Practice areas: Aviation & Aerospace, Class Action & Mass Torts, Personal Injury; view more
Licensed in Florida since: 1964
Education: Georgetown University Law Center
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2006 - 2019, 2021 - 2025 An of counsel at Garay Law in Coral Gables, Florida, Robert L. Parks utilizes his 60-plus years of experience on behalf of his clients, working relentlessly to get them the relief and respite they deserve for the pain and suffering they have had to endure due to no fault of their own. He is well-equipped to take on personal injury cases nationwide involving aviation accidents, products liability, mass torts and offshore injury litigation, as well as wrongful death.
Mr. Parks completed his undergraduate studies in 1960, graduating with his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Florida. He went on to attend the Georgetown University Law Center and received his Juris Doctor in 1963, as well as his license to practice law in Florida the following year. During his time in law school, he was a member of the Georgetown Law Journal and chairman of the Barristers’ Council in appellate advocacy, further honing his legal talents that proved fruitful in all the cases he has handled.
A stalwart advocate for his clients, Mr. Parks has maintained consistency in his judicious advocacy in every case he takes on, emphasizing personalized attention, meticulous focus and a deep desire to see his clients free of their legal turmoil. For his many contributions, he has been recognized by myriad prestigious legal organizations, including:
- The International Academy of Trial Lawyers – Distinguished Fellow
- The Florida Justice Association – Recipient of the Perry Nichols Award
- The South Florida Legal Guide – Top Lawyers
- America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators
- The Best Lawyers in America since 1983
Within his legal community, Mr. Parks has held important roles in many legal organizations such as the president of the Dade County Bar Association, a member of the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar, a senior fellow at the Litigation Counsel of America and a past chairman of the Aviation Law Committee at the American Board of Trial Advocates. He is currently a member of the American Association for Justice, the American College of Trial Lawyers, the American Law Institute (lifetime member), the Funding Florida Legal Aid and the International Society of Air Safety Investigators, among many others.
Practice areas
Aviation and Aerospace, Class Action/Mass Torts: Plaintiff, Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, Business/CorporateFocus areas
Aviation, Aviation Accidents - Plaintiff, Wrongful Death
- 50% Aviation and Aerospace
- 20% Class Action/Mass Torts: Plaintiff
- 20% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
- 10% Business/Corporate
First Admitted: 1964, Florida
Professional Webpage: https://www.garaylawfirm.com/robert-parks
Bar / Professional Activity
- Florida Bar, 1964
- Chairman, Miami River Coordinating Committee, 1984-1989
- President, International Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2000-2001
- Member, Environmental Land Management Study Committee (ELMS II), 1982-1984
- Chairman, Environmental Regulation Commission, 1979-1987
- Member, Governor’s Commission on Property Rights, 1993-1994
- Chairman, Miami River Commission, 1998-2005
- President, Young Lawyers Section, The Florida Bar, 1972-1973
- State Committeeman, Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, 1978-1980
- Board of Governors, Young Lawyers Section, The Florida Bar, 1966-1971
- President, Young Lawyers Section, Dade County Bar Association, 1971-1972
- Tort Litigation Review Commission of The Florida Bar, 1983-1988
- Past Member, Florida Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism Board of Trustees
- Member, International Society of Air Safety Investigators
- Member, Lawyer Pilots Bar Association
- Member, American Law Institute
- Past Member, Board of Directors, Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
- Member, America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators
- President, American College of Trial Lawyers, 2000- 2001
- Diplomate, Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers
- Past Chairman, Aviation Law Certification Committee, The Florida Bar Association Fellow, American Board of Trial Advocates
- Past Chairman, ABA Forum on Air & Space Law
- Past Chair, Access to Justice Committee, American College of Trial Lawyers
- Member, Board of Governors, The Florida Bar, 1978-1982
- Member, Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission, 1974-1975
- Chairman, Barristers Council (Appellate Advocacy), Georgetown University Law Center
- Member, Dade County Bar Association, President, 1980-1981
- Past Chairman, Board of Visitors, National Judicial College
- Executive Committee Member, Board of Trustees, National Judicial College
Pro bono / Community Service
- Past Co-Chair, Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc., Fund Raising Committee
- Former Chairman, Florida Environmental Regulation Commission
- Member, Legal Services of Greater Miami
- Original Member, Litigation Chair, 1,000 Friends of Florida
- Member, Board of Directors, Boys and Girls Club of Miami
- Past Member, Advisory Council, Trust for Public Land
- Past Board Member, HistoryMiami
- Member, Dean’s Advisory Council, FIU College of Law
- Board of Directors and Litigation Counsel, Everglades Foundation
- 11th Judicial Circuit Historical Society, Board of Trustees
Educational Background
- University of Florida, B.A. in Political Science, Gainesville, FL, 1960
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Member, Georgetown Law Review
- Co-Author, “Military Accidents” and “Air Traffic Control Negligence” in Kreindler’s Aviation Accident Law for Matthew Bender & Company, Inc.
Honors
- America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators
- The National Audubon Society, Environmentalist of the Year
- Fellow, American Board of Trial Advocates
- U.S. News & World Report’s Best Lawyers and “Best Law Firms” rankings, 2008-2022
- National Aviation Trial Lawyers Top 10
- America’s Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys
- South Florida Legal Guide “Top Lawyer”, 2003 to Present
- Lawdragon Top 3000, 2010-11
- Florida Super Lawyers, 2005 to Present
- Florida Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (FLABOTA) Personal Injury (Plaintiff) Trial Attorney of the Year Award (2017), given to a candidate who has had a distinguished career and a superb reputation of high ethics and fair play.
- Best Lawyers of America, 1983 to Present
- The Southern Trial Lawyers Association “War Horse Award (2011),” its highest honor for extraordinary contributions to the cause of justice.
- The Florida Justice Association’s “Perry Nichols Award (2012),” given annually to a Floridian who has fought with distinction for justice throughout his life.
- History Miami’s 11th Judicial Circuit Historical Society’s “Legal Legends Award (2015),” which recognizes members of the legal community who have made significant contributions to the law, legal system or the administration of justice for at least 25 years or more.
- International Academy of Trial Lawyers’ Distinguished Fellow designation (2017), which has only occurred on ten occasions since the founding of the academy, the honorary association of elite trial attorneys.
- Fellow, Florida Bar Foundation
- Miami-Dade County Law Library Award, 2019
- Fellow, Roscoe Pound Foundation
- Lifetime member, American Law Institute
- Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
- Fellow, American Trial Lawyers Association
- Fellow, International Society of Barristers
- Distinguished Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2017
Office location for Robert L. Parks
267 Minorca Avenue
Suite 300
Coral Gables, FL 33134
Phone: 305-400-9095
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2006 - 2019, 2021 - 2025
