Elizabeth B. Honkonen

Accomplished commercial litigator Elizabeth Honkonen represents clients in federal and state trials and appeals, and in arbitrations. She concentrates in two main areas: representing clients in business litigation and defending lawyers and other professional services providers accused of wrongdoing.

Elizabeth handles a wide range of commercial matters, such as federal antitrust cases, business torts, contract disputes, price-gouging cases, securities fraud cases (defense), shareholder derivative actions, class action cases (defense), federal RICO investigations and litigation, intellectual property matters, independent investigations, and 28 U.S.C. § 1782 discovery proceedings.

Her broad-based clientele includes large retailers, luxury goods manufacturers, accounting firms, a cruise ship operator, a Ukrainian oligarch, a foreign automobile distributor, an oil drilling company, computer and computer equipment manufacturers, financial services companies, officers of a statewide electric utility company, a cement and concrete company, and a wireless telephone company, among many others. Clients appreciate Elizabeth’s ability to see cases from their perspective, the fact that she takes the time to understand their needs and goals, and her skill in helping them advance their objectives.

In the professional liability realm, Elizabeth focuses on attorney ethics, professional responsibility, and professional liability defense. She represents national and local law firms and attorneys against malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, malicious prosecution, misrepresentation, and other claims in connection with their services. She also advises attorneys and law firms on preventative measures and risk management strategies, helping to ensure they comply with all applicable rules. Elizabeth’s professional liability defense work extends to representing accountants, auditors, and other professionals who may be sued in connection with their services.

A former patent litigator with a math and science background, Elizabeth enjoys immersing herself in case complexities, technology, and intricate processes, and working with economic and damages experts. Delving into the details of each case, she analyzes the facts and the law. Then she plots a big-picture strategy with the client’s desired endgame in mind.

In addition to her practice as a litigator, Elizabeth served as a member and chair of The Florida Bar’s Grievance Committee 11G and has served as a moderator and panelist on panels discussing issues relating to professional responsibility and lawyer liability.

Honors & Awards

Chambers, Litigation General Commercial – Florida, Band 4 (2024)

Best Lawyers in America, 2020 - present

Commercial Litigation
Litigation-Securities

South Florida Legal Guide, Top Lawyers, Professional Liability – Defense, Commercial Litigation, 2010 - present

Florida Super Lawyers, Top Rated Business Litigation Attorney, 2022-2023

Thomas Davison, III Memorial Service Award, presented by the University of Miami Law Alumni Association, 2013

Representative Matters

Defended a Florida hospital system in a class action alleging it engaged in antitrust violations regarding inpatient and emergency room services. Elizabeth and her team successfully defeated class certification on the basis that the named plaintiffs were not actually members of the class they purported to represent. The team also successfully defeated the plaintiffs’ attempt to cure the problem by amending their complaint to expand the product market to include nonemergency outpatient care and to add a new plaintiff. Following those defense rulings, the case was dismissed with prejudice.

Represented a supermarket chain in a putative class action based on the supermarket’s imposition of a disclosed fee in connection with a customer’s request for “cash back” using a debit card. Elizabeth and her team successfully moved to dismiss the claims, arguing, among other things, that the complaint did not state a cause of action because it amounted to a claim for breach of a contract to which the plaintiff was not a party and under which it had no rights.

Represented retailers in a direct action antitrust lawsuit against major credit card companies for alleged antitrust violations relating to the imposition of interchange fees. The matter was resolved by confidential settlement.

Prevailed for a luxury brand manufacturer in numerous federal lawsuits against individuals and businesses that infringed on our client’s longstanding trademarks.

Helped achieve a confidential settlement midtrial for a luxury brand manufacturer in a contributory trademark infringement case against the owner-operator of a flea market that permitted sellers to offer counterfeit products for sale in violation of our client’s trademarks.

Second-chaired in representing an oil drilling company in an arbitration against a supplier of wastewater treatment facilities pursuant to strict water quality requirements. Achieved a confidential settlement following the arbitration.

Helped defeat a defendant’s motion to disqualify our law firm client in a substantial bankruptcy. The defendant argued that the law firm had a conflict of interest based on its prior representations of entities related to the defendant. Elizabeth and her team defeated the motion to disqualify by, among other things, demonstrating to the court that the defendant agreed to a conflict waiver by consenting to the firm’s representation of an adverse party.

Drafted the motions defeating a malicious prosecution action filed against our client, a Florida law firm, first winning summary judgment and then prevailing on appeal.