Guy earned his law degree from the University of Miami, School of Law in 1985 and was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1986 after completing twelve years of active service in the United States Coast Guard as a commissioned officer.  He joined Steel Hector & Davis, a prestigious old-line Florida law firm, progressing to partner and continuing in that capacity when Steel Hector merged with the global law firm of Squire Sanders in 2005.  Guy resigned from Squire Sanders to pursue a solo practice on July 1, 2014.

LEGAL EXPERIENCE

SQUIRE SANDERS (US) LLP, Miami/West Palm Beach, Florida            1986 – 2014

Partner, Advocacy/Litigation

Throughout his legal career, Guy counseled corporate clients regarding commercial disputes, including the development of strategies to resolve the disputes as quickly and effectively as possible.  He has primarily litigated controversies involving creditors’ rights, real property, products liability, maritime and commercial contracts and the gamut of torts in federal and Florida state trial and appellate courts. 

Representative Legal Experience

• Counseling mortgage lenders after loan defaults in collecting the debts, including foreclosure, securing cash flows, invoking prejudgment creditor's remedies and resolving lender’s claims in bankruptcy.
• Defeating an attempt to extend the general jurisdiction of a Florida court over a global automotive manufacturer for a wrongful death claim originating abroad.  Decision reported in TRW Vehicle Safety Systems, Inc. v. Santiso, 980 So.2d 1149 (Fla. 4th DCA 2008).
• Counseling a global corporation in the resolution of a multi-million dollar breach of contract claim, including international commercial arbitration proceedings.
• Defeating products fraud claims against a global pharmaceutical company.
• Defeating an attempted nationwide class action against a consumer lender for claims based on bankruptcy intervention.  Decision reported in Guetling v. Household Financial Services, Inc., 312 B.R. 699 (M.D. Fla. 2004).
• Enforcing guaranties following commercial foreclosures. An example is reported in Resolution Trust Corporation v. SLR of Maitland Center LP, 810 F. Supp. 298 (M.D. Fla. 1993), aff'd, 22 F.3d 1098 (11th Cir. 1994).
• Defeating at trial a multimillion-dollar fraud claim against a commercial landlord.​

OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD    1974-1986

• 1974-1976: Communications/Operations Officer, USCGC SWEETGUM, Mayport, Florida.
• 1976-1978: Executive Officer, USCGC HOLLYHOCK, Miami, Florida.
• 1978-1980: Duty Officer, Vessel Traffic Service, New Orleans, Louisiana.
• 1980-1981: Commanding Officer, USCGC HOLLYHOCK, Miami, Florida.
• 1981-1984: Commander, USCG Patrol Boat Squadron, Group Miami, Miami Beach, Florida.
• 1985-1986: Operations Officer, USCG Group Miami, Miami Beach, Florida.
• 1986-1990: United States Coast Guard Reserve.

EDUCATION

University of Miami, School of Law, Coral Gables, Florida.

     Juris Doctor, cum laude (1985).

     Member, University of Miami Law Review (1984-85).

     Order of the Coif (1985).

Pepperdine University, Malibu, California.

     Master of Arts – Human Resources Management (1981).

United States Coast Guard Academy, New London, Connecticut.

     Bachelor of Science – concentration in Mathematics (1974).

     Dean's List.

BAR ADMISSIONS

Florida State Bar (1986).

United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (1987).

United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida (1986).

United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida (1989).

United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida (1991).

PUBLIC SERVICE

Mr. Motzer has provided pro bono legal representation to the Florida Guardian Ad Litem Program and is a supporter of Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County.