THE LAWYERS
Leoncio E. de la Peña
Leoncio E. de la Peña was born in Cuba on February 15, 1959 and immigrated to the United States in 1965. He earned his Bachelor of Arts at the University of Florida, with high honors, then went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from Shepard Board Law Center at Nova Southeastern University, where he served as an active member of the Moot Court Society. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1984. Prior to founding this firm in 1991, he worked at one of the pioneer law firms servicing the Latin American market.
De la Peña has extensive experience representing clients in litigation involving a wide range of complex problems. His practice includes dispute resolution arising in such contexts as mergers and acquisitions, shareholder relationships, venture capital, trademark infringement and other financing and securities transactions, partnership dissolutions, real estate transactions, construction projects, as well as a broad range commercial litigation matters. He is also experienced in commercial litigation matters concerning banking issues, securities, business torts, patent infringement, and breach of contract, insurance and fidelity bond coverage matters. Numerous cases handled by de la Peña have included sophisticated legal analysis as a component of liability and/or damages. His client list consists of "the who’s who" of Latin America.
De la Peña has a history of active involvement in social, charitable, corporate, and political organizations. He is currently a board member for Voices for Children and the U.S.-Spain Chamber of Commerce. He remains an Active member of the Republican Party of Florida Team 100 and has chaired many political campaigns. He was instrumental in arranging the attendance of President Aznar of Spain at the U.S.-Spain Chamber of Commerce Gala to receive that organization's "2003 Hombre del Año" award. De la Peña was honored as a recipient of the Ronald McDonald House "Twelve Good Men" distinction in 2004. In 2006 he was one of the finalists for the Daily Business Review's, "Most Effective Lawyers 2006."
Admitted to Practice:
- Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
Otto de Cordoba was born in Cuba on August 5, 1956 and immigrated with his family to the United States in 1960. He grew up in Queens, New York. He received his undergraduate degree from Columbia University in 1984. After he was admitted to the New York Bar in 1985, he worked at a prestigious law firm for several years before he decided to move to Miami, Florida. Over the greater part of fifteen years, de Cordoba has been a partner at several prestigious firms where he has represented several Fortune 500 Companies including State Farm, Chevron, Ford Motor Company, Teachers Pension, Annuity Fund and the Florida Department of Insurance in both state and federal court. De Cordoba has expertise in handling complex commercial litigation, class actions, product liability and employment discrimination suits.
De Cordoba has served as South East Regional President of the Hispanic National Bar from 1995-1997 and as a director of the Cuban American Bar Association from 1998-2000. He is the recipient of the Cuban American Bar Association’s “Pro Bono Award” and is an active member of the Cuban Chapter of Knights of Malta, a Catholic organization that engages in charitable works around the world.
Admitted to Practice:
- Florida
- New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
Tracy Pérez graduated cum laude from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center in 2004 with a Juris Doctor degree. Ms. Pérez was a member of the rigorous and distinct circle of Nova Law Review and served as an Articles Editor on the 2003-2004 Editorial Board. During her studies at Nova, she was the recipient of several honors including an MPLE scholarship, a Goodwin scholarship, Dean’s List, Pre-Trial Practice Book Award, and a Pro Bono Award for over 125 hours of service.
Ms. Pérez received her Bachelor of Arts from Florida International University in 2000 with a degree in Political Science and a certificate in Latin American and Caribbean Studies.
Ms. Pérez is a member of the Florida Bar, and the Cuban American Bar Association. Prior to becoming a member of the Florida Bar, she attained valuable experiences in the legal field. In the summer of 2002, she was a judicial intern for the Third District Court of Appeal. In 2003, she worked for the Miami law firm of Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A., specializing in insurance defense matters.
Ms. Pérez brings to the De La Peña Group a tremendous amount of dynamic energy and a will to serve clients with the best legal advice possible. Her fields of concentration include commercial litigation and real estate transactions.
Admitted to Practice:
- Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
Bobby Ricco is of counsel to the De La Peña Group, P.A., working on commercial banking cases continuing to present. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts, History Major in 1985, at Columbia College. He then went on to New York University School of Law, where he graduated Juris Doctor in May of 1988. He co-authored a summary judgment motion resulting in a $30,000,000.00 judgment in Florida this past September, 2006. His work history begins working with contracts, insurance, torts, products liability, pharmaceuticals, copyright infringement, subrogation, trusts and estates, admiralty and corporations for practice. Beginning his career working for Carter Ledyard & Milburn, from 1988 to 1991, he moved on to open Law Office of Robert G. Ricco, a solo practice. He then worked for Law Office of George Robertazzi, from 1994 to 1995, and his latest work, besides being of counsel to De La Pena Group, has been as partner of Kardaras & Kelleher LLP, after being an associate from 1995 to 2000. Robert G. Ricco made partner in 2001, with a long list of credentials to support it.
Admitted to Practice:
- New York
- New Jersey
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. Federal Court for the Northern District of New York
Atillio M. Costabel received his education at the University of Genoa School of Law. He there received a Summa Cum Laude in 1962. In 1987, he attended University of Miami School of Law, receiving a Cum Laude. From 1974 to 1985 he was a correspondent of Lloyd’s Maritime and Commercial Law Quarterly for Italy and France. He co-authored the Klower book series on Admiralty law, printed for the International Bar Association. He published highly acclaimed articles such as "Maritime law uniformity and federalism after Yamaha V and DOHSA amendment: For whom the bell tolls?" in the St. Thomas Law Review, "Himalaya Strain?" Forensic Examinations of Norfolk Southern Railway Co. vs. James N. Kirby, Pty LTD and Doe vs Celebirty Cruises Inc published in Tulane Maritime Law Journal, The "Himalaya" Clause Crosses Privity’s Far Frontier. Mr. Costabel is a member of Maritime Law Association of the USA, Southeaster Admiralty Law Institue and the American Arbitration Association. Being the co- founder of Miami Maritime Arbitration Board, and Founder Member and Director of Italy-America Chamber of Commerce and having served in various court cases as an expert witness on Italian Law has given him great knowledge to become an Adjunct Professor at St. Thomas University, School of Law in Miami teaching Comparative Law, International Business Transactions, and Transnational Litigation.
Admitted to Practice:
- Florida
- Italy