Utibe I. Ikpe

Practice Areas

Commercial Litigation

Career

Utibe I. Ikpe, a partner at Meland Budwick, P.A., focuses her practice on commercial litigation. Utibe has a track record of securing favorable outcomes in high-stakes commercial litigation disputes. She brings more than a decade of trial, arbitration, and mediation experience to her representation of businesses, financial institutions, and individuals in a wide range of business matters, including contract disputes, trade secret litigation, and emerging issues related to digital asset theft. Utibe takes a practical, business-minded approach to litigation, working closely with clients to understand their broader goals and translate legal strategy into real business outcomes.

Professional Memberships

- Florida Bar Business Law Section, Litigation Committee Chair, Former CLE Committee Chair

- National Bar Association’s Commercial Law Section, Executive Committee, Sponsorship Committee Chair, Women’s Wellness Committee member

-Akwa-Ibom Association of Nigeria, USA Inc.

Publications

Author, “The International Criminal Court May Face an African Exodus,” Fla. Bar Int’l L. Q., Winter 2017

Author, “Nigeria Considers Stricter Anti-terrorism Laws,” Fla. Bar Int’l L. Q., Winter 2017

Author, “Senegal Invokes Universal Jurisdiction and Prosecutes Former President Hissène Habré of Chad on Behalf of Africa”, Fla. Bar Int’l L. Q., Fall 2016

Author, Nigerians Outraged as Senate Rejects Gender Equality Bill, Fla. Bar Int’l L. Q., Fall 2016

Co-author, “Think Before You Plea: Juvenile Collateral Consequences in the United States,” A.B.A., Crim. Just. Sec. (2012)

Author, “Arizona DREAM Act Coalition Files Suit Against Arizona Officials,” A.B.A., Minority Trial Laws, Division News & Dev. (2012)

Work Highlights

Successfully defended a self-directed retirement account provider from claims resulting from $40 million crypto currency theft in a JAMS arbitration in New York.

Led litigation team in managing and successfully resolving over fifty concurrent consumer arbitrations, which were filed nationwide related to a multi-million-dollar cyber security incident.

Obtained a collective four-million-dollar verdict in two breach of guaranty actions that were consolidated in Miami-Dade’s Complex Business Litigation Division.

Directed litigation and settlement strategy, achieving a favorable mediated resolution of breach of fiduciary duty and tortious interference claims against a tumor registry provider’s former employees.

Following a bench trial, obtained a multimillion dollar judgment against guarantors in a complex guarantor deficiency action.

Obtained dismissal of a nationwide class action asserting more than $40 million in claims based on a crypto hack.

Obtained dismissal of all claims in pre-litigation negotiations with the FDIC while representing directors and officers of a Florida financial institution that went into receivership.

Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a vocational institution in a four-hundred-thousand-dollar breach-of-contract and declaratory judgment action involving the interpretation of an asset purchase agreement.

Mediated a beneficial settlement while representing a liquidating trustee in fraudulent transfer litigation to recoup over eighteen million dollars from a timeshare exit Ponzi scheme.

Education