Roy Black is a name synonymous with legal excellence in the United States. As a founding partner of his firm, he has built a formidable reputation as one of the nation’s most distinguished trial and appellate lawyers. For over five decades, Roy Black has been a tireless advocate, a strategic litigator, and a trusted counselor, earning widespread recognition for his exceptional skills and unwavering dedication to his clients.
His success stems from a powerful combination of analytical prowess, intellectual sharpness, and a remarkable ability to craft compelling narratives around each client’s unique situation. Driven by an insatiable thirst for knowledge and an absolute commitment to honing his legal skills, Roy Black has solidified his position as a leading figure in both criminal defense and civil litigation. His relentless work ethic and effectiveness have made him the go-to attorney for high-stakes legal battles.
Throughout his illustrious career, Roy Black has navigated a vast landscape of complex legal challenges, successfully resolving hundreds of high-profile cases across Florida and the nation. His expertise spans a wide spectrum of charges, from murder and securities fraud to intricate financial crimes like bank, healthcare, and mail/wire fraud, as well as sensitive matters involving money laundering, internet sex crimes, and tax evasion.
Roy Black gained national prominence for his landmark victory in the William Kennedy Smith case, securing an acquittal on rape charges in Palm Beach, Florida. This high-profile trial cemented his reputation for courtroom brilliance. His track record extends beyond criminal defense, demonstrating his versatility in civil litigation. He successfully defended Eller Media (now Clear Channel Outdoor) against manslaughter charges arising from the tragic electrocution of a young boy.
Further showcasing his diverse capabilities, Roy Black defended Albertsons, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, against manslaughter charges brought by the State of Florida. He also secured a significant victory for renowned artist Peter Max in a federal income tax evasion case. Adding to his impressive list of clients, Roy Black represented Helio Castroneves, the celebrated Indy 500 winner and Dancing with the Stars champion, in a complex six-week tax trial, ultimately achieving an acquittal on income tax evasion charges. His client roster includes other notable figures such as Rush Limbaugh, Kelsey Grammer, and law enforcement officers involved in high-profile cases.
In the realm of media and defamation law, Roy Black recently achieved a notable win for online news publication BuzzFeed. He successfully defended BuzzFeed against a defamation lawsuit filed by a Russian entrepreneur mentioned in the controversial Christopher Steele dossier. Roy Black skillfully argued that BuzzFeed’s publication was protected under the principle of fair reporting on official proceedings, a landmark decision in media law.
Roy Black’s civil litigation practice also includes representing major corporations like Rolls Royce in contract disputes with cruise lines. He has also handled sensitive and complex cases involving privacy and personal rights, such as representing a prominent entertainment executive in lawsuits concerning the alleged surreptitious harvesting of his DNA.
Since 1987, Roy Black has consistently been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®, a testament to his enduring excellence in the legal profession. Chambers USA, a leading legal ranking organization, describes Roy Black as a top-tier litigator with “the best national reputation in the State (of Florida),” emphasizing his consistent delivery of exceptional legal services. Chambers USA has lauded him as “scary good,” highlighting his unique talent before juries and unparalleled courtroom presence and preparation.
Roy Black’s legal acumen and high-profile cases have garnered extensive media attention. He has been featured on the cover of numerous national legal and business publications and served as NBC’s legal analyst for “The Today Show.” He has also made frequent appearances on ABC’s “Good Morning America” and other major news networks, offering expert legal commentary on significant national events. His insights are further captured in his book, “Black’s Law,” where he details the winning strategies employed in defending four challenging cases.
Beyond his courtroom achievements, Roy Black is deeply committed to legal education. Affectionately known as “the professor,” he has been teaching Advanced Criminal Evidence at the University of Miami School of Law since 1973. This long-standing professorship reflects his passion for nurturing the next generation of legal professionals and sharing his vast knowledge and experience with aspiring trial lawyers. He finds immense personal satisfaction in contributing to the development of successful legal careers for his students.
BSKS Experience Highlights
Roy Black’s career is punctuated by a series of significant legal victories, including:
- Securing the acquittal of William Kennedy Smith on highly publicized rape charges in Palm Beach, Florida.
- Achieving the dismissal of “doctor shopping” charges against Rush Limbaugh.
- Obtaining an acquittal for Eller Media in a manslaughter case related to a tragic electrocution incident.
- Successfully defending Albertsons, Inc. against manslaughter charges, resulting in the case’s dismissal.
- Representing artist Peter Max in a New York income tax evasion case.
- Winning acquittals for South Florida police officers Luis Alvarez and William Lozano in separate manslaughter cases.
- Acquitting a Miami jewelry supplier and sales manager accused of laundering millions in drug money.
- Securing an acquittal for a Miami attorney in an internet sex crime case.
- Achieving an acquittal for Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves in a tax evasion trial.
- Serving as lead trial attorney in a major financial derivatives case in New York, resulting in a significantly reduced sentence for his client.
- Successfully preventing the arrest and child removal of a father falsely accused of infant injury, by presenting expert medical and engineering evidence.
- Defending a major corporation in a Miami-Dade County investigation, leading to the State of Florida declining prosecution.
- Obtaining a remarkably short probation sentence for an elderly widow in a major offshore tax evasion case.
- Conducting an internal investigation for a vending machine company, resulting in a favorable resolution with the Department of Justice.
- Negotiating a favorable plea agreement for a gastroenterologist charged with tax fraud, preserving his medical license and ability to serve underserved communities.
- Representing the CEO of a major affordable housing developer, achieving a sentence significantly below guidelines and mitigating financial liabilities.
- Representing the CEO of a publicly-traded finance company in a major federal grand jury investigation, resulting in no prosecution.
- Achieving an acquittal in the “Varsity Blues” college admissions scandal case.
Early Career & Admissions
Before establishing himself as a leading private attorney, Roy Black honed his trial skills as a public defender in Miami-Dade County. During his five years in public service, he handled hundreds of felony and capital cases, gaining invaluable courtroom experience.
Roy Black is admitted to practice in Florida, the U.S. Supreme Court, multiple U.S. Courts of Appeals, and various U.S. District Courts across the country, reflecting the national scope of his practice.
Awards and Honors
Roy Black’s legal excellence has been consistently recognized through numerous prestigious awards and accolades, including:
- AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell since 1980.
- Consistently listed in Best Lawyers since 1987, with multiple “Lawyer of the Year” awards.
- Repeatedly named among Florida Super Lawyers “Top 10” and “Top 100,” and featured on the cover of Florida Super Lawyers Magazine.
- Recognized as “Florida Legal Elite Hall of Fame” by Florida Trend.
- Consistently ranked as a Star Individual and Key Individual by Chambers and Partners in White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations.
- Named among Forbes America’s Top 200 Lawyers in its inaugural list.
- Acknowledged as a “Legal Legend” by Attorney at Law Magazine.
- Included in “The Round Table: America’s 50 Most Influential Trial Lawyers” and “100 Most Influential Trial Lawyers” by The Trial Lawyer Magazine.
- Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Daily Business Review.
- Honored with the Minette Massey Award from the University of Miami School of Law.
- Named a Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyer in America® and Hall of Fame member.
- Recognized as a “Most Effective Lawyer” by the Daily Business Review multiple times.
Memberships & Publications
Roy Black is actively involved in the legal community through memberships in leading organizations such as the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the American College of Trial Lawyers, and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.
His legal insights and experiences are further shared through publications and interviews, including features in Mimesis Law and Attorney at Law Magazine, providing valuable perspectives on his distinguished legal career.
