St. Petersburg 727-321-2728
Guillermo A. Ruiz
Email: guillermo@ruizlawyers.com
Guillermo A. Ruiz has decades of experience as a litigator at both the federal and state levels. Over the course of his career, his practice has seen concentrations on complex commercial and business disputes, complex transactions, and corporate reorganizations. In addition, Mr. Ruiz has handled a considerable variety of other cases and matters such as personal injury, contractual disputes, real estate foreclosures, and professional malpractice/defense.
Mr. Ruiz has defended and served as lead counsel in several hundred criminal cases in courts throughout the State of Florida and in courts of the United States around the country. He has also served as an appellate advocate in many cases in both state and federal courts. Additionally, Mr. Ruiz has served as an arbitrator for the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, Tampa/Ft. Meyers Division.
Guillermo A. Ruiz has decades of experience as a litigator at both the federal and state levels. Over the course of his career, his practice has seen concentrations on complex commercial and business disputes, complex transactions, and corporate reorganizations. In addition, Mr. Ruiz has handled a considerable variety of other cases and matters such as personal injury, contractual disputes, real estate foreclosures, and professional malpractice/defense.
Mr. Ruiz has defended and served as lead counsel in several hundred criminal cases in courts throughout the State of Florida and in courts of the United States around the country. He has also served as an appellate advocate in many cases in both state and federal courts. Additionally, Mr. Ruiz has served as an arbitrator for the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, Tampa/Ft. Meyers Division.
Mr. Ruiz earned his Associate of Arts degree from the University of Florida and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science at the University of Miami. After earning his law degree from Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, he began his practice after being admitted to the Florida Bar. Working his way through law school, Mr. Ruiz gained a great deal of experience through his employment, holding positions as a clerk in a local law firm concentrating on civil matters and bankruptcy, and as a Spanish teacher for Pinellas County Schools, Adult Education Division. Also during law school, and for a period thereafter, Mr. Ruiz served as a Trustee in Bankruptcy, U.S. Department of Justice, for the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida.
Mr. Ruiz has been recognized as a 50-year member of the Florida Bar and is a former member of the American Bar Association, Pinellas County Trial Lawyers Association, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association. He has also served on several Florida Bar and St. Petersburg Bar Association committees to include the Criminal Law (Florida Bar), Pro Bono (St. Petersburg Bar), and Cooperation with Stetson University (St. Petersburg Bar) committees. Additionally, Mr. Ruiz has lectured on various legal topics in both public and private forums.
Although not currently active, Mr. Ruiz is a Life Member of the Amateur Trapshooter's Association and is a past president of the Florida Trapshooters Association.
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Mr. Ruiz has spent a lifetime handling not just big cases, but the day to day legal needs of his clients as well. He has represented all types of clients, from corporations to family farmers. In addition to his practice, Mr. Ruiz also serves as general counsel to Seminole Lake Country Club in Seminole, Florida.
Education
A.A. - University of Florida
B.A. - University of Miami
L.L.B. - Stetson University College of Law
Admitted to Practice:
Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of Florida and all Florida courts
United States Court of Appeal - Fifth Circuit
United States Court of Appeal - Eleventh Circuit
United States Courts for the Northern, Middle, Southern Districts of Florida
United States Court for the Western District of Missouri
Memberships:
Florida Bar
St. Petersburg Bar Association
Representative Sample of Cases:
R. v. State of Florida, 362 So.2d 138 (Fla. 1st DCA 1978). A criminal case and subsequent appeals involving millions of dollars in contraband.
U.S. v. W., et al., 586 F.2d 481 (C.A. 5, (Fla.) 1978). A multi-defendant case involving millions of dollars of contraband.
U.S. v. F.C.-C.C. S.B., et al., Case No. 86-070, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida. A multi-defendant case involving millions of dollars of contraband. (A key case that led to the eventual indictment of Panamanian dictator General Manuel Noriega and his capture by U.S. forces.)
Florida Patients Compensation Fund v. St. Petersburg Osteopathic Hospital, etc., et al., Case #84-2930 and #85-3103, Circuit Court, Leon County, Florida. A multi-defendant civil case involving millions of dollars in claimed damages and losses as well as massive discovery.
U.S. v. One Parcel of Real Estate at S.E. County Road 475, Summerfield, Florida, etc., Case #87-2195 CIV, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida. A forfeiture case involving millions of dollars in seized property.
P. v. I.N.S., 939 F.2d 963 (C.A. 11 1991). A multi-stage deportation case wherein the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed and remanded the case to the Board of Immigration Appeals in favor of the client.
In Re: A.S. Corporation, Case #97-10260-8B1, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Florida. A bankruptcy case involving millions of dollars in claims, massive discovery and multiple claimants.
Jonathan M. Ruiz
Email: jonathan@ruizlawyers.com
Jonathan earned his Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from the University of South Florida and his Juris Doctorate from Stetson University College of Law. Prior to earning his bar license, Jonathan served in the U.S. Marine Corps and had a career in the security industry. He currently serves in the Army National Guard.
Jonathan was fortunate enough to take advantage of Stetson's nationally recognized advocacy curriculum during his time in law school by attending advanced trial skills courses, interning at the State Attorney's Office for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, and attending a trial skills course in England.
Jonathan has been privileged to represent clients from all walks of life; from Florida cattle farmers to local businesses and all manner of individuals in between. He has also had the opportunity to advise victims throughout the state in the aftermath of hurricanes through the work of the Florida Bar.
Jonathan currently concentrates his practice on criminal defense, personal injury, civil liability, estate planning, probate administration, and small business law.
Education:
B.A. - University of South Florida
J.D. - Stetson University College of Law
Admitted to Practice:
Supreme Court of Florida and all Florida courts
United States Court for the Middle District of Florida
Memberships:
Florida Bar
​St. Petersburg Bar Association