Recognized as a leader in his field for decades, Richard Critchlow litigated complex commercial cases of all types in state and federal court, as well as in arbitration.
Rick represented a host of clients in bet-the-company litigation for nearly 50 years. He prevailed in cases involving common law and statutory business torts, contract disputes, state and federal securities law violations, shareholder derivative claims, class actions, director and officer liability, lender liability, partnership issues, real estate issues, employment matters, and RICO, as well as favorably resolved numerous investigations.
He also defended many national and local law firms and attorneys in connection with malpractice claims, conflicts issues, and related claims, and regularly advises attorneys and law firms on preventative and risk management measures to help ensure that they comply with all applicable rules. Additionally, Rick frequently worked with other professionals facing allegations regarding their services.
Rick also was asked to serve as an arbitrator in complex commercial matters and as an expert on attorneys’ fees issues. He spoke at numerous conferences on lawyer liability issues and served on multiple grievance committees of The Florida Bar.
Rick is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers, and a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, the American Bar Association, Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, and the Miami Dade County Bar Association.
His numerous accolades include Chambers USA in Litigation: General Commercial recognition, listings in The Best Lawyers in America, Florida Trend’s Hall of Fame and Florida Legal Elite, Florida Super Lawyers as a Top Rated Business Litigation Attorney, Corporate Counsel as a Top Lawyer for Bet-the-Company Litigation, and South Florida Legal Guide as a Top Lawyer for Professional Liability – Defense and Corporate and Business Litigation.
Honors & Awards
Best Lawyers in America, 1995 - present
- Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants “Lawyer of the Year,” 2023, 2020, 2018
- Bet-the-Company Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
- Litigation – Securities
Benchmark Litigation, Local Litigation Star, General Commercial, Professional Liability, and Securities
- Band 1, Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite, 2022-2024
- Band 1, Litigation: General Commercial, 2021
- Band 2, Business Litigation, 2019-2020
- Band 1, Business Litigation, 2004-2018
- Top Rated Business Litigation Attorney, 2007 - present
- Florida Super Lawyers, Top 100: Miami Super Lawyers, 2019-2020, 2013-2015, 2010
- Florida Super Lawyers, Top 100: Florida Super Lawyers, 2015, 2007-2009
Florida Trend, Hall of Fame and Florida Legal Elite
Lawyers of Distinction – Civil Litigation, 2023
Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent™ 5.0/5.0 Peer Rated for Highest Level of
Professional Excellence
South Florida Legal Guide, Top Lawyer, Professional Liability – Defense, Corporate and Business Litigation, 2002 – present
Top 100 Registry, Miami Business Litigator, Attorney of the Year, 2024
Top 100 Registry American Legal Legend, 2023
Who’s Who Florida Trial Law Elite, 2024
Fellow, American Bar Foundation
Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
Fellow, International Society of Barristers
Newsroom
News & Events
- NewsSPERLING KENNY NACHWALTER ATTORNEYS RECOGNIZED AS 2024 SUPER LAWYERS
- NewsATTORNEYS RECEIVE TOP RANKINGS IN CHAMBERS USA 2024
- News13 SPERLING KENNY NACHWALTER ATTORNEYS RECOGNIZED IN THE BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA© 2024
- NewsSPERLING KENNY NACHWALTER ATTORNEYS RECOGNIZED AS 2023 FLORIDA SUPER LAWYERS
- NewsATTORNEYS RECEIVE TOP RANKINGS IN CHAMBERS USA 2023
August 18, 2022 – 13 Kenny Nachwalter Attorneys Recognized In The Best Lawyers In America© 2023
July 6, 2022 – Richard H. Critchlow Named Among Florida Trend’s 2022 Legal Elite Hall Of Fame
June 28, 2022 – Kenny Nachwalter Attorneys Recognized As 2022 Florida Super Lawyers
June 1, 2022 – Kenny Nachwalter Receives Top Rankings In Chambers USA 2022
August 19, 2021 - 17 Kenny Nachwalter Attorneys Recognized in the Best Lawyers In America© 2022
June 29, 2021 - Kenny Nachwalter Attorneys Recognized as 2021 Florida Super Lawyers
May 20, 2021 - Kenny Nachwalter Receives Top Rankings in Chambers USA 2021
April 05, 2021 - Kenny Nachwalter Recognized in the 2021 South Florida Legal Guide
August 20, 2020 - 15 Kenny Nachwalter Attorneys Recognized In The Best Lawyers In America© 2021, Two Selected “Lawyer Of The Year”
June 11, 2020 - Kenny Nachwalter Attorneys Recognized in the 2020 Florida Super Lawyers List
April 27, 2020 - Kenny Nachwalter Recognized Among Top Tier Law Firms in the 2020 Edition of Chambers USA
August 15, 2019 - 12 Kenny Nachwalter Attorneys Recognized in the Best Lawyers in America© 2020 and 1 Selected "Lawyer of the Year"
May 30, 2019 - 7 Kenny Nachwalter Attorneys Listed in the 2019 Florida Super Lawyers List
April 25, 2019 - Kenny Nachwalter Recognized Among Top Firms in Band 1 of the 2019 Edition of Chambers USA
March 1, 2019 - South Florida Legal Guide Recognizes Kenny Nachwalter as a “Top Law Firm” and 6 Attorneys as “Top Lawyers” in the 2019 South Florida Legal Guide
August 20, 2018 - 10 Kenny Nachwalter Attorneys Recognized in the Best Lawyers in America© 2019 and 4 Selected “Lawyer of the Year”
June 18, 2018 - 6 Kenny Nachwalter Attorneys Listed in Florida Super Lawyers List
April 23, 2018 - Richard H. Critchlow and Deborah S. Corbishley Speak at Legal Malpractice & Professional Liability Roundtable Presented by MIAMILAW
January 15, 2018 - South Florida Legal Guide Recognizes Kenny Nachwalter As A “Top Law Firm” And 6 Attorneys As “Top Lawyers” In The 2018 South Florida Legal Guide
August 15, 2017 - 10 Kenny Nachwalter Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© 2018 and 4 Selected “Lawyer of the Year”
June 15, 2017 - Super Lawyers Names Kenny Nachwalter Shareholder To Top 100: 2017 Miami Super Lawyers List And 7 Shareholders To 2017 Florida Super Lawyers List
June 5, 2017 - Kenny Nachwalter Once Again Recognized Among Top Firms in Band 1 of the 2017 Edition of Chambers USA
January 9, 2017 - Kenny Nachwalter, P.A. Recognized as a Top Law Firm and 7 Attorneys as Top Lawyers in the 2017 South Florida Legal Guide
Professional Activities
Professional Memberships
Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers
American Bar Association
- Vice Chairman, TIPS Section of Professional Liability, 1983-1985
Association of Trial Lawyers of America
The Florida Bar
- Business Law Section
- International Law Section
- Trial Lawyers Section
Miami-Dade Bar Association
Education
J.D., University of Miami School of Law, cum laude, 1973
B.A., Union University, with distinction, 1969
Bar Admissions
- Florida
- U.S. Supreme Court