Richard N. “Ric” Asfar
Partner
Richard N. “Ric” Asfar is an AV-rated civil litigator and appellate advocate. He is experienced in all stages of litigation and appellate practice in both state and federal court, and has represented individuals, government entities, and businesses of all sizes in a wide range of civil matters in Florida and California. At Cotney, Ric focuses his practice on construction litigation, policyholder representation in insurance coverage matters, employment litigation, appellate advocacy, and complex commercial disputes.
Ric is an admitted “law geek” who reads thousands of court opinions annually. He uses his in-depth knowledge of the finer points of law to successfully advance his clients’ objectives. He is also often sought out by other experienced attorneys to address thorny legal issues that can derail a deserving client’s case.
Ric grew up in Queens, New York. After immigrating to America, Ric’s parents worked long hours operating a tailoring business one subway stop from Shea Stadium. They taught Ric the value of hard work, and to go the extra mile for the client. Ric has strived to follow his parents’ example since youth, and began working at age 13, delivering newspapers.
Ric is a proud graduate of The University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. While at Pacific McGeorge, Ric served as a full-time student extern to the Honorable Consuelo M. Callahan of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, assistant comment editor for the Pacific McGeorge Global Business & Development Law Journal, and President of the Student Bar Association. Upon graduating from Pacific McGeorge, Ric was inducted into the Roger J. Traynor Honor Society, and awarded the “Outstanding Student Achievement Award” for his graduating class.
- Cotney Construction Law, Tampa, FL, February 2019 – Present, Partner
- Vaka Law Group, Tampa, FL, 2015 – January 2019
- Saxon Gilmore & Carraway, P.A., Tampa, FL, 2009 – 2015
- Herum Crabtree Brown, Stockton, CA, 2006 – 2009
- Lima v. CitiMortgage, Inc., 61 So. 3d 1133 (Fla. 3d DCA 2011) (table)
- Waters v. Amtrust Bank, 64 So. 3d 1267 (Fla. 1st DCA 2011) (table)
- Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors of Orion Bancorp v. Assignee Polsky (Fed. Deposit Ins. Corp.), 2011 WL 855338 (M.D. Fla. Sept. 17, 2010)
- Professional Title LLC v. Fed. Deposit Ins. Corp., 2011 WL 855338 (N.D. Fla. Mar. 9, 2011)
- Eatman v. Fed. Deposit Ins. Corp., 2011 WL 2436290 (M.D. Fla. May 20, 2011), adopted by 2011 WL 2413469 (M.D. Fla. Jun. 14, 2011)
- Estes Express Lines Corp. v. Nieves, 184 So. 3d 527 (Fla. 2d DCA 2015)
- Burford v. Matheny, 185 So. 3d 1240 (Fla. 2d DCA 2016) (table)
- Allen v. State Farm, 198 So. 3d 871 (Fla. 2d DCA 2016)
- Shindorf v. Bell, 207 So. 3d 371 (Fla. 2d DCA 2016)
- Allen v. State Farm, 209 So. 3d 11 (Fla. 2d DCA 2016)
- Charles v. Southern Baptist Hosp., 209 So. 3d 1199 (Fla. 2016) (appearing for amicus curiae AARP)
- Citizens Property Ins. Co. v. Albrecht, 240 So. 3d 662 (Fla. 2d DCA 2017) (table)
- Olympus Ins. Co. v. Basagic, 241 So. 3d 803 (Fla. 2d DCA 2017) (table)
- R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. v. McCabe, 245 So. 3d 684 (Fla. 2d DCA 2018) (table)
- R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. v. Nally, 253 So. 3d 576 (Fla. 2d DCA 2018) (table)
- Williams v. CVT, LLC, 295 So. 3d 883 (Fla. 2d DCA 2020)
- Money v. Home Performance Alliance, LLC, --- So. 3d ----, 46 Fla. L. Weekly D83 (Fla. 2d DCA Jan. 6, 2021)
- Cavey v. Wells, --- So. 3d ----, 46 Fla. L. Weekly D515 (Fla. 2d DCA Mar. 10, 2021)
- Florida Legal Update, Florida Justice Association (numerous updates since 2017)
- What I Learned About Diversity From (Gasp!) Reality TV, Lawyer Magazine, Vol. 23, No. 4 Feb 2013
- Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section
- City of Tampa Citizens Budget Advisory Committee, 2014 – 2016
- Hillsborough County Bar Association
- The Tampa Connection, Class of 2013
- Pacific McGeorge School of Law Alumni Board, 2006 – 2014
- American Inns of Court, past member of the Tampa Bay Inn, the Consuelo M. Callahan Inn, and the Anthony M. Kennedy Inn
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, Inc., former Big Brother
- Construction & Infrastructure Law
- Commercial Law
- Labor & Employment
- Insurance Law
- Appeals
- The Florida Bar
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- United States District Court, Middle District of Florida
- United States District Court, Southern District of Florida
- United States District Court, Northern District of Florida
- The California Bar
- Martindale-Hubbell “AV Preeminent” Peer Review Rating (since 2016)
- Florida Super Lawyers, 2021
- Florida Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2012-2019
- Florida Trend, Legal Elite, 2019-2021
- Tampa Magazine, Top Lawyers, 2019 (recognized for appellate advocacy practice and commercial litigation practice), 2021 (recognized for commercial litigation practice)