Roger S. Kobert

Overview

Roger Kobert is a trial attorney with more than 30 years’ experience representing foreign and domestic businesses, governments, and individuals in litigation and appeals. He also serves as a U.S. law expert witness in foreign court proceedings, advises foreign governments on matters of U.S. law, and leads cross-border, multinational, and domestic dispute resolution teams.

Roger handles matters involving banking, directors and officers liability, commercial disputes, foreign sovereign immunity, insurance, real estate, antitrust, section 1782, and labor and employment.

He has tried dozens of cases to verdict, argued appeals in federal and state courts across the United States, and arbitrated and mediated many more. Roger’s notable work includes serving as lead counsel in litigation against a former head of state for crimes against humanity; establishing a new standard for franchisor tort immunity in the Florida Supreme Court; securing the release of foreign governmental assets frozen by the Office of Foreign Assets Control; and representing military contractors in a high-profile, multinational partnership litigation trial.

Roger is board certified in International Litigation and Arbitration by the Florida Bar and serves on the bar committee writing the certification exam for aspiring candidates. He is also a past chairman of the International Law Section of the Federal Bar Association and active in the American Bar Association’s International Law and Litigation sections.

Experience

• Emami v. Progressive Brands Inc., 225 So. 3d 983 (Fla. 3d DCA 2017).
• Nuss v. Sabad, No. 7:10-cv-00279, 2016 WL 4098606 (N.D.N.Y. July 28, 2016); 976 F. Supp. 2d 231 (N.D.N.Y. 2013); 2011 U.S. Dist. Lexis 157287 (N.D.N.Y. 2011).
• Doe v. De Leon, 555 F. App'x 84 (2d. Cir. 2014).
• Ochoa v. Empresas ICA, S.A.B. de C.V., No. 1:11-cv-23898, 2012 WL 3260324 (S.D. Fla. Aug. 8, 2012).
• CareerFairs.com v. United Bus. Media LLC, 838 F. Supp. 2d 1316 (S.D. Fla. 2011).
• De Vexelman v. Safra Nat'l Bank of N.Y., 61 So. 3d 1131 (Fla. 3d DCA 2011).
• JMT Events, Inc. v. Azoulay Enters., Inc., No. 1:08-cv-22428, 2009 WL 1311189 (S.D. Fla. May 11, 2009).
• In re Xavier, No. 05-12218, 2006 WL 858489 (11th Cir. Apr. 4, 2006).
• Kahan Novoa v. Safra Nat'l Bank of N.Y., 313 F. Supp. 2d 1347 (S.D. Fla. 2003).
• Lane v. Provident Life & Accident Ins. Co., 178 F. Supp. 2d 1281 (S.D. Fla. 2001).
• Taran v. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Fla., Inc., 685 So. 2d 1004 (Fla. 3d DCA 1997).
• Lowe Inv. Corp. v. Clemente, 685 So. 2d 84 (Fla. 2d DCA 1996).
• Mobil Oil Corp. v. Bransford, 648 So. 2d 119 (Fla. 1995).
• PaineWebber Income Props. Three Ltd. P'ship v. Mobil Oil Corp., 902 F. Supp. 1514 (M.D. Fla. 1995).

Recognition

• Board Certified by the Florida Bar in International Litigation and Arbitration
• AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• The Best Lawyers in America, International Arbitration - Commercial (2023–2024)
• New York Metro Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers Magazine (2022–2023)
• Florida Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers Magazine (2017–2022)
• Florida Legal Elite, Florida Trend Magazine (2009–present)
• Top Commercial and Business Lawyers, The American Lawyer (2012–present)

Professional & Community Involvement

• American Bar Association
  • The Fellows of the American Bar Foundation
  • International Law Section
• Federal Bar Association
  • International Law Section 
    • Chair (2018–2019)
    • Vice Chair (2017–2018)
    • Treasurer (2015–2017)
  • ​National Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion (2018–present)
• The Florida Bar
  • International Litigation and Arbitration Certification Committee (2018–present)
    • Chair (2022–2023)
    • Vice Chair (2021–2022)
• The Florida Bar Foundation

Speaking Engagements

• "Paradise Recouped? Impact of Helms-Burton Title III Activation on Expropriated Cuban Property," ABA International Law Section Annual Meeting (June 30, 2020)

Credentials

Areas of Focus