David S. Oliver Attorney At Law

David is a preeminent business trial lawyer in the State of Florida. Rated “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell® since 1986, the premier independent rating guide to lawyers in the United States, he has additionally been named by his peers and the judiciary to Best Lawyers in America from 2006-2022. In 2014, Orlando Magazine has recognized David as one of the "Best Lawyers" in Orlando from 2006-2021, and honored him as “Lawyer of the Year”, citing his recognition for “Bet the Company Litigation.” He has been recognized in Florida Super Lawyers from 2006-2015. He was similarly honored as Florida Trend’s “Legal Elite."

Prior to joining GrayRobinson, David was a partner at several of the largest law firms in the United States, including serving as Chair of a National Litigation practice group of one of the 5 largest national law firms in the United States.

David’s practice is unique, in that he has handled approximately 50 jury trials to verdict, along with dozens of non-jury trials. While many prominent business litigators actually have little or no trial experience, David typically has handled two trials a year over his 35-year legal career.

Beginning in the last decade, David became one of the leaders in pushing for mainstream law firms to handle commercial litigation matters on modified or contingent fee agreements. Today, while he maintains a traditional business litigation practice, David also serves as chair of GrayRobinson’s business contingency litigation practice.

David’s practice areas include commercial and business tort litigation, contract litigation, corporate dispute litigation, class action litigation (both Plaintiff and Defendant), as well as select catastrophic injury and wrongful death litigation.

• Areas of Emphasis
  • Commercial Litigation
• Education
  • College of William & Mary, B.A. (honors, 1982)
  • Florida State University College of Law, J.D. (high honors, 1985)
    • Article & Notes Editor, Florida State University Law Review
• Admissions
  • Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
  • U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
  • U.S. Court of Claims
• Professional Associations & Memberships
  • The Florida Bar
• Awards & Recognitions
  • AV-Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell®
  • Best Lawyers in America, 2006-2021
  • Orlando Magazine, Best Lawyers, 2006-2021
    • “Lawyer of the Year,” Bet the Company Litigation, 2014
  • Florida Super Lawyers, 2006, 2008-2015
  • Florida Trend’s “Legal Elite,” 2004, 2005, 2009-2012, 2015-2018
• Reported Cases
  • William Petty, et al., v. The Arbitrage Fund, etc., et al., Case No.: 18-1441, Third District Court of Appeal, Florida
  • The Arbitrage Fund v. William Petty, et al., Case No.: 3D19-797, Third District Court of Appeal, Florida
  • HDE Inc. v. Bee Line Supply Company, --So.3d-- (Fla. 5th DCA 2016)
  • PEO Pro'ls, Inc. v. I-Group, Inc., 2015 Fla. App. LEXIS 14459 (Fla. 2d DCA 2015)
  • W.H.B. of Daytona, Inc. v. City of Daytona Beach, 2015 Fla. App. LEXIS 15076 (Fla. 5th DCA 2015)
  • Harding v. Orlando Apartments, LLC, 748 F.3d 1128 (11th Cir. 2014)
  • Pincus v. AMTRAK, 581 Fed. Appx. 88 (2d Cir. 2014)
  • Fowler v. Paradise Lakes Condominium Ass'n. 133 So.3d 576 (Fla. 5th DCA 2014)
  • Prime v. Post Buckley Schuh & Jernigan, 2013 WL 4506357 (M.D. Fla. Aug. 23, 2013)
  • Zlatkiss v. All American Team Concepts,125 So.3d 953 (Fla. 5th DCA 2013)
  • Street v. Allianz Life Insurance Co., 83 So. 3d 779 (Fla. 5th DCA 2011)
  • Williams v. Liberty Bancorporation, 40 So.3d 84 (Fla. 5th DCA 2010)
  • Schraw v. Estate of Hester, 751 So.2d 165 (Fla. 5th DCA 2000)
  • Stamm v. Native Homes, Inc., 721 So.2d 809 (Fla. 5th DCA 1998)
  • Kaplan v. Peterson, 674 So.2d 201 (Fla. 5th DCA 1996)
  • C&W Leasing, Inc. v. Orix Credit Alliance, 957 F.2d 815 (11th Cir. 1992)