Biography
Joe is an aggressive advocate for clients involved in high-stakes business and construction disputes and white collar criminal litigation.
A former federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Miami Organized Crime Strike Force, Joe has four decades of experience leading trial teams. He is well-known for his tenacity and no-holds-barred approach to major litigation before state and federal courts.
Joe has secured trial court victories for clients in banking and financial services, corporate construction, international business, public school systems and government entities. He has defended individuals under investigation and subject to criminal and regulatory charges by the U.S. Department of Justice and state and federal regulators. Read more about Joe's litigation successes.
Certified by the Florida Bar as a Business Litigation Specialist, Joe has successfully handled many “bet the company” cases. His experience extends to:
- Accounting malpractice
- Breach of fiduciary duty
- Bribery and extortion
- Construction defect and delays
- Corporate governance
- Federal RICO claims
- Fraud and embezzlement
- Legal malpractice
- Money laundering
- Tax evasion
Honors & Awards
- Litigation Counsel of America, Senior Fellow
- Recognized in the Chambers USA Guide for Litigation: General Commercial in Florida (2022-present)
- Selected to the "Best Lawyers in America" list for Commercial Litigation (2008-present), Criminal Defense: White Collar (2009-present) and Litigation - Construction (2011-present) in Miami, FL by Best Lawyers
- Selected, Florida Trend’s Florida Legal Elite (2017-present)
- Named a "Top Lawyer" by South Florida Legal Guide (2015-present)
- Rated AV Preeminent™ in Judicial Edition of Martindale-Hubbell® (2018-present)
Before Fox Rothschild
Prior to joining Fox, Joe was a partner at the Miami law firm of Tew Cardenas LLP. He was also a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, Miami Organized Crime Strike Force. During law school, Joe was managing editor of the Buffalo Law Review.
Beyond Fox Rothschild
Joe is a longtime member of the American Bar Association’s Litigation Section and currently serves as Co-Chair of its Professional Liability Litigation Committee.
Since 1994, Joe has taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Miami School of Law, including courses on “Trial Skills" and "Business Litigation Skills." He is a frequent author and speaker on construction litigation, mediation and white collar criminal topics for the National Business Institute. He has also appeared as a legal commentator on white collar criminal issues for CNN, CNBC and national and local radio outlets.
Bar Admissions
- Florida
- New York
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Western District of New York
Education
- State University of New York at Buffalo Law School (J.D., cum laude, 1982)
- St. Bonaventure University (B.A., magna cum laude, 1979)
Memberships
- American Bar Association
- Litigation Section, Leadership
- Co-Chair, Professional Liability Litigation Committee, 2025-2026
- Member, Regional CLE Programs Committee, 2021-present
- Member, Roundtables Committee, 2020-2021
- Litigation Section, Leadership
- The Florida Bar
- Business Litigation Certification Committee, 2006-2012; Chair, 2009-2011
- Federal Practice Committee, 2012-2018
- Legal Malpractice Certification Subcommittee, 2013-2017
- New York Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Leadership
- St. Bonaventure University, Board of Trustees, 2009-2018
- National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, Florida Commissioner 2005-2007
