Our firm > Robert J. Becerra, Esq.

Robert J. Becerra concentrates his practice in the areas of litigation and arbitration, white collar criminal defense, grand jury investigations, corporate compliance and internal investigations, and administrative and judicial proceedings related to regulatory matters. Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Becerra spent 14 years with a white-collar criminal defense and litigation boutique, the last seven as a partner, and then was a partner in a nationwide Firm specializing in international trade issues. He has been counsel of record in a number of reported decisions, some of which resulted in changes in the law, and he has tried a number of cases, mostly jury trials, in both civil and criminal cases.

Mr. Becerra consistently receives the highest "AV" rating from the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory for legal skills and professional ethics and is rated "Superb" in the lawyer rating website www.avvo.com. He is listed as a "Top Lawyer" in the 2012 edition of the South Florida Legal Guide. He is a member of the Dade County Bar Association; the American Bar Association, where he is a member of the Criminal Justice and Litigation Sections, and the Federal Bar Association. He also served as a member of a Florida Bar Grievance Committee, investigating allegations of wrongdoing against members of the Bar.

Mr. Becerra has been lead counsel in a large number of criminal cases in various federal districts and states involving diverse areas of the criminal law and has tried many of those cases to verdict. He has also been lead counsel in a variety of federal and state appeals and has engaged in numerous appellate oral arguments. Mr. Becerra has also been lead counsel in internal investigations conducted by corporations alleged to have violated various regulations and laws, including laws involving the seafood industry and the importation of food and drug products. Mr. Becerra is well versed in the manner that internal investigations must be cloaked in the protections provided by the attorney-client privilege and work product doctrine to avoid disclosure of facts and findings without the client's consent. In addition, Mr. Becerra has been successful on many occasions in preventing charges against clients suspected of wrongdoing by preparing persuasive presentations that convince law enforcement authorities that criminal changes are unwarranted.

Mr. Becerra is very experienced handling civil litigation involving international trade issues, such as trademark infringement, cargo loss, errors and omissions by logistics providers and claims that arise between exporters and importers.

Mr. Becerra also has handled many Customs seizures of goods, liquidated damages and penalty cases, along with civil forfeitures of monies in corporate bank accounts which are alleged by the government to be tainted due to tracings to financial transactions in unregulated foreign exchange markets. Mr. Becerra has drafted and implemented anti-money laundering policies and procedures for exporters to mitigate the risk of money seizures. Mr. Becerra also advises clients on the due diligence required to avoid civil or criminal liability for export violations to embargoed countries through transport of controlled goods.

Mr. Becerra was a contributing author to the Annual Review of Developments in Business and Corporate Litigation, 2005 edition (chapter 18, "Intellectual Property"), for the Committee on Business and Corporate Litigation for the American Bar Association. He also authored "Threats of Criminal Action for Advantage in a Civil Dispute: Legal and Ethical Consequences" in the 3rd Annual International Litigation Update: Hot Topics in International Litigation, published by the Florida Bar's International Litigation and Arbitration Committee. He has been published as well in the Journal of Commerce, in web based newsletters and blogs and has been a speaker on a variety of panels and seminars regarding areas of his practice.

 

Office Location:
Miami
1001 Brickell Bay Drive
32nd Floor
Miami, Florida 33131

Phone:
305.350.5690

Fax:
305.371.8989

E-mail:
rbecerra@fuerstlaw.com

Practice Areas:
White Collar Criminal Defense
CBP and FDA Seizures and Detentions
Administration and Judicial Forfeiture Proceedings
Transportation Litigation
Corporate Compliance and Investigation
Grand Jury Proceedings
Export Regulations and Control
Commercial Disputes and Litigation Between Exporters and Importers
Trademark Infringement Litigation

Education:
University of Miami School of Law
Coral Gables, Florida
J.D., cum laude 1990

University of Miami
Coral Gables, Florida
B.B.A. 1986

Admitted:
Florida, 1990
United States District Court
For the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida, 1991
United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, 1991
Supreme Court of the United States, 1994
United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1994
United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 1997
United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, 2003

Food and Drug Law:
Robert J. Becerra, Esq. was quoted in the September 13, 2011 Wall Street Journal article entitled “U.S. Targets Drug Execs”, about how U.S. authorities are stepping up enforcement of a little-used law known as the “responsible corporate officer doctrine” to hold executives personally and criminally responsible for violations of food & drug laws.

Foreign Corrupt Practices and International Trade:
Robert J. Becerra, Esq. of Fuerst Ittleman PL was one of the two presenters in the Florida Bar, International Law Section Continuing Legal Education webinar entitled, "Managing Criminal Exposure under the FCPA and Other Laws Impacting International Trade", held March 15, 2012. The webinar reviewed and highlighted the criminal laws most likely to ensnare the companies and executives involved in international trade, such as exporters, importers of food, drugs, and other regulated products, and logistics companies. The webinar presentation will soon be available from the Florida Bar. Mr. Becerra and Fuerst Ittleman PL concentrate on representing clients involved in all facets of international trade and advising them on compliance with the law and defending against accusations of violations by the government.