Robert F. Salkowski

Robert is a 1988 graduate of George Washington University. Robert earned his J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law in 1991.

After graduating from law school, Robert practiced complex commercial litigation and bankruptcy in Tampa, Florida, where he represented both creditors and trustees. Prior to his employment with Zarco & Pardo in 1995, he was employed as Counsel by Ocwen Financial Corporation, a publicly traded investment banking concern located in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Robert is licensed to practice law in both Florida and New Jersey, and is admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the United States District for the District of New Jersey, the United States District court for the Northern District of Illinois, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Robert has also been admitted in numerous other state and federal courts throughout the country to represent the firm's clients in specific cases. Robert is a member of the Miami-Dade Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and actively participates in the American Bar Association's Forum of Franchising.

Robert concentrates his practice in franchise law and complex commercial litigation.

• Partner

• Franchising
• Complex Commercial Litigation

• Ocwen Financial Corporation, Counsel

• ‘Best Lawyers’ in Franchise Law and Commercial Litigation, Best Lawyers in America, 2006 to the present
• ‘Lawyer of the Year’ in Franchise Law by Best Lawyers in America, 2014
• ‘Super Lawyers’ in Franchise/Dealership and Business Litigation, Super Lawyers, Florida, 2012 to the present
• Chambers USA National Ranking in Franchising (mainly Franchisee)
• ‘AV Pre-Eminent’ Rating, Highest peer review rating for professional legal ability and ethical standards, Martindale Hubbell/LexisNexis, since 2003
• ‘Top 10 Influential Franchisee Lawyers in the USA’, Business Today, 2023
• ‘Legal Eagles Hall of Fame’, Franchise Times Magazine, since 2018
• “Legal Eagles” by Franchise Times Magazine, 2008 to the present
• “Top Deal-Makers of the Year” in Real Estate Land Development, Daily Business Review, 2013
• ‘Legal Elite’ in Franchising by Florida Trend Magazine
• Who’s Who Legal (WWL) ‘Global Leader’ in Franchise Law, 2015 to the present
• South Florida’s Best Lawyers, 2009 to the present
• Business Leader 2011

• Miami-Dade Bar Association, Member
• The American Bar Association, Member
• International Franchise Association (IFA)
• American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (AAFD)
• Coalition of Franchisee Associations (CFA)

• University of Miami School of Law, Coral Gables, Florida
  • J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence - 1991
• George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia
  • B.A., Bachelor of Arts - 1988
  • Major: Political Science

• Florida, 1991
• New Jersey
• U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida
• U.S. District Court District of New Jersey
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois
• U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida

• October 2021: “Do You Want to Litigate in London or Timbuktu? Negotiating and Settling International Franchise Disputes Before Arbitration or Litigation Heats Up,” 44th Annual American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, Atlanta, GA
• January 2021: Co-Speaker, “Financial Performance Representations in a COVID-19 World,” 2021 IFA Annual Convention
• October 2017: “Basics of Franchisee Bankruptcy,” 40th Annual American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, Palm Desert, CA
• October 2015: “Structured Workouts: Franchisor Strategies For Dealing with Financially Troubled Franchisees,” 38th Annual American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, New Orleans, LA
• May 2015: “2015 Judicial Update,” 48th Annual IFA Legal Symposium, Chicago, IL
• April 2015: “Multi-Unit Mergers & Acquisitions,” Franchise Update’s 15th Annual Multi-Unit Franchising Conference, Las Vegas, NV.
• February 2015: “Resolving Franchise Disputes,” 2015 IFA Annual Convention , Las Vegas, NV
• May 2014: “Making the Case for Franchise Standards Beyond Because I said So,” 2014 IFA Legal Symposium, Chicago, IL
• February 2014: “Survey of Franchise Litigation Development and Trends,” 2014 Hospitality Law Conference, HOSPITALITYLAWYER.COM, Houston, TX
• February 2012: “Vicarious Liability of Hotel Owners,” 2012 Hospitality Law Conference, HOSPITALITYLAWYER.COM, Houston, TX
• October 2011: ”The Five Most Litigated Provisions in the Franchise Disclosure Document,” ABA Forum on Franchising, 34st Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD
• February 2011: “The Franchise Debate,” 2011 Hospitality Law Conference, HOSPITALITYLAWYER.COM, Houston, TX
• May 2010: “Franchise Litigation,” 2010 International Franchise Association (IFA), Legal Symposium, Washington, D.C
• February 2010: “The Franchise Debate,” 2010 Hospitality Law Conference, HOSPITALITYLAWYER.COM, Houston, TX
• October 2008: “Determining The Rules of Engagement In Litigation Here And Abroad,” ABA Forum on Franchising, 31st Annual Meeting, Austin, TX
• January 2003: “Professionalism in Franchise Law,” Florida Bar Franchise Seminar, Miami, FL