Brian Howard Koch
Partner
Brian Howard Koch
954.468.7984
Overview
Brian H. Koch is a commercial litigation attorney in Holland & Knight's Fort Lauderdale office. Mr. Koch focuses his practice on commercial litigation, contract disputes, insurance, employment and real property litigation.
Mr. Koch represents regional, national and international clients in state and federal courts, and in arbitration proceedings. He has broad experience handling all aspects of litigation, including motion practice, trial and appeals.
Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. Koch was a shareholder at the Fort Lauderdale office of a large international law firm.
While in law school, Mr. Koch served as the managing editor of the Florida Law Review and chair of the International Moot Court Board.
Representative Experience
- Lead counsel for $80 million probate matter, securing favorable judgment after 11-day bench trial that upheld challenged testamentary documents
- Represented law firm partners in business dispute with a former partner, resulting in complete defense verdict for clients in arbitration
- Represented a foreign car dealership in defense of preliminary injunctive relief sought by automobile wholesaler in Puerto Rico; after evidentiary hearing, preliminary injunctive relief was denied
- Served as lead counsel for a contractor in obtaining arbitration award enforcing multimillion-dollar contract and securing full payment following award
- Representation of America's largest fragrance distributor in a jury trial concerning breach of contract and equitable claims
- Served as lead counsel for a medical company in jury trial for Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) dispute
- Represented two of the world's foremost integrated aluminum companies in a trademark infringement case filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico; settled shortly after the U.S. magistrate judge issued a report recommending injunctive relief in clients' favor
- Obtained injunctions on behalf of multiple clients in trademark infringement suits. See, e.g., Park 'N Fly Service Corp. v. Airport Parking, Inc., No. 0:12–cv–60389–RNS, 2012 WL 1949361 (S.D. Fla.)
- Service as expert witness for attorneys' fees disputes
- Defended placement of constitutional amendment on ballot for Florida's November 2004 general election, 880 So. 2d 636 (Fla. 2004)
- Represented a family trust in property dispute involving beachfront commercial property, securing complete verdict for client following eight-day jury trial
- Secured a favorable judgment in arbitration for a real estate brokerage in multimillion-dollar commission dispute
- Handled all expert and valuation issues during 12-day federal bench trial that resulted in judgment adopting client’s valuation in dispute regarding a South Beach hotel
- Obtained injunction for a real estate company in enforcement of noncompete agreement; affirmed on appeal; see Kings Point Signature Real Estate Company LLC v. Gibson, 2018 WL 6575517 (Fla. 4th DCA)
- Represent numerous clients in landlord/tenant litigation, including evictions, damage claims, lease issues and fine disputes
- Represented a Fortune 500 company, its former general counsel and former human resources vice president in three-week jury trial for alleged disability discrimination and defamation, which resulted in complete defense verdict on all claims where plaintiff had sought in excess of $8 million in damages; all lower court issues were affirmed on appeal on February 22, 2022 (Fla. 4th DCA)
- Favorably resolved post-employment issues for former CEO of medical company following acquisition
- Obtained injunction for a medical practice in enforcement of noncompete agreement; affirmed on appeal; see Riley M.D. v. Neurospine Institute LLC, 301 So. 3d 228 (Fla. 4th DCA Sept. 3, 2020)
- Obtained summary judgment for an insurance company in complicated property dispute; affirmed on appeal; see Perez v. American Security Ins. Co., 2022 WL 532955 (Feb. 23, 2022)
- Defended a major title insurer against alleged contract, tort and constructive fraud claims seeking $35 million in damages; obtained summary judgment in favor of the title insurer on all pending counts; judgment was affirmed on appeal, 2014 WL 2917052 (Fla. 2d DCA)
- Represented a client in jury trial in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and obtained a $5 million verdict in client's favor in complex insurance dispute
- Represent clients in federal and state courts concerning property insurance and life insurance disputes
Credentials
Education
- University of Florida Levin College of Law, J.D., magna cum laude
- University of Florida, B.A., cum laude
Bar Admissions/Licenses
- Florida
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida
Memberships
- Federal Bar Association (FBA) Broward Chapter, President, 2019-2020; President-Elect, 2018-2019; Vice President, 2017-2018; Secretary, 2016-2017; Treasurer, 2015-2016; Civics Liaison, 2017-Present; Named FBA Chapter of Year during term as President
- The Florida Bar, Board of Governors, Seventeenth Circuit Representative, Seat 2, 2023-Present
- The Florida Bar, Federal Court Practice Committee, 2017-2023; Committee Chair, 2022-2023; Federal Judicial Roundtable, Co-Chair, 2021; Committee Vice Chair, 2021-2022; Grievance Committee Vice Chair, 2015-2018
- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society South Florida Chapter, Board of Trustees, 2016-2023
- Stephen R. Booher American Inn of Court, Board of Directors, 2015-Present; President, 2023-2024
- Jewish Federation of Broward County, Judicial Reception Committee, 2015-2023
- B'nai B'rith Justice Unit, Board of Directors, 2016-Present; Membership Co-Vice President, 2020-2022, 2024-Present
- Broward County Bar Association, Professionalism Committee Chair, 2016-2021; Bench and Bar Committee, 2020-Present
- Beth Torah Congregation, At-Large Vice President and Chairman of the Board, 2012-2014; Parliamentarian, 2022-Present
- Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Ex Officio Member, Board of Directors, 2013; Ghost Light Society Steering Committee Co-Chair, 2013; Ghost Light Society Member, 2012-2014
- Leadership Broward Class XXIX; Chair, Community Service Project with Sun-Sentinel Children's Fund
- The Florida Bar, Leadership Academy Class III Fellow
- Leadership Broward Foundation, Board of Directors, 2009-2010
- Emerge Broward, Program Co-Chair, 2009-2010
- Lawyers for Children America Program, Guardian Ad Litem, 2004-2008
- University of Florida Levin College of Law, Alumni Council, 2002-Present
Honors & Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America guide, Commercial Litigation, 2021-2024
- Florida Super Lawyers magazine, 2019-2024
- Florida Legal Elite, Florida Trend magazine, 2019-2024
- Top Lawyers in Broward County, Commercial Litigation and Insurance Law, Ft. Lauderdale Illustrated, 2022
- Top Lawyer, South Florida Legal Guide, 2019
- Top Up and Comer, South Florida Legal Guide, 2015-2018
- Rising Star, Florida Super Lawyers magazine, 2010-2011, 2013-2018
- Committee Chair of the Year, Broward County Bar Association, 2017 and 2019
- Fort Lauderdale Man of the Year Award, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 2015
- Rising Stars 40 Under 40, Daily Business Review, 2014
- 40 Under 40, South Florida Business Journal, 2014
- Paul May Young Lawyers Section Professionalism Award, Broward County Bar Association, 2014
- 40 Under 40 Outstanding Lawyers of Miami-Dade County Award, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 2012
- President's Young Leadership Award, Beth Torah Congregation, 2009
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
- Student of the Year, University of Florida Levin College of Law, 2002
- Book Award, Trial Practice, 2002
- Book Award, Income Taxation, 2002
- Order of the Coif
- University of Florida Hall of Fame
- Chancellor, University of Florida Student Honor Court, 2002