Annette C. Escobar focuses her practice in international commercial litigation and arbitration at Astigarraga Davis, where she has practiced since the firm’s inception.  She has extensive experience in representing multi-national companies in international business disputes arising from Latin American operations, as well as from other business transactions, including claims under the Trademark Act, the Copyright Act, RICO, and the Edge Act, among other laws, in both state and federal courts.  Her experience also includes the defense of business torts and contract disputes, and class actions.

Among her recent published cases in which Ms. Escobar has participated before both Florida federal district and state appellate courts are: May Inv., Inc. v. Lisa, S.A., 2002 WL 341843 (Fla. 3d DCA Mar. 6, 2002) (writ of mandamus reversing improper recusal); Lisa, S.A. v. Gutierrez, 806 So. 2d 557 (Fla. 3d DCA 2002) (affirming order quashing ambush service); Lisa, S.A. v. Gutierrez, 873 So.2d 596 (Fla. 3d DCA 2004) (affirming order holding that defendants had not waived issues of personal jurisdiction and service of process); Warter v. Boston Securities, S.A., 2004 WL 691787 (S.D. Fla. 2004) (denying motion to remand action removed on the basis of the Edge Act, dismissing claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress, and dismissing negligence claim based on the economic loss rule).

Escobar presently is serving as chair on the editorial board of the Florida Bar Journal and is actively involved in the legislative subcommittee of the International Law Section of the Florida Bar.  She also served as co-chair of the Florida Bar Media Awards for the Media and Communications Law Committee, in which she continues to be actively involved.

She has also co-authored various articles and publications, including Staying a Money Judgment in Federal Court Without Posting a Supersedeas Bond, The Florida Journal, December 2003, Co-Author with Edward M. Mullins; Expanded Judicial Review of Arbitral Awards – Some Drafting Thoughts, The International Arbitration News, Vol. 1, No. 2, 10 (Summer 2001), Co-Author with Jose I. Astigarraga; Florida Bar Legal Citations, The Reporter’s Handbook, Media Law Center, Florida Bar Web site (2000), Co-Author with Edward M. Mullins; Federal Arbitration Act Under Congressional Attack: Recent Efforts To Create Exceptions To The FAA (Spring 2003), co-author with Edward M. Mullins.  Most recently she co-authored a chapter on enforcement of foreign judgments in the book, International Litigation Strategies and Practice.

She graduated cum laude from the University of Miami, with a concentration on International Finance and Marketing and Business Management and Organization, as well as a minor in computer information systems.  She obtained her J.D. from St. Thomas University School of Law, from which she graduated with high honors, salutatorian equivalent.  During her law school career, she was the senior articles editor for the St. Thomas Law Review, which published her article, Aggravating the Immigration Paradox: The Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act’s Effect on U.S. Immigration Policy, 11 St. Thomas L. Rev. 445 (1999).