Top-rated business lawyers

What does a business lawyer do?

A business lawyer advises companies and owners on forming, running, buying and selling a business, and represents them in commercial disputes in court or arbitration.

• Forming corporations and LLCs
• Contracts with customers, suppliers and partners
• Shareholder and partner disputes
• Buying or selling a business
• Commercial litigation and arbitration
• Non-compete and trade secret disputes

When do you need a business lawyer?

Use a business lawyer before you sign a major contract, take on partners or investors, or when a dispute could reach court.

• You are starting a company with partners
• A customer or supplier breached a contract
• You are buying or selling a business
• You were sued or need to sue over a commercial deal

Who are the best business lawyers in Florida?

The statewide ranking lists the top 25 of the 160 business lawyers LexRanked tracks in Florida, in order of their LexRank score. See the best business lawyers in Florida.

Where can I find a business lawyer in Florida?

Business rankings cover 11 Florida cities; Tampa has the most lawyers compared (22).

How much does a business lawyer cost in Florida?

Business lawyers usually bill by the hour; some offer flat fees for formation and contract work. Ask for a written estimate and how disputes will be billed. Under The Florida Bar's rules, a lawyer who has not represented you before must explain the basis or rate of the fee and costs, preferably in writing, and no fee may be clearly excessive.

Florida business rules to know

Florida gives five years to sue on a written contract and four on an oral one.

What does Board Certified in Business Litigation mean?

It is a credential from The Florida Bar for lawyers with substantial experience in the field who have passed peer review and a written exam. Florida Bar board certification requires at least five years of practice, substantial involvement in the field, peer review by other lawyers and judges, continuing legal education and a written exam, and it must be renewed every five years. About 4.9% of Florida lawyers hold a board certification in any field.

How to choose a business lawyer

Confirm the license in The Florida Bar's directory, then compare experience, certification and how often the lawyer handles cases like yours.

1. Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory: the license must show as eligible to practice, and public discipline is listed there.
2. Check for Board Certified in Business Litigation, which requires peer review and an exam.
3. Ask for the fee agreement in writing before work starts.
4. Ask: Have you handled disputes in my industry?
5. Ask: Do you try cases yourself or refer them out?
6. Ask: How will you keep costs predictable?

How LexRanked ranks business lawyers

By the LexRank score: experience, practice-area relevance, awards on record such as board certification, professional credentials, data quality and location, using only facts with a cited source. Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Data checked November 2026 against each lawyer's Florida Bar profile. Payment never changes a position. See how we rank.

Sources

• Florida Statutes, section 95.11
• Florida Statutes, section 501.201 (FDUTPA)
• Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, Rule 4-1.5 (fees and costs for legal services)
• The Florida Bar: Find a Lawyer directory