Joshua Spector

---

Joshua Spector has advocated for clients in disputes ranging into tens of millions of dollars in controversy. As lead counsel, Mr. Spector has tried jury trials in both state and federal courts, and represented clients in federal appeals and appeals in Florida’s district courts and the Florida Supreme Court. Mr. Spector has represented a foreign head of state, Grammy-winning artists, record labels, models, artist managers, songwriters, and film production companies, in addition to numerous related businesses, officers, and directors.

Core specialties in Mr. Spector’s practice include complex business litigation and related arbitrations, trade dress infringement, cybersquatting and domain name disputes, copyright infringement, all ambits of trademark infringement under the Lanham Act, state common law unfair competition, defamation and trade libel, commercial litigation, appeals, non-competition agreements (non-competes), trade secrets (both under the Florida Trade Secret Act and the new DTSA), intra-company management disputes, dissolution, receiverships, and shareholder derivative claims.  Mr. Spector has also qualified as an Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association and is available to act as a private arbitrator by agreement of the parties. From 2014 to 2024, Mr. Spector held board certification as a business litigator, i.e., recognition as an expert by the Florida Bar. 

Among several publications, Mr. Spector is the co-author of the definitive book on Florida defense practice, “Florida Affirmative Defenses and Procedural Objections” in its 7th edition, and the 8th edition (2024) on the way. 

Mr. Spector has lectured and instructed attorneys on subjects including affirmative defenses and defensive motion practice, Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practice Act, and piercing the corporate veil. Appointed by the Florida Supreme Court in 2011, Mr. Spector served on the Court’s committee on standard jury instructions for business and contract cases for eight years where he led the drafting, among other instructions, on the standard instruction for misappropriation of trade secrets.

Admissions:

• The Florida Bar
• Supreme Court of the United States
• United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
• United States District Courts: Southern, Middle and Northern District of Florida
• United States Tax Court

Affiliations (Current and Former):

• Eleventh Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee “A” (former chair)
• Florida Supreme Court certified mediator, Florida Circuit Courts, Florida County Courts
• Panelist, American Arbitration Association
• Florida Supreme Court qualified arbitrator
• University of Miami Law Alumni Association (President, 2016-2017)
• University of Miami Alumni Association (Board of Directors, 2008-2012)
• Brown University (Class of 1996, President; Association of Class Leaders 2020- 2023)
• Brown University Club of Miami (Past President)
• Florida Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions (Contract & Business Case Committee, 2011‑2019)
• International Trademark Association
• American Bar Association
• Lawyers for Children America (Attorney Ad Litem)
• Florida Statewide Guardian ad Litem Program (Pro Bono Counsel)
• Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. (Board of Directors)
• The Florida Bar: Appellate Section
• The Florida Bar: Business Law Section
• The Florida Bar: Standing Committee on Lawyer Mental Health and Wellness (2018-2019)
• The Florida Bar: Civil Procedure Rules Committee
• Lecturer, University of Miami Herbert Business School

Notable Matters:

•  Cortes v. Universal Music Latino, 477 F. Supp. 3d 1290 (S.D. Fla. 2020) (defend songwriter of "Despacito" from copyright infringement claims);
• Vivid Entm’t, LLC v. J & B PB, LLC, No. 2:13-CV-524-FTM-29DN, 2015 WL 144352 (M.D. Fla. Jan. 12, 2015) (won $1 million-plus judgment for media company on trademark infringement, cybersquatting claims);
• Five for Entm’t S.A. v. Rodriguez, 877 F. Supp. 2d 1321 (S.D. Fla. 2012) (defended artist and record label from trade libel claims);
• Medimport, S.R.L. v. Cabreja, 929 F. Supp. 2d 1302 (S.D. Fla. 2013) (prosecuted trademark infringement claims for medical device distributor against Venezuela-focused competitor);
• Web.com Grp., Inc. v. Mobile Promotions Network, LLC, No. 3:14-cv-1374-J-25 JRK, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 182852 (M.D. Fla. Feb. 24, 2015) (defended Internet firm from trademark infringement claims);
• Chetu, Inc. v. Salihu, No. 09-60588-CIV-COHN/SELTZER, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 103910 *; 2009 WL 3448205 (S.D. Fla. October 26, 2009) (as lead counsel won jury verdict against multiple defendants for claims including misappropriation of trade secrets and code).

Note that past results or outcomes are no indication of future outcomes. We make no assurances or guarantees of outcomes in legal proceedings. Beware of anyone who does.