Garrison Michael Cohen

Associate
Garrison Cohen

Overview

Garrison M. Cohen is a litigation attorney in Holland & Knight's Orlando office, where he focuses on commercial and complex business litigation. Mr. Cohen represents clients in all stages of litigation from case initiation through appeals, and covers a variety of legal issues in a diversity of jurisdictions, including federal, state and bankruptcy courts and in arbitration proceedings.

Mr. Cohen has experience representing clients in class action defense, labor and employment litigation, consumer defense and business-to-business litigation such as business torts, breach of contract claims, shareholder disputes, fiduciary duty claims, commercial real estate litigation, non-competition and restrictive covenant litigation and construction-related matters. He works with clients in a variety of industries, including real estate, healthcare, transportation, construction, insurance, professional services, aviation and financial services.

In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Cohen is actively involved in the Orlando community. He has served on the University of Central Florida Greater Orlando Knights Community Council since 2022 and is actively involved with a variety of local professional and nonprofit organizations. Mr. Cohen also proudly represents clients in pro bono matters.

Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. Cohen was an attorney at a regional firm in Tampa, Florida. While there, his clients received favorable summary judgments, arbitration decisions and appellate decisions in several cases, including cases involving shareholder disputes, real estate litigation and bankruptcy cases.

While in law school, Mr. Cohen was a member and officer of the University of Florida Moot Court Team and was recognized for his brief writing and oral arguments.

Representative Experience

  • Represented and resolved claims brought against post-secondary education and healthcare clients for alleged junk-fax and junk-text under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)
  • Represented and resolved class action litigation brought against an automobile financing company relating to state retail install sales contract laws

  • Obtained an arbitration award following a one-day arbitration trial based on claims brought under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and Uniform Commercial Code (UCC)
  • Obtained a summary judgment arbitration award in client's favor for claims brought under various consumer finance statutes

  • Obtained a final summary judgment in favor of a large industry trade association in defense of claims by its former president that her removal violated the organization's bylaws
  • Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a business entity for claims brought by a former shareholder

  • Represented active service members and veterans with construction defects claims
  • Assisted individuals with trust, estates and power of attorney matters

Credentials

Education
  • University of Florida Levin College of Law, J.D., cum laude
  • University of Central Florida, B.S., Legal Studies, Minor in Business Administration
Bar Admissions/Licenses
  • Florida
Court Admissions
  • All State Courts in Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida
Memberships
  • Orange County Bar Association
  • George C. Young First Central Florida American Inn of Court, 2023-Present
  • University of Central Florida Greater Orlando Knights Community, Council Member, Engagement Lead, Fundraising Committee Member, 2022-Present
  • Moot Court Team, University of Florida Levin College of Law, Intramural Team Director, 2016-2017
Honors & Awards
  • The Best Lawyers in America guide, Orlando Land Use and Zoning Law Ones to Watch, 2023-2025
  • Rising Star, Florida Super Lawyers magazine, 2024
  • Book Award, Trial Practice, University of Florida Levin College of Law, 2017
  • Book Award, Mediation, University of Florida Levin College of Law, 2017
  • Best Brief, Mercer University School of Law Legal Ethics and Professionalism (LEAP) Moot Court Competition, 2015
  • Finalist, Mercer University School of Law LEAP Moot Court Competition, 2015
Spoken Languages
  • English

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