Bruce A. Katzen

"I’m passionate about prevailing in my clients’ cases.  I combine that passion and hard work with my background in accounting and finance to provide a winning formula in financial fraud and complex commercial cases."

You might think that Bruce Katzen's training in public accounting and finance would be the primary reason businesses hire him to handle their most complex commercial cases. Without doubt, Bruce's background as a certified public accountant is one reason clients come to him. Given the kinds of highly technical financial cases he takes, his background enables him to more thoroughly understand the issues, more precisely examine witnesses and experts, and more zealously advance his client's position. 

But there is another reason clients hire and rehire Bruce. He is passionate about his clients and their cases. He gives his clients his cell-phone number and welcomes them to call anytime. He immerses himself in each case, carefully considering the facts and issues in order to craft a winning strategy. For a lawyer whose cases are often highly fact-intensive, his caring motivates him to dig that much deeper, explore that much more thoroughly.

Bruce handles commercial litigation of all kinds, including corporate matters, securities, accountants' liability and stockbroker liability. He has become particularly recognized for his work in five types of commercial litigation:

• Financial fraud, representing investors who have lost money due to fraud by stock brokers, investment advisors, accountants or other business professionals.
• Franchise disputes, representing franchisors in disputes with franchisees.
• Probate, trust and guardianship disputes, litigating contested issues in major estate and trust cases.
• Company purchase and sale disputes, particularly those involving a company's accounting of its financial transactions.
• Life insurance coverage disputes, representing beneficiaries in collecting disputed insurance proceeds.

The common thread in Bruce's cases is that he seeks justice for investors and individuals injured by financial fraud or wrongdoing. For Bruce, helping a client recover what is due is not just a skill, but a passion.

Education

• University of Miami School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, Salutatorian, 1984
• Boston University, B.S.B.A., summa cum laude, 1980
• Certified Public Accountant

Bar Admissions & Memberships

• Florida, 1984
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, 1984
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, 1984

Noteworthy

• "The Best Lawyers in America", 2010 - 2012
  
• "Legal Elite", Florida Trend's Magazine, 2005, 2008 & 2011
• Super Lawyers, Florida Super Lawyers Magazine, 2010 - 2011
• Martindale-Hubbell AV Rated
  
• Top Lawyers, South Florida Legal Guide, 2004 - 2005
• "The Best of the Bar", South Florida Business Journal, 2004 - 2005
• University of Miami Law Review
• Reid Scholar

Professional Affiliations

• The Florida Bar
• The Florida Bar, Federal Rules Committee
• The Florida Bar, Committee on Relations with CPAs, Former Chair
• Dade County Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• Dade County Trial Lawyers Association, Former Director, 1991-1992
• American Trial Lawyers' Association

Presentations & Publications

• "Hot Topics and Litigation Trends in Life Insurance Law," American Bar Association 2008 Mid-Winter Meeting, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section
• "Liability of Accountants," Chapter 63 of Florida Torts
• "Incontestability Clause in Life Insurance Policies," American Bar Association, 2006 Mid-Winter Meeting, Tort, Trial & Insurance Practice Section

Community and Civic Involvement

• United Way
• Greater Miami Jewish Federation
• Mount Sinai Medical Center Foundation Young Presidents