Veteran trial attorney Javier Rodriguez joins Agentis as partner
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Veteran trial attorney Javier Rodriguez joins Agentis as partner
Coral Gables-based firm strengthens litigation practice with the addition of acclaimed business litigator
By Jo Mathis
Agentis has announced the addition of veteran litigator Javier J. Rodriguez as a business litigation partner. Rodriguez brings more than 35 years of South Florida legal experience to the firm.
Robert P. Charbonneau says the Agentis team is thrilled to welcome Rodriguez aboard due to his new partner’s exceptional legal background and personal character.
"Frankly, Javier’s extensive amount of jury trial experience adds a dimension to our litigation practice I don’t believe we've ever had,” Charbonneau said.
Recognized as a member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates, Rodriguez joins Agentis with an impressive record of more than 80 trials and arbitrations and over 50 appeals throughout his career. Prior to joining Agentis, he served as a partner in the Miami office of national law firm Saul Ewing LLP and was managing partner of Perez and Rodriguez, P.A. for more than two decades.
Rodriguez's connection to Agentis runs deep, having collaborated with the firm as co-counsel on numerous significant cases.
"I have known the partners at Agentis for years, in some cases decades," Rodriguez said. "I met Bob Charbonneau when he and I were 12 years old, and we were later in high school together. We have been friends most of our lives."
This established relationship has already yielded notable results.
"Chris Spuches and I tried the Kipu v. Zencharts case together in 2019 where we got a $19.5 million verdict for our client after a three-week Federal jury trial," Rodriguez noted. "We have worked together on many important cases over the years, including getting an $80 million judgment for an investment fund client last year."
Most business litigation firms rarely see extensive courtroom experience, as disputes are typically settled before reaching trial, Charbonneau said, adding that Rodriguez's extensive background in trying, arbitrating, and mediating cases represents a significant enhancement to the firm's litigation capabilities.
With an accounting background that gives him unique insight into financial matters, Rodriguez concentrates his practice on commercial and real estate disputes, corporate governance and shareholder disputes, financial transactions, and accounting disputes. He has been certified as a mediator in civil cases since 2008 by the Supreme Court of Florida and is admitted to practice in the U.S. Circuit Court Southern District of Florida and the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.
"In terms of perspective, I consider myself first and foremost a trial lawyer," Rodriguez explained. "I have tried over 80 cases in my career, including three last year, and am a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. I know how to try and win a case, and how to identify one the client should settle. I also have a background in accounting, the language of business, which gives me a good foundation to understand the issues in commercial disputes."
Among his most notable cases, Rodriguez represented the Economic Opportunity Family Health Center in a high-profile 1994-95 medical malpractice case involving a woman who falsely tested positive for HIV. The case was televised live on Court TV.
"This was back in the day when this disease carried a death sentence," Rodriguez recalled. "We obtained a defense verdict for our client. The lab and a doctor were found responsible. It was a very tough case and I am very proud of the work we did there. A great win."
Outside the courtroom, Rodriguez is an accomplished sailor who has participated in competitive racing since college. In 2018, he was part of a crew that placed 18th out of 171 boats in the ARC, a prestigious trans-Atlantic sailboat race from the Canary Islands to St. Lucia.
"Sailing taught me to overcome fear, for as has been written: ‘Fear is the mind-killer.’”
Some of his other interests include golf and reading, and many of the books in his large library are focused on military history and strategy.
"I often use military analogies when discussing cases with clients, and an understanding of military theory absolutely helps one assess the risks and options in a litigation matter," Rodriguez said.
Golf has taken him to some of the best courses in the world.
“To be a good golfer, one must control emotions and learn and hone a large array of skills,” he said. “The same is true in law.”
Beyond his professional qualifications, Rodriguez's personal attributes make him an ideal addition to the team. Emphasizing the importance of trust and personal chemistry in law firm dynamics, Charbonneau said of his childhood friend: "Javier is a perfect cultural fit. He's a wonderful person, respectful of everyone around him, courteous, and a very fun guy. Having partners that you trust may be one of the most important ingredients in law firm dynamics.”
For Rodriguez, who is a graduate of the University of Miami Herbert School of Business and the University of Miami School of Law, joining Agentis represents both a professional and personal milestone.
"Very simply, the firm had a need which I filled, and the timing was right," he said. "I was moved by the idea of working with people I really loved and who are top-shelf professionals as well."
"I am just thrilled to be at Agentis," Rodriguez concluded. "It is really a family atmosphere here and coming to the office every day is a joy. We do very high-level work, and we do it as a team where we all care for each other and have each other's back. There is no better place for me to be than here."