Jerry Tamayo is a Director with Tripp Scott. His practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, construction litigation, education law, asset protection and creditor's rights. He provides common sense, efficient and business-minded solutions to the most complex commercial disputes. Notably, Tamayo represented U.S. creditors in one of the first successful attacks on an offshore Nevis trust that resulted in a recovery of approximately $45 million for the creditor.

Tamayo’s experience includes representing local and regional banks, commercial landlords, real estate developers and general contractors in a variety of business disputes, including lender liability actions, collection matters, breach of contract cases, RICO litigation as well as construction defect disputes. In his representation of financial institutions, Tamayo has assisted clients with the successful case disposition through summary judgment of matters involving significant sums in controversy, including claims for $43 million and $25 million.

Martindale-Hubbell has recognized Mr. Tamayo with an AV® Preeminent Rating – the highest rating available from Martindale-Hubbell, the leading independent attorney rating entity.  Prior to joining Tripp Scott, Tamayo was a partner at Conrad & Scherer, LLP and at May, Meacham & Davell, P.A.  During law school, Tamayo was an associate editor of the Ohio State Law Journal.  He also served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Maureen O’Connor of the Supreme Court of Ohio (now Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court) and the late Honorable Charles R. Petree of the Tenth District Court of Appeals of Ohio.  Tamayo received his Bachelor degree in Economics and History from the University of Virginia in 2001, and his law degree from Ohio State University (Moritz College of Law) in 2006.

Recent Significant Judgments/Results:

• 2020: Served as lead trial counsel in a bet-the-company litigation matter involving issues of first impression in the State of Florida.  Successfully obtained a court order reversing a decision by the School Board of Broward County to immediately close down a charter school located in Broward County, thereby saving teachers and staff from losing their jobs and ensuring that students and parents could continue with the school of their choice.  The case also established precedent for the requirement that school districts work together with charter schools to ensure that safe-school officers are assigned to each school, which ultimately helps promote school safety.

• 2017: Appointed as special litigation counsel on behalf of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee to pursue fraudulent transfer claims against a corporate debtor's officers and affiliated companies who siphoned funds from the debtor.  The action resulted in the recovery of a significant sum for the benefit of creditors against a Directors and Officers insurance policy. 

• 2013: Successfully enforced a $41 million judgment, plus attorneys’ fees, interest and costs, against a prominent South Florida real estate developer by attacking an offshore Nevis trust. Tamayo orchestrated litigation strategy and oversaw multiple court actions in both domestic and international jurisdictions, including the Cayman Islands. The case represents one of the first instances where a U.S. creditor successfully attacked an offshore Nevis trust, the result of which was a settlement payment of approximately $45 million.

• 2012: Handled claims against a private equity fund to recover an $8.5 million holdback due in connection with the $170 million sale of a company. The case involved defending a $40 million counterclaim for fraud and breach of contract, and ultimately resulted in a successful recovery on behalf of the clients/sellers.

• 2012: Represented a real estate developer in a builder’s risk claim for hard costs and delay damages arising from a catastrophic loss. The case resulted in a settlement for over $1.5 million for the client.

• 2009: Obtained a $43 million summary judgment on behalf of a privately held bank. The case involved a failed 785-acre development site and over thirty guarantors represented by a prominent South Florida law firm. Summary judgment was obtained in less than a year which was affirmed on appeal.