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bwillis@becker-poliakoff.com
Professional Experience
Brian Willis is a business and real estate litigation attorney in the firm’s Tampa Bay office. He represents businesses, individuals, government agencies, and community associations in state and federal court.
Representative Cases Include:
- Successfully represented an international company in a jury trial to recover damages from the manufacturer of defective industrial packaging equipment.
- Defended educational institution accused of racial discrimination in the selection and supervision of interns, resulting in favorable summary judgment ruling for the client.
- Obtained favorable summary judgment ruling on behalf of land owner sued for criminal acts that occurred on adjacent property.
- Recovered delinquent rents due to commercial shopping center owner after initiating litigation.
- Obtained emergency injunction on behalf of building owner, where resident refused to permit access to unit to conduct urgent sinkhole remediation work.
- Defended closed circuit television station operator from defamation claims brought by outside vendor that was the subject of ‘scam warning’ broadcast.
- Defended construction company sued by a former employee for defamation, resulting in jury verdict in favor of the firm’s client.
Brian’s experience includes business disputes, commercial and residential property disputes, complex class action litigation and multi-district litigation, community association litigation, discrimination and employment law matters, injunction actions, and other issues. He has represented clients before administrative boards and has appellate experience before Florida’s First and Second District Court of Appeal.
Activities & Memberships
Brian currently serves as a member of the Citizen Advisory Committee to the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners and represents Hillsborough County on the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority’s (TBARTA) Citizen Advisory Committee. In June 2011, Brian was selected to be a member of the Tampa Bay Public Leadership Institute.
In addition to his community involvement, Brian publishes a widely read blog and website covering Florida Court decisions, called the Florida Rules Decisions Reporter, which can be read at http://floridacivpro.com/reporter/.
Brian is a former member the Hillsborough County Young Democrats Executive Board. During the 2008 presidential election, Brian was a registered poll watcher with the Florida Democratic Lawyers Council and a volunteer with the Barack Obama Presidential Campaign.
Presentations
Brian is a frequent speaker on economic development, transportation, and legal matters, including:
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- Legal Analysis of Florida Supreme Court High Speed Rail Lawsuit - WTSP Channel 10
- Florida Rules of Civil Procedure Update 2010 - National Business Institute & West LegalEd Center
- TBARTA: A Connected Region for Our Future - Tampa Interbay Rotary and South Tampa Chamber of Commerce
- Hillsborough County Transit Referendum: Market Minute Update – Net Lease Commercial Advisory
- Transit Talk: What will transit bring? – Urban Charrette
- Transit, Land Use and Local Politics – Pecha Kucha Tampa Bay
- Guest Lecturer – Plant High School Trial Procedures Course
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Awards & Recognition
2010 Tampa Bay Business Journal, Up & Comer Award, 30 & Under category
Recognized as a 2011 “Rising Star,” by Florida Super Lawyers
Bar Admissions
Florida
Washington, DC
Federal Court Admissions
United States District Court, Middle District of Florida
United States District Court, Northern District of Florida
Education
J.D., George Washington University Law School, Moot Court Board
B.S., Florida State University, magna cum laude (Philosophy and Economics)
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