Scott D. Ponce

Scott D. Ponce is a partner in Holland & Knight's Miami office. He practices in the areas of complex civil and commercial litigation, with an emphasis on class action litigation and arbitration, and media law. He defends class action lawsuits in federal and state courts throughout the United States. He also has represented numerous national and local media outlets in defamation suits, public records litigation, opposing the closure of court records and proceedings, and the prepublication review of articles and broadcasts. Mr. Ponce also has extensive experience in representing clients in intellectual property litigation, particularly relating to copyright infringement and trademark issues. Additionally, Mr. Ponce has extensively litigated issues arising under the Helms-Burton Act, serving as lead counsel in two of the first major cases that were filed under the Act.

Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. Ponce served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Edward B. Davis, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Mr. Ponce is admitted to practice in the States of Florida, Vermont and New York, the United States District Courts for the Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida, and the United States Circuit Courts of Appeal for the Second, Ninth and Eleventh Circuits.

Mr. Ponce received a B.S.B.A. in finance, with honors, from the University of Florida in 1995. He received his J.D., with honors, from the University of Florida College of Law in 1998. While in law school he was a member of the Florida Law Review. 

Media Coverage

• Law360, "Fla. Race Bias Suit Challenging Formula One Event Tossed," July 8, 2021
• Daily Business Review, "Meet Florida, California Lawyers Who Prevailed for Novelist Stephen King," February 24, 2021
• Law360, "11th Circ. Affirms Netflix Win In 'Narcos' Copyright Suit," October 27, 2020
• Law360, "'Narcos' Copyright Lawsuit by Colombian Journalist Fails," November 12, 2019
• The Miami Herald, "Pablo Escobar’s Former Lover Loses Lawsuit Over Revolver Sex Scene in Netflix’s 'Narcos,'" November 11, 2019
• Daily Business Review, "Headed to Arbitration: Miami Marlins Dispute with Miami-Dade, Miami Over Profits," July 11, 2019
• Law360, "Miami Marlins Win Bid To Arbitrate $1.2B Sale Dispute," July 10, 2019
• Law360, "Judge Tosses Copyright Suit Over Stephen King's 'Dark Tower,'" March 1, 2019
• Law360, "Fla. Judge Tosses Music Fest's 'Baseless' Suit Against Rival," February 15, 2019
• The Miami Herald, "Federal Judge Dismisses Anti-Trust Suit Against Ultra Music Festival for the Last Time," February 15, 2019
• Law360, "Royal Caribbean Escapes Hurricane Harvey Cruise Suit," February 4, 2019
• Law360, "Royal Caribbean Escapes Travel Insurance Class Action," November 27, 2018
• Law360, "Judge Orders Deadly FIU Bridge Collapse Records Released," August 21, 2018
• Sunshine State News, "Judge Weighs Records Dispute in FIU Bridge Collapse," July 31, 2018
• Law360, "Royal Caribbean Gets Harvey Class Claims Nixed", April 10, 2018
• Law360, "Ex-NFL Trainer Must Arbitrate Defamation Claims," August 8, 2016
• Law360, "Atty's Class Cert. Bid Tanks In Fla. Text Spamming Suit," May 5, 2014
• Associated Press, "Settlement Reached in Haiti PM Defamation Case," October 29, 2013
• The Miami Herald, "Judge Denies Gag Order in George Zimmerman Murder Case," October 29, 2012
• CNN, "Zimmerman Defense, Prosecution Unite to Oppose Public Release of Info," May 31, 2012