Robert D. Eckard

As the driving force behind Robert Eckard & Associates, P.A., based in Palm Harbor, Florida, attorney Robert D. Eckard holds a board certification in business litigation from The Florida Bar. He adeptly navigates the intricate worlds of white collar criminal investigations and defense, as well as the multifaceted realms of commercial and business litigation and transactions.

Additionally, Mr. Eckard skillfully handles professional licensing and administrative proceedings for various professionals, including physicians, health care workers, attorneys, accountants, securities brokers and insurance agents. His comprehensive background and extensive experience in business litigation, government investigations and criminal defense equip him to tackle business-related crimes with exceptional competence.

In the sphere of civil litigation, Mr. Eckard has taken on formidable opponents, including numerous government bodies such as the United States Federal Trade Commission, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, the Internal Revenue Service, the Florida Attorney General’s Office, the United States Department of the Treasury, United States Customs and Border Protection, the Florida Department of Health, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Food and Drug Administration. His casework has spanned issues like investor fraud, noncompete agreements, trade secrets, automotive financing agreements, unfair and deceptive trade practices, Civil RICO and telemarketing sales rule violations, among others.

Turning to criminal defense, Mr. Eckard has championed the cause of individuals – both defendants and witnesses – in state and federal courts across Florida and the nation. His cases often involve collaborations with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the Office of Criminal Investigations. His defense work encompasses a wide array of charges, including grand jury proceedings, international narco-trafficking, money laundering, extradition, international child abduction under the Hague Convention, violations of the Trading with the Enemy Act, bribery, conspiracy, health care fraud, securities fraud, embezzlement, visa fraud and other white collar crimes.

Originally hailing from New York, Mr. Eckard has called Florida home for over three decades. A distinguished 1998 graduate of Stetson University College of Law, he also holds an LL.M. in international law and business from the same institution. He frequently shares his insights as a guest lecturer on international law topics.

Admitted to The Florida Bar in 1999, Mr. Eckard is licensed to practice in Washington, D.C. (2014), Texas (2020) and before numerous courts, including the U.S. District Courts for the Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Florida, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, the Florida Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of International Trade, the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Tax Court. His legal reach extends even further, having practiced law pro hac vice in over 15 additional state and federal jurisdictions.

A distinguished presence in the legal community, Mr. Eckard takes an active role with the Barney Masterson American Inn of Court. He boasts a "Superb" rating on Avvo. Gifted with eloquence, he is both a captivating speaker and a skilled author, and he communicates effortlessly in Italian.