A Fellow of the prestigious American Academy of Appellate Lawyers and ranked by Chambers USA in appellate law, Ed Guedes is widely known for his representation of business and government clients in high-stakes appeals. His in-depth knowledge and experience were further recognized when he was nominated in 2008 to fill a vacancy on the Florida Supreme Court.
Ed is also Board Certified in Appellate Practice by the Florida Bar. He has litigated dozens of appeals before the Florida Supreme Court, Florida’s district courts of appeal and the U.S. Courts of Appeals in a wide variety of matters, including medical malpractice, premises liability, probate, First Amendment and constitutional litigation, family law, state and federal administrative rule-making and regulation, home rule authority and preemption, election law, civil rights, land use and zoning, intellectual property and labor and employment issues.
Ed’s clients span a diverse range of industries, from a national supermarket chain to local governments. He works with each client to develop cost-effective litigation strategies that clarify and shape the law, ultimately advancing their broader business goals.
Ed represented more than 40 city and county governments in defending a $200 million federal class action lawsuit involving red-light camera programs across Florida. His successful strategy in numerous state court proceedings, which culminated in a unanimous Florida Supreme Court decision upholding the legality of the programs, led to a decisive dismissal of the class action. In another appellate victory, Ed represented the manufacturer of the breath-alcohol testing instrument used in Florida in a legal battle over the company’s source code. Ed’s strategic approach to trial court and appellate proceedings led to a change in existing case law in Florida and establishing new precedent, when the Florida Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in his client’s favor.
Ed is regularly quoted in the media on his high-profile cases. As a Fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, he belongs to an exclusive group of only 350 attorneys who practice at the highest standards of appellate advocacy in the country.
When he is not practicing law, Ed can be found singing with the choir at Miami Beach’s St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.
Professional & Community Involvement
- The Florida Bar Appellate Practice Certification Committee, 2021
- Florida Supreme Court Historical Society, President, 2017-2019; Vice-President, 2014-2017; Executive Committee, 2014-present; Board of Trustees, 2011-present
- The Florida Bar Appellate Court Rules Committee, 2000-2006
- The Florida Bar ACRC Civil Rules Subcommittee, Chair, 2005-2006
- The Florida Bar ACRC Amicus Curiae Subcommittee, Chair, 2004-2005; Vice-Chair, 2002-2003
- Dade County Bar Association Appellate Court Committee, Chair, 2003-2004; Vice-Chair, 2002-2003
- Third District Court of Appeal 50th Anniversary Committee, Co-Chair, 2004-2007
- Third District Court of Appeal Historical Society, Founder, 2007; Board Member, 2007-2012
- Cuban American Bar Association, 1990-present
- Federal Bar Association, South Florida Chapter, 2009-2012
- 11th Judicial Circuit Historical Society, Centennial Celebration Committee of 100, 2009-2011
- Defense Research Institute, Retail and Hospitality Committee, 2010-2014
Awards & Recognition
- Forbes, America’s Top 200 Lawyers, 2024
- Daily Business Review, Most Effective Lawyers – Appellate, 2020
- Chambers USA and Partners, Litigation: Appellate – Florida, 2016-present
- Fellow, American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, 2019-present
- Best Lawyers in America®, Appellate Practice, 2008-present
- Florida Super Lawyers, 2006-present
- South Florida Legal Guide, Top Lawyers, 2013-present
- Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, 2007, 2013-2014
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating
- South Florida Business Journal, Best of the Bar, 2003
Representative Experience
- Chief appellate and trial support counsel for a national supermarket chain concerning all of their premises liability cases in South Florida.
- Obtained favorable unanimous decision from Florida Supreme Court restricting the subpoena power of Florida trial courts to compel out-of-state corporations to produce valuable proprietary documents in Florida and overturning adverse intermediate appellate decisions being applied throughout the state.
- Overturned on appeal multi-million dollar jury verdict against plastic surgeon in medical malpractice claim asserting negligent design and execution of procedures.
- Successfully defended multinational corporate manufacturer of breath-alcohol testing instruments used by law enforcement throughout the State of Florida against declaratory judgment action challenging corporation’s ownership of intellectual property associated with the instruments.
- Successfully defended at trial and through appeal to the United States Supreme Court a municipal charter provision setting forth an oath of office for elected officials. The oath was challenged on First Amendment grounds because it required the office holder to swear or affirm to support the constitutions and governments of the United States and the State of Florida.
- Successfully litigated on behalf of State and local governmental entities concerning the interpretation of vested rights statute conferring development rights on owners of more than 12,000 residential lots in the Florida Keys and affecting all Areas of Critical State Concern throughout the State of Florida.
- Successfully litigated and defended on appeal multi-million dollar class action for unpaid overtime waged under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
- Upheld multi-million dollar ad valorem tax exemption for municipal marina competing with privately owned marinas.
- Successfully defended against constitutional challenge authority of local governmental entity to regulate and restrict ownership of animals within community.
- Overturned on appeal a multi-million premises liability verdict with directions to enter directed verdict in favor of his client.
- Successfully asserted a constitutional challenge to a municipal ordinance precluding private country club from fencing its property over the objections of surrounding neighbors, who asserted a historical right to a view onto and across the club property.
- Successfully defended constitutional challenge to municipal charter provision allowing for appointment of official to fill vacancy on elected body.
- Overturned on appeal denial of development approval for 300-unit trailer park in South Miami-Dade County.
- Overturned on appeal to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals lower court’s injunction halting all limestone mining in the Lake Belt region of South Florida.
- Overturned on appeal order requiring privately owned hospital under contract with local government to comply with Florida’s public records laws.
- In case of first impression interpreting statutory burdens of proof, overturned on appeal adverse discovery order requiring supermarket chain to review and divulge tens of thousands of records for more than 1,000 stores.
- Successfully represented the Cuban American Bar Association as amicus curiae in en banc proceedings before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in connection with a panel opinion that had vacated the conviction of five Cuban spies operating in South Florida.
- Wide-ranging experience defending at trial and on appeal against civil rights claims asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the American with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992.
