Leonard H. Gilbert
+1.813.227.6481
Overview
Leonard H. Gilbert is a partner in Holland & Knight's Tampa office. He practices in the areas of banking, commercial finance, asset-based lending, creditors' rights, insolvency, arbitration and commercial litigation, as well as maintaining an active transactional practice. He is a member of the firm's Financial Services Practice Group. Mr. Gilbert's emphasis has been in the representation of financial institutions and other institutional lenders. In his bankruptcy practice, Mr. Gilbert has represented numerous state, national and international banks and other financial institutions and public bodies, secured and unsecured creditors' committees and equity.
Mr. Gilbert frequently speaks on legal topics pertaining to his practice and has lectured extensively. He has written for various law reviews, was an editor of Collier on Bankruptcy, has lectured for The Florida Bar, the American Bar Institute, Sections of the American Bar Association, PLI, the International Bar Association, UNC School of Law's Banking Institute, the International Insolvency Institute and the American Bar Foundation.
In addition, Mr. Gilbert is a certified circuit civil mediator and is on the mediator roster for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida.
Credentials
Education
- Harvard Law School, J.D.
- Emory University, B.A.
Bar Admissions/Licenses
- Florida
Court Admissions
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- 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
Memberships
- The Florida Bar, President, 1980-1981; Board of Governors, 1976-1980; Ancillary Business Committee, 1997; Long Range Planning Committee, Chairman, 1982-1984; General Practice Section, Chairman, 1972-1973; Corporation, Banking and Business Law Section, Chairman, 1970-1971
- Working Group on Legal Opinions, Advisory Board
- Federal Bar Association
- American Bar Association, Section of Public Contract Law, Council Liaison from the Board of Governors, 2021-2024
- American Bar Association, Board of Governors, 2021-2024; Standing Committee on Constitution and Bylaws, 2024-Present; Standing Committee on Law and National Security Liaison from the Board of Governors, 2021-2024; Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, 2006-2009, Adjunct Member, 2009-2021; The Federal Judiciary, 2006-2009; Federal Judicial Improvements, 1982-1988; Judicial Selection, Tenure and Compensation, 1979-1982
- American Bar Association, Credentials Committee, Chairman, 1984; Tellers Committee, 1986-1988; Select Committee of the House, 1988, 2024-2025; General Practice Section, Chairman, 1979-1980; TIPS Section; Fidelity and Surety Law Committee; Senior Lawyers Division, Council
- American Bar Association, Section of Business Law, Vice Chair, Working Group on Legal Opinions; Section Council; UCC Committee; Business Bankruptcy Committee; Commercial Financial Services Committee; Creditors' Rights Committee of CFS, Chair
- American Bar Foundation, Director; Chair of the Fellows, 1998-1999; Florida Fellows, Chair, 1987-1996
- American Bar Association, House of Delegates, 1980-1989, 2008-Present
- American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section, Florida Delegate
- American Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
- The Florida Bar Foundation, Fellow, Director, 1980-1984
- The Florida Bar, Young Lawyers Section, Board of Governors
- American College of Bankruptcy, Fellow, former Regent and Director
- American College of Bankruptcy Foundation, Treasurer and Director
- American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers, Fellow; President, 1999
- American Law Institute, Life Member
- ALI-ABA, Director, 2009-2012
- The University of North Carolina School of Law's Center for Banking and Finance, Board of Advisors
- American Judicature Society, Director, 1980-1984
- The Eleventh Circuit Historical Society, President, 2013-2018
- College of Law Practice Management, Fellow
- International Insolvency Institute, Officer, Director, Secretary
- International Bar Association, Section on Insolvency Law, Co-Chair; and Banking Committee
- INSOL International
- National Center for State Courts, Lawyers Committee
- U.S. Supreme Court Historical Society
- Florida Supreme Court Historical Society, Trustee
- American Bankruptcy Institute, Board of Directors, 1985-1994
- Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association, Chairman, 1988
- Association of Commercial Finance Attorneys
- Cheatwood Inn of Court, Master of the Bench
- Selden Society
- Judicial Legal Delegation to People's Republic of China, 1980
- United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, Insolvency Colloquia, 1999 and 2005
- Harvard Law School Association of Florida, President
- Harvard University Alumni Association of West Coast of Florida, President
- Emory University Alumni Club of Tampa Bay, President
- Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Board of Regents; Board of Governors; Cultural Affairs Council, Chair
- Committee of 100, Vice Chair, Business Retention Committee; Ambassador Committee, 1996
- University of Tampa, Board of Trustees, 1987-1999
- University of Tampa Board of Fellows, Chair
- Arts Council of Tampa and Hillsborough County, Chairman
- The Tampa Club, President, 1986-1987
- The Tampa Museum of Art, President, 1986-1987
- Hillsborough County Bar Association, President, 1974
- Hillsborough County Bar Association, Delegate to the American Bar Association's House of Delegates
- Lowry Park Zoological Society, Board of Directors
- United Way of Hillsborough County, Former Board of Directors; Finance Committee, 2017-Present
- Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Board of Trustees
- University Community Hospital, Board of Trustees
- American Victory Mariners Memorial & Museum Ship, Board of Directors
- Midtown Kiwanis Club, President
- U.S. Coast Guard Reserve
- Stetson College of Law, Co-Chair of Annual Insolvency Seminar
Honors & Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America guide, Tampa Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law Lawyer of the Year, 2025
- The Best Lawyers in America guide, Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation, Equipment Finance Law, Litigation - Banking and Finance, Litigation - Bankruptcy, Litigation - Real Estate, 1993-2025
- Leading U.S. Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers, Lawdragon, 2020, 2022-2024
- Who's Who Legal: Restructuring & Insolvency, 2020-2024
- Who's Who Legal Florida: Restructuring & Insolvency, 2020
- Who's Who Legal: Restructuring & Insolvency: Global Leader, 2020
- The Best Lawyers in America guide, Tampa Litigation - Banking and Finance Lawyer of the Year, 2014, 2019
- Barbara Hancock Literacy Award, The Hillsborough County Literacy Association, 2018
- Celebrate Literacy Award, International Literacy Association, 2018
- Hillsborough County Bar Association, Herbert G. Goldburg Award for Distinguished Career, 2016
- Holland & Knight Public and Charitable Service All-Star, 2014, 2019
- Who's Who Legal 100: Insolvency & Restructuring, 2014-2020
- Florida Legal Elite, Florida Trend magazine, 2013
- Guide to the World's Leading Insolvency and Restructuring Lawyers, Legal Media Group's Expert Guides, 2013, 2015
- Distinguished Service Award, American College of Bankruptcy, 2011
- The International Who's Who of Insolvency & Restructuring Lawyers, 2011
- Chambers USA – America's Leading Business Lawyers guide, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, 2008-2019
- Insolvency and Restructuring Expert Guide, 2012
- Florida Super Lawyers magazine, 2006-2020
- Corporate Counsel Edition, Super Lawyers magazine, January 2009
- Douglas P. McClurg Professionalism Award, Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association, 2006
- Outstanding Past Local Bar President's Award, Florida Council of Bar Association Presidents, 1985
- President's Award in Recognition of Efforts as Chairman of the Long-Range Planning Committee, The Florida Bar, 1985
- Young Lawyers Section Award, The Florida Bar, 1981
- Who's Who In America
- Who's Who Legal – The International Who's Who of Insolvency & Restructurings Lawyers, 2013
- Who's Who Legal – The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, 2012
- Who's Who in the World
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
- Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy
- Fellow of American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers
- Fellow of College of Law Practice Management
- Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals Resolution Honoring Leonard H. Gilbert, 2018
