Ctr. of Treasure Coast, LLC (trial and appellate counsel for hospital in successful defense of fraud and breach of contract case related to a joint venture to operate a surgery center).
• Lam v. General Mills, Inc., Northern District of California (consumer fraud class action, obtained dismissal of multiple claims, and case ultimately resolved through settlement).
• Mitchell Co. v. Campus, Southern District of Alabama (district court granted motion to dismiss all of the plaintiffs’ claims, and granted client’s motion for partial summary judgment seeking to enforce the operating agreements of two LLCs).
• Cox v. South Cherokee Recreation Association, Superior Court of Cherokee County, Georgia (negligence and defamation case; court dismissed the case and barred plaintiff from filing any further pleadings without the court’s permission).
• Moshtagh v. Lange, Superior Court of Cobb County, Georgia (obtained preliminary injunction for client preventing insider sale of corporate assets; court appointed a receiver to dispose of the assets of the corporation as requested following full evidentiary hearing).
• Lawson v. Miller, Superior Court of DeKalb County, Georgia (obtained temporary restraining order and writ of replevin preventing sale of client’s antique vehicles and requiring that vehicles be returned to client).

• The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation (2024–2025)
• On the Rise Award, Daily Business Review (2017)
• Most Effective Lawyers Award, Daily Business Review (2016)
• Florida Legal Elite "Up & Comers," Florida Trend Magazine (2014)
• "40 Under 40 Up & Comer," Atlanta Business Chronicle (2006)
•  State Bar of Georgia Pro Bono Project Certificate of Recognition (2006–2009)

• American Bar Association
  • Section of Litigation
    • Commercial and Business Litigation Committee (2011–2012)
    • Diversity Initiatives Subcommittee (2011–2012)
    • Co-Chair (2011–2012)
    • Associate Editor, Litigation News
• State Bar of Georgia
  • Children and the Courts Committee (2006–2017)
    • Adviser (2006–2008)
• Atlanta Bar Association (2002–present)
• Boys Town of South Florida
  • Board of Directors (2013–present)
• Georgetown Club of Georgia (2002–present)
• Leadership Council on Legal Diversity
  • Fellow (2011)
• Leadership Florida's Connect Florida Statewide Leadership Institute, Class of 2015
• The Law Pipeline Program Inc.
  • Board of Directors (2011–2013)
• 40 Under 40 Alumni Group

• "The Life of a Corporate Lawyer,” annual presentations to local high school students (2013–present)
• "Youth Mental Health Discussion With Solution-Driven Action," Boys Town South Florida’s Family Community Action Summit, West Palm Beach, FL (October 6, 2022)
• "2021 Carlton Fields Class Action Survey Results," Carlton Fields and the National Bar Association Commercial Law Section (September 29, 2021)
• "Class Action Trends: Stairway to Heaven or Highway to Hell?," ACC South Florida 10th Annual CLE Conference, Fort Lauderdale, FL (September 19, 2019)
• Attorney Coach, Civil Discourse and Difficult Decisions Program, Palm Beach State College (February 28, 2019)
• Facilitator, Civil Discourse and Difficult Decisions Program, Paul G. Rogers Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse (August 30, 2018)
• “How to be Successful and Stay Sane at a Big Law Firm,” Palm Beach County Bar Association, Bench Bar Conference (March 9, 2018)
• “Trial Tips From the Experts,” Malcolm Cunningham Bar Association, West Palm Beach, FL (August 2015)
• “What Does It Mean to Be a Fellow?,” Leadership Council for Legal Diversity, Atlanta, GA (February 2014)
• "Major Supreme Court Decisions Impacting Class Actions," Carlton Fields Class Action Symposium, New York, NY (June 2013)
• “Building Successful Affinity Groups,” Charting Your Own Course Career Development Conference, Philadelphia, PA (February 2013)
• “Achieving Law School Success and Conquering the Bar,” State Bar of Georgia, Diversity Committee (2011)
• “IP in the Digital Age,” Young Professionals Division of the Technology Associates of Georgia Seminar (February 2010)

• Volunteer attorney with the Florida Innocence Project representing indigent clients in seeking to overturn convictions. 
• Volunteer attorney with the Palm Beach County Legal Aid Society representing victims in domestic violence proceedings.
• Non-Partisan Election Protection volunteer attorney for the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights.
• Advocate and mentor with the Truancy Intervention Project, which works in conjunction with the juvenile court and public school systems to resolve truancy issues and get children on track to achieve academic and personal success.
• Since 2004, represented dozens of students between the ages of 6 and 16 years old in delinquency, early intervention, and educational neglect proceedings.