Paul A. McDermott

Paul McDermott is a trial and litigation attorney in Holland & Knight's Tampa office. He advises and represents businesses and individuals who operate in the financial services, healthcare, real estate and manufacturing industries.

Mr. McDermott regularly litigates in federal and state courts, as well as arbitration forums, and his practice covers all aspects of trial litigation, including pre-suit investigations through jury and non-jury trials. His practice focuses on complex commercial litigation matters involving contract disputes, business torts, shareholder disputes, consumer and commercial banking disputes, noncompetition agreements, intellectual property disputes, insurance brokerage disputes, physician joint venture disputes, adversary bankruptcy proceedings, and real estate.

Mr. McDermott also serves as the pro bono partner for the Tampa office and regularly provides pro bono representation to clients in need. Among other pro bono matters, he has argued before the Florida Supreme Court on behalf of an indigent prisoner defendant, represented a single parent in a family custody dispute, represented a minor in the foster care system, and represented an armed services member in obtaining a civil injunction.

Mr. McDermott is a former board member of the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. He is a longtime member of the local board of directors of Junior Achievement, a nonprofit organization that emphasizes economic literacy and entrepreneurship in schools. Mr. McDermott is the former co-chair of the Opening Doors for Children Mock Trial Program at Benjamin Franklin Middle School, sponsored by Holland & Knight.