Derek León

Practice Areas

Commercial Litigation | Banking & Financial Services | Class Action | Intellectual Property | Insurance Recovery

Languages Spoken

English | Spanish

Career

Derek E. León is a Partner at León Cosgrove Jiménez, LLP and a Chambers-ranked commercial litigator who has tried numerous complex cases to verdict in state and federal courts across the country.​ Mr. León co-founded the firm as a new value proposition in commercial litigation after a decade of accomplishments as an equity partner at a perennial top-10 international law firm.​ Prior to starting León Cosgrove Jiménez, LLP, Mr. León began his career as a trial lawyer in 1997 at one of the most prestigious litigation powerhouses in Houston, where he successfully tried a number of cases to verdict in state and federal courts throughout Texas. He maintains deep roots in the Houston area in addition to his Miami base of operations.​

For a decade, he managed a national litigation practice from the Miami, FL and Houston, TX offices, during which he successfully tried numerous cases to verdict across the U.S.; co-chaired a firm-wide global Retail Practice Group; and led IP Disputes, Insurance Recovery, and Products Liability practices in Florida. In 2005, Mr. León became one of the youngest associates ever to be named partner from within the 1,400-lawyer firm.​

Chambers USA recognized Mr. León for his vast experience acting for clients in trials and arbitrations. Chambers comments include “he is a great tactician who has excellent business sense and is a true partner in problem solving.” He has also been praised by Chambers over the years for his “wide range of litigation and trial skills,” including his “excellent sense of strategy” and oral advocacy skills. Chambers also underscores his expertise in complex disputes “across a wide array of sectors, including financial services, manufacturing, technology and real estate.” His more than 25 years of commercial trial experience also encompasses a wide range of industries.​

He has also been praised by Chambers over the years for his “wide range of litigation and trial skills,” including his “excellent sense of strategy” and oral advocacy skills. Chambers also underscores his expertise in complex disputes “across a wide array of sectors, including financial services, manufacturing, technology and real estate.” His more than 25 years of commercial trial experience also encompasses the software and agricultural sectors.​

In addition to his significant first-chair trial experience in both state and federal courts across the nation, Mr. León also has extensive first-chair arbitration experience in national and international arbitration forums. In 2017, Mr. León led a trial team to one of the largest arbitration awards in the country. He has also handled appeals in both state and federal courts in several jurisdictions.​

Mr. León is also often called upon to defend peer firms in legal malpractice cases as well, a testament to his reputation within the legal community. Mr. León’s results-oriented advocacy drives him to develop the optimal strategy for each client and matter. Whether it involves sophisticated motion practice or a full-scale trial, he always strives to win “globally” on every parameter important to the client.

Expert in these Jurisdictions

Florida​ | Texas​ | U.S. District Courts for the S., M., and N. Districts of FL​ | U.S. District Courts for the S., N., E., and W. Districts of TX​ | U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 5th and 11th Circuits