Richard Critchlow, Sperling Kenny Nachwalter Photo
Vice Chairman Emeritus

Richard H. Critchlow

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 LitigationLocal Litigation Star, General Commercial, Professional Liability, and Securities

Chambers USA

  • 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

Florida Super Lawyers

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

  • Chambers Badge Richard Critchlow

Newsroom

News & Events

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

May 9, 2018 - Kenny Nachwalter Recognized Among Top Firms in  Band 1 of the 2018 Edition of Chambers USA For Antitrust and General Commercial Litigation

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
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