Eric Ostroff
Managing Partner and Chair, Trade Secrets and IP Group

Eric is an exceptional lawyer who combines business savvy with incredible legal acumen.”

– Chambers USA
ostroff-eric-1-chambers

Eric Ostroff, Meland Budwick, P.A.’s Managing Partner, focuses his practice on business litigation and trade-secrets litigation. Chambers USA describes him as having “a remarkable ability to handle complex legal matters with poise and precision” and as an attorney who “delivers outstanding service and has outstanding ability.” Chambers also notes that Eric “wins praise for his extensive experience in commercial disputes, with a notable expertise in trade secrets cases.” Eric is the only attorney ranked by Chambers USA in both Florida commercial litigation and intellectual property law.

Businesses and individuals trust Eric to protect their interests in courts and arbitrations throughout Florida and across the country, often in bet-the-company cases. He regularly litigates a broad range of business disputes, including cases involving breaches of contract, business torts, officer/director fiduciary duties, business defamation, civil conspiracy, unfair competition, false advertising, real estate, and deceptive and unfair trade practices. He also represents plaintiffs and defendants in trademark and copyright infringement actions and has successfully tried many cases to verdict before judges, juries, and arbitration panels.

Nationally recognized for his work in trade secrets and noncompete cases, Eric helps businesses protect their trade secrets and proprietary information, both before and during litigation. He works with businesses to identify their trade secrets and ensure that they are taking the steps necessary to protect this critical information. He also has extensive experience prosecuting and defending trade-secret and noncompete actions nationwide. Eric serves on the Steering Committee of The Sedona Conference Working Group on Trade Secrets, a nonpartisan think tank that gathers the preeminent experts in various areas of law to publish consensus commentaries on cutting-edge legal issues.

Eric has frequently been quoted in major media outlets regarding business litigation and trade secrets issues, including the New York Times, Bloomberg, Reuters, and the Miami Herald. He is frequently invited to speak throughout the country about trade secrets, business litigation, and the use of advanced technology in litigation.

Before joining Meland Budwick, Eric practiced for five years at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, where he was part of the Employment Litigation and Complex Commercial Litigation groups.

AWARDS & RANKINGS

  • Chambers USA Guide, General Commercial Litigation, 2017-2025
  • Chambers USA Guide, Intellectual Property, 2021-2025
  • Legal 500’s Miami Elite, Tier 1, Commercial and International Disputes, 2025
  • WIPR, USA Trade Secrets Rankings, 2024
  • Lawdragon, 500 Leading Global IP Lawyers, 2025
  • Lawdragon, 500 Leading Litigators in America, 2025
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation – Intellectual Property, 2025-2026
  • Daily Business Review Florida Legal Awards, Distinguished Leaders, 2022
  • AV-rated, preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Legal Services of Greater Miami, Pro Bono Honoree, 2019
  • Lawyers for Children America’s John Edward Smith Child Advocacy Award, 2006
  • Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP’s Pro Bono Service Award, 2005, 2006, 2007

PUBLICATIONS & PANELS

  • Speaker, “Artificial Intelligence and Ethics: Emerging Issues,” 35th Annual Bankruptcy Skills Workshop, May 2025
  • “Protecting Trade Secrets” blog protectingtradesecrets.com
  • “Guarding Global Secrets: Motorola’s DTSA Showdown,” ICLR 2025 Symposium, February 2025
  • Speaker, “Secrets to Seeking or Defending Against TROs and Preliminary Injunctions,” PLI’s 2024 Noncompetes and Restrictive Covenants Conference, September 2024
  • The Sedona Conference, Protecting Trade Secrets in Litigation About Them, March 2022
  • “Lessons for Employers from Obama’s Push Back Against Noncompetes,” Daily Business Review, December 2016
  • “The ‘George Costanza Defense’ to Stealing Trade Secrets, Entrepreneur,” October 2014
  • “Avoid These 6 Mistakes When Safeguarding Proprietary Information,” Entrepreneur, June 2014
  • “Seeking Trade Secret Protection? Don’t Rely on a Label.”, Entrepreneur, May 2014
  • “5 Ways to Shrink the Threat of an Employee’s Exit to Proprietary Info,” Entrepreneur, April 2014
  • “Enforcing Noncompete and Nonsolicitation Agreements in Florida,” Daily Business Review, December 2010

EDUCATION

  • University of Miami School of Law, J.D., summa cum laude, 2004
    • University of Miami Law Review
    • Order of the Coif
  • Emory University, B.A., Political Science, 2001

MEMBERSHIPS

  • The Sedona Conference Working Group on Trade Secrets, Steering Committee Member, Drafting Team Co-Chair, and Dialogue Leader
  • American Intellectual Property Law Association, Trade Secrets Committee and Trademark Litigation Committee
  • Section of Litigation, American Bar Association
  • Trial Lawyers Section, The Florida Bar
  • Member, Dade County Bar Association

BAR ADMISSIONS

  • Florida
  • Southern District of Florida
  • Middle District of Florida
  • Northern District of Florida
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Representative Matters

Representative Matters

Trade Secrets & IP, Commercial Litigation

Represented Glenn Beck, Mercury Radio Arts, Inc., and TheBlaze, Inc. in multiple litigations in Texas and Delaware against the companies’ former CEO for violating a restrictive covenant and breaching his fiduciary duty.

Represented a national staffing company in a JAMS arbitration asserting claims against the company’s former president for, among others, misappropriation of trade secrets and breaching a non-compete agreement. Following a week-long trial, obtained judgment in our client’s favor on all counts.

Represented Crown Linen, LLC in a trade secrets, FDUTPA, and tortious interference claim against its former sales director, who started a competing company. Obtained a jury verdict in Crown Linen’s favor.

Represented Nationwide healthcare provider in multiple litigations to protect trade secrets and proprietary information.

Trade Secrets & IP

Represented a professional sports league in a trademark infringement, false advertising, and unfair competition action in the Southern District of New York, brought by a competing sports league.

Represented large insurance company in litigation against former employees for stealing trade secrets. Obtained an emergency injunction.

Represented national private jet charter company in trade-secrets action brought by a national fractional-share jet company in the Southern District of Ohio.

Represented leading provider of secondary-market sports and event ticket services in trade-secrets action against the company’s former CTO.

Represented large real estate brokerage in trade-secrets litigation brought by national brokerage in the Southern District of New York.

Represented UK-based manufacturer of proprietary construction materials in trade-secrets action against a former business partner.

Represented former CEO of a multibillion-dollar insurance company in restrictive covenant litigation with his former employer.

Represented medical supplies company in litigation and arbitration asserting misappropriation-of-trade-secrets claims against a former business partner.

Represented electronics company in action brought by a competitor asserting misappropriation of trade secrets.

Represented large real estate brokerage in litigation against former salespeople for violating restrictive covenant.

Represented an international security company in non-compete dispute with a competitor.

Defended healthcare company against claims of trademark infringement.

Commercial Litigation

Represented 40% owners of international wine company in litigation against management asserting breach of fiduciary duty and appointment of a receiver.

Represented private equity company in multi-state litigation with another private equity company asserting breach of fiduciary duty and other claims.

Represented investors in national cannabis company in action against management asserting breaches of fiduciary duty.

Represented investor defrauded out of $10MM investment in litigation against the investment sponsor/manager.

Represented purchaser of a for-profit college in litigation against the seller for beaching the purchase and sale agreement. Obtained summary judgment.

Represented a developer in a class action brought by unit owners in a downtown Miami high-rise condominium.

Represented minority shareholder of a franchisor in litigation against the majority shareholders for breach of fiduciary duty.

Represented note purchaser in commercial foreclosure action, obtaining foreclosure judgment. Later secured a $5 million judgment against the guarantors following trial in Miami-Dade Complex Business Court.

Represented art purchaser in litigation against Art Basel art dealer asserting fraud claims.

Represented Isle of Dreams, the owner of real property in Miami, Florida, in contentious state court foreclosure proceedings against Sunbeam Realty and Sunbeam Television (owned by Edmund Ansin) which include significant counterclaims.

Represented the owner of commercial property on International Drive in Orlando, Florida in a commercial foreclosure action. Obtained a favorable workout that allowed our client to keep the property.

Represented the owner of a retail shopping center in Pinecrest, Florida in a commercial foreclosure action. Negotiated a highly favorable settlement that allowed our client to keep the property.

Represented Crown Linen, LLC in litigation with Miami-Dade County over water and sewer services.

Representation the owner of commercial property in downtown Key West in multiple foreclosure actions and obtained a favorable workout that enabled the client to keep its properties.

Represented 50% property owner in arbitration against co-owner for breaching operating agreement.

Represented law firm in breach-of-contract dispute with former attorneys.

Represented property owner in multimillion-dollar dispute with insurance company over damage to the property.

Successfully defended various businesses against claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act and Americans With Disabilities Act.

Retained by large litigation funding company to perform due diligence on potential funding cases.

Bankruptcy and Restructuring

Represented Lexi Development Company, Inc., the owner of the Lexi condominium mixed use development, in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy, in which the Debtor successfully eliminated default interest, avoiding foreclosure and preserving equity for the benefit of the Debtor’s principals.

Testimonials

Testimonials

“Eric is a highly skilled professional with a keen analytical approach, allowing him to clearly identify and address issues.”

– Chambers USA 2025

“He is excellent; he is one of the best lawyers I have dealt with. He is personable and he knows his stuff.”

– Chambers USA 2025

“I am highly impressed with the exceptional legal services provided by Eric. His expertise, unwavering dedication and thorough understanding of the intricacies of the law truly stand out. He has exhibited a remarkable ability to handle complex legal matters with poise and precision”

– Chambers USA 2024

“He is extremely credible and sharp.”

– Chambers USA 2024

“Eric has a brilliant mind. He is able to analyze legal problems from a business perspective, in a way that is really valuable, and he’s also extremely efficient.”

– Chambers USA 2023

“Eric delivers outstanding service and has outstanding ability.”

– Chambers USA 2023

“Eric provides timely responses and is really able to cut through to the essence of things.”

– Chambers USA 2023

“Eric is an excellent lawyer who combines business savvy with incredible legal acumen and is very aware of commercial issues.”

– Chambers USA 2022

“He has a razor-sharp mind and gets to the heart of the issue without wasting time.”

– Chambers USA 2021

“He is incredibly knowledgeable and very responsive.”

– Chambers USA 2021

“He is able to very quickly get his head around highly complex matters and frame them legally in a manner that is very persuasive.”

– Chambers USA 2021

“He is very responsive and his work product is of incredibly impressive quality.”

– Chambers USA 2021

“I always say that an outstanding attorney is one that not only delivers the technical side of the case, but also is able to connect with the client in a much deeper client/attorney – this is the case with Eric.”

– Chambers USA 2020

Sign up for our latest news & updates

Start typing and press Enter to search