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Robert W. Bleakley

Robert W. Bleakley

 

About

Managing Partner of Bleakley Bavol Denman & Grace, Robert W. Bleakley is Board Certified in Civil Trial practice and an “AV” rated trial lawyer with significant experience litigating trucking and auto claims, employment claims, premises liability claims, commercial and business disputes, sports law and player injury claims, and workers compensation claims. Bleakley has appeared and litigated a diverse range of cases throughout practically every venue in the state of Florida. Bleakley is an experienced litigator in state, federal, arbitration, and administrative proceedings.

Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan in February of 1967, Bleakley graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in 1988. In 1992, Bleakley earned his juris doctor from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School, cum laude. Academically, Bleakley finished in the top 14% of his class and was a member of the Thomas M. Cooley Law Review.

Robert Bleakley comes from a family of lawyers and was trained in one of Tampa’s oldest and most respected law firms. Mentored by his father, whose 35-year legal career included managing a 40-attorney firm that defended Michigan corporations, the partners of Tampa’s 100+-year-old law firm, Shackleford, Farrior, Stallings, and Evans, P.A., and his then boss/now partner, Charles Bavol, Bleakley is embedded in the traditional legal notions of professionalism, integrity, and trust, combined with a personalized and dedicated commitment to the client’s interest. By the age of 33, Bleakley achieved Martindale Hubbell’s prestigious “AV” rating.

In April of 2000, Bleakley founded the firm as a solo practice defending a handful of corporations in trucking, auto, and workers’ compensation matters. Through hard work, submission to the client interest, dedicated service, and courtroom and board room success, the firm expanded through the years into a mid-sized, full-service law firm that represents hundreds of clients including Fortune 500 corporations, insurance carriers, large and small businesses, along with many individuals and families. The firm’s roster now includes some of Florida’s finest litigators and transactional attorneys.

Personally, Bleakley is dedicated to his family and his faith. Bleakley moved to Tampa Bay in 1992, married Charlene Bleakley in 1995, and the couple have two sons, Christian (2000) and Alexander (2003), who attended Carrollwood Day School and Florida State. The Bleakleys have been members of Idlewild Baptist Church since 1994 and Robert Bleakley served on the boards of Carrollwood Day School and North Tampa Younglife, where he was the chairman from 2014-2018. The Bleakleys are also members of Avila Golf & Country Club.

Practice Areas

  • Premises Liability
  • Trucking and Commercial Auto Claims
  • Employment Litigation
  • Workers Compensation Defense
  • Commercial Litigation

Education

  • University of Michigan, B.A. (1988)
  • Thomas Cooley Law School, J.D., Cum Laude (1992)
  • Thomas Cooley Law Review Member

Bar & Court Admissions

  • The Florida Bar; All Florida State Courts; United States District Court, Middle District of Florida; United States Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals; United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Representative Clients

  • Advance Auto Parts
  • URW Westfield
  • True Blue, Inc.
  • Interstate Cleaning Corporation
  • OPIS Resources
  • Quality Distribution
  • Smithfield Foods
  • Little Caesars
  • Detroit Tigers
  • Florida Everblades
  • Orlando Solar Bears

Professional & Community Involvement

  • North Tampa Young Life:
    • Board Member: 2014 – Present
    • Board Chair: 2014 – 2018
  • Carrollwood Day School:
    • Board of Trustees: 2015 – 2019
  • Idlewild Baptist Church
    • Member: 1993 – Present
  • Avila Golf & Country Club
    • Member: 2003 – Present