Miami Tower at International Place 100 S.E. Second Street, Suite 3400 - Miami, Florida 33131
gdavidson@diazreus.com
+1 (305) 375 92 20
“Gary Davidson, who represented the Venezuelan state entity Ferrominera Orinoco in a complex case concerning sovereign immunity, is ‘a towering force and a master of detail and argument.”
- Legal 500 USA
Biography
Florida Bar Board Certified in International Litigation and Arbitration attorney Gary Davidson represents clientsfrom many parts of the globe at Diaz, Reus & Targ, LLP's Miam office. Throughout his distinguished career, he has obtained favorable judgments on behalf of clients in complex international litigation, arbitration and commercial disputes, and he has served as an arbitrator and mediator in several high- profile cases. Gary has an AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell®.
Gary has published numerous articles in law journals and periodicals, including the Emory International Law Review, the International Travel Law Journal and the Journal of Air Law and Commerce. His rich career includes positions as an adjunct law professor at the Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center, as a visiting lecturer in international and comparative law at both the University of Tartu, Estonia and Comenius University, Slovakia, and as the ABA’s liaison to the Slovak government after the country gained its independence.
He has been admitted to practice in Washington, D.C., Arizona and Florida, as well as before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. He received his A.B., magna cum laude, from Duke University; an M.A. from the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Communications; a J.D. from the University of Southern California School of Law; and an LL.M., with distinction, in international and comparative law, from the Georgetown University Law Center.
Accolades
Professional Leadership
- Chair of the International Litigation and Arbitration Certification Committee, Florida Bar (appointed July 2021)
- Vice chair, Florida Bar, International Litigation and Arbitration Certification Committee (appointed in 2020)
- Member of the Florida Bar inaugural Board Certification Committee for International Litigation and Arbitration (appointed in 2018)
- Executive Council, International Law Section of the Florida Bar (2006 – present)
- Steering Committee and Member, International Referral Disputes Group
- Chair, Second Annual Florida Bar International Litigation Seminar
- Chair, First Annual Florida Bar International Commercial Arbitration Moot Competition
Professional Recognition
- Bench and Bar conference, Panelist, Direct and Cross Examination (American Inns of Court, Spellman-Hoeveler Chapter, 2019)
- “Aspects of International Litigation.” Instructor, Annual Review Course for International Law Certification, The Florida Bar.
- “Designing Forum Selection Clauses that will be Enforced Under U.S. Law.” Guest speaker, Committee Y, International Bar Association Annual Convention, Cancun, Mexico.
- “So you don’t want to litigate in Hoboken? The Perils and. Pitfalls of choice of Forum Clauses in Transnational Contracts.” Guest speaker, Conference on International Travel and Tourism, Newcastle, England.
- “Litigating Forum Non – Conveniens Motions in Florida’s Courts.” Panelist, Florida and New York Bar Association’s Continuing Legal Education program “International Litigation Update,” Miami, Florida.
- “Use of Indemnity and Liability Shifting Clauses in International Travel Contracts.” Guest speaker, Conference on International Travel and Tourism, Newcastle, England.
- Panel Chair, “Hot Topics in International Litigation and Arbitration” Third and Fourth Annual Florida Bar International Litigation and Arbitration Seminars, Miami, Florida..
- Speaker, “Applying the ADA to Foreign Cruise Vessels: Whither International Law?” 2006 Conference on International Travel and Tourism, Newcastle, England.
- Presenter of Mock Arbitration at the Lexis/Nexis Third Annual Conference on Dispute Avoidance Resolution, Beijing, China.
- Guest Speaker, “Oh the Mistakes We Make: The Decisions Made by Travel Industry Employees and the Costly Cases That Follow,” 8th Annual International Conference on Travel and Tourism Law, Newcastle, England.
- Panelist, “Developing a Corporate Dispute Resolution Policy”, 7th Annual ICDR Miami International Arbitration Conference, Miami, Florida.
- Board Certified by the Florida Bar in International Litigation & Arbitration
Certifications & Specializations
- Board Certified by the Florida Bar in International Litigation & Arbitration
Accolades
- Legal 500 Latin America 2024: International Arbitration; Miami Firms;
- Legal 500 USA 2023: International Litigation
- AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell
- Best Lawyers® USA 2024: International Arbitration – Commercial and Governmental
- Chambers USA 2023 – Florida, Litigation: general commercial
- South Florida Legal Guide 2023: International Litigation & Arbitration
- Litigation Counsel of America: Fellow
- Florida SuperLawyers 2023: International Law
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- Winner, 2011 “Most Effective Lawyer” (International Law), Daily Business Review
Admissions
- Washington, D.C. (inactive)
- Florida.
- Arizona (inactive)
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
Selected Publications
- "European Businesses Must Seemingly Choose Between U.S. Sanctions or Penalties Under the European Union’s Blocking Statute." Latin Counsel, 2021
- The Façade of COVID-19 Class Action Litigation Against China Under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act
Transnational Dispute Management, 2020 - Negotiating Effective Contracts & Dealing with Disputes Advice from Outside Counsel
IR Global, 2019. - “U.S. Use of Economic Sanctions, Treaty Bending and Treaty Breaking in International Aviation.” Journal of Air Law and Commerce.
- “Congressional Extraterritorial Investigative Powers: Real or Illusory?” Emory International Law Review.
- Co-author “Don’t Fall Asleep at the Helm: Cruise Line Passenger Ticket Contracts and the Pitfalls of Personal Injury Litigation in U.S. Courts.” International Travel Law Journal.
- “When is a Port Charge not a Port Charge? Evolving Standards of Liability for Deceptive Trade Practices and Implications for Travel Marketers.” Commercial Law and Practice Course Handbook Series, Number A-790, Practicing Law Institute.
- “Elian’s Case: Echoes of a Seaman’s Struggle.” Journal of Commerce.
- “Should Coupons be Clipped? The Problems Inherent to the Settlement of Class Actions with Non-Cash Tender.” International Travel Law Journal.
- CASE NOTE, Osorio v. Dole Food Co., 665 F. Supp. 2d 1307 (S.D. Fla. 2009), FIU Law Review.
- Co-Author: “International Arbitration – Sports: Outside Counsel Perspective.” International Commercial Arbitration Practice: 21st Century Perspectives (Naon and Mason eds.).
Representative Cases
Lead counsel in AAA commercial arbitration on behalf of aircraft charter company where $3.8 Million award was obtained against a South American airline as a result of its breach of an aircraft charter agreement.
Lead counsel in arbitration victory for Honduran national soccer team (Fenafuth), preserving its rights to sign enhanced multimillion dollar contract for World Cup international media broadcasts.
Served as arbitrator in major international maritime charter contract dispute, following appointment by American Arbitration Association (AAA).
Lead counsel in AAA arbitration on behalf of beneficiary under Peruvian life insurance contract where client was not only awarded the policy benefits, but interest and attorneys’ fees as well.
Lead counsel in six-week AAA arbitration on behalf of hotel chain in multimillion dollar dispute with major international construction company over failed hotel renovation.
Lead arbitration counsel on behalf of customs broker in dispute with major Japanese exporter over alleged improper classification of goods imported into the United States.
Won major fraudulent transfer judgment on behalf of leading Colombian company following 10-day trial.
Represented cruise line in defense of Florida wrongful death case, coordinating foreign counsel’s efforts in achieving highly favorable settlement with surviving spouse in Costa Rica.
Investigated events surrounding major cargo damage claim in Panama on behalf of U.K. insurer; claim determined to be fraudulent and avoided.
Represented preeminent European travel consortium in renegotiation of multimillion dollar contract with major U.S. rental-car company that filed for bankruptcy.