Raúl Alvarez, a founding partner with Alvarez, Thompson & Smoak, P.A., takes a creative approach to representing clients in complex civil litigation cases, with a focus on commercial transportation defense and commercial premises litigation. Raúl has extensive experience representing commercial carriers and a wide range of transportation litigation, to include catastrophic or complex multi-party collisions involving tractor-trailers, tow trucks, bus lines, shuttle buses, cabs, and other commercial vehicles.Raúl also has considerable experience representing shopping centers, restaurants, night clubs, retail establishments and other premises owners in litigation arising from all aspects of premises liability. Raúl also represents a wide variety of clients in business litigation, general insurance defense and cases involving all aspects of commercial torts, personal injury and wrongful death.
Raúl has an active trial practice and is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. His trial experience also serves his clients during mediations, whether he is appearing as counsel or serving as a mediator. Clients benefit from Raúl’s distinct ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of people, both as an advocate for his clients or building consensus on both sides of the table as a mediator.
Certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Circuit Court Mediator and an Appellate Mediator, Raúl has successfully resolved the majority of the mediations for which he has been asked to serve as a mediator. His mediation skills have led to successful resolutions in a wide variety of disputes, including personal injury and wrongful death claims, as well as commercial and business disputes, throughout Florida and outside the state. Raúl is a member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals and he is one of a handful of bilingual mediators in Central Florida.
Early in his career, Raúl worked as a commercial artist for Hallmark Cards after receiving a degree in graphic design. “I was working as a artist and not making much money when a friend dared me to apply for law school,” he recalls. “Most lawyers come from an educational background that encourages them to use the left side of their brain – a more logical and structured approach. However, I’ve found that a creative approach from an artistic perspective really has its advantages in a courtroom. It’s also easier for me to relate to people and find ways to resolve their issues.”
After receiving his Juris Doctorate from Stetson University College of Law, Raúl began his legal career as a civil trial attorney in Orlando. A co-founder of the Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida, Raúl became a partner at Swann, Hadley & Alvarez, where he headed the litigation section before deciding to pool his talent with that of his partners to form Alvarez, Thompson & Smoak, P.A.
