Tampa Divorce & Family Law Attorney Richard Mockler

Attorney Richard J. Mockler

Tampa Trial Attorney for Complex Divorce, Military Divorce, and Family Law Cases

“I feel like I have made a positive impact resolving high-conflict cases. Everyone benefits when the fighting stops.”
— Richard J. Mockler

Experience

Richard J. Mockler is experienced in all phases of litigation, including discovery, motion practice, evidentiary hearings, trial, and appeal.  Richard started his legal career in Miami, where he worked at two of the nation’s most prestigious national law firms.  Richard has been involved in high-stakes litigation matters for many of America’s most well-known businesses and financial institutions.  Richard has defended public companies and their officers and directors in connection with class actions lawsuits, derivative actions, and federal investigations.  Richard has worked on several matters that received national media coverage and a number of cases with more than $100 million at stake.

Since 2008, Richard has focused the majority of his practice on family law matters.  In the family law arena, Richard devotes much of his time representing men and women in cases involving complex financial issues, disputes over the control and valuation of closely held companies, child custody disputes, relocation requests, and military divorces. 

Richard served for seven years on the Executive Council for the Family Law Section of the Hillsborough County Bar Association.  Richard is also a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator and Civil Mediator.  Richard has been selected by his peers and recognized as one of Florida Trend’s Legal Elite and recognized by Best Lawyers as one of the Best Lawyers in America. He is also recognized as a Florida Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers Magazine for more than 10 consecutive years.  He was previously recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star for Florida for 4 consecutive years.  In 2017, Richard was recognized by the Hillsborough County family law community when he received the Theodore Millison Professionalism Award, which is presented by the Stann Givens Tampa Family Law Inn of Court.

Recognition in the Legal Community

  • (4x) Four times elected as a Super Lawyers Rising Star, by Florida Super Lawyers Magazine (2009 to 2012)

  • (14x) Fourteen times selected as a Florida Super Lawyer, by Florida Super Lawyers Magazine (2013 to Present)

  • Recipient, Theodore Millison Professionalism Award, the highest honor in the Tampa family law community (2017)

  • (8x) Eight times recognized by Florida Trend Magazine as one of Florida Trend’s Legal Elite (2019 to 2026)

  • (6x) Six times recognized by Best Lawyers as one of Best Lawyers in America (2021 to 2026)

  • (8x) Rated AV Preeminent 5.0 by Martindale-Hubbell (2019 to 2026)

Demonstrated Courtroom Experience at the Trial and Appellate Levels

Federal Reported Decisions

1.      In re Saf T Lok Sec. Litig., Fed. Sec. L. Rep. P 92,680 (S.D. Fla. July 3, 2003)
2.      Nissim Corp. v. ClearPlay, Inc., et al., 351 F. Supp. 2d 1343 (S.D. Fla. 2004)
3.      In re Cygnus Telecom. Tech., LLC, Patent Lit., 385 F. Supp. 2d 1022 (N.D. Cal. 2005)
4.      In re SFBC Int’l, Inc. Sec. & Deriv. Litig., 435 F. Supp. 2d 1355 (J.P.M.L. 2006)
5.      In re SFBC Int’l, Inc. Sec. & Deriv. Litig., 495 F. Supp. 2d 477 (D.N.J. 2007)
6.      Seikaly & Stewart, PC v. Fairley, 18 F. Supp. 3d 989 (D. Ariz. 2014) 
7.      U.S. Claims OpCo LLC v. Acosta, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 129281 (M.D. Fla. Sept. 25, 2015)
8.      FTC v. Roca Labs, Inc., 345 F. Supp. 3d 1375 (M.D. Fla. 2018)
9.      Millennium Funding, Inc. v. 1701 Management, LLC, 576 F. Supp. 3d 1192 (S.D. Fla. 2021)

Florida Appellate Decisions (Civil)

1.      Black Point Assets, Inc. v. US Nat’l Bank Assoc., 254 So. 3d 353 (Fla. 2d DCA 2018)
2.      Ginsberg-Klemmt v. Citimortgage, Inc., 253 So. 3d 574 (Fla. 2d DCA 2018)
3.      Nix v. Federal National Mortgage Association, 271 So. 3d 1050 (Fla. 5th DCA 2018)
4.      Vitaliy v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 253 So. 3d 779 (Fla. 5th DCA 2018)
5.      Rivera v. The Bank of New York Mellon, 276 So. 3d 979 (Fla. 2d DCA 2019)
6.      Green Emerald Homes v. 21st Mortgage, 300 So. 3d 698 (Fla. 2d DCA 2019)
7.      Boca Stel 2, LLC v. Federal National Mortgage Association, 272 So. 3d 1262 (Fla. 2d DCA 2019)
8.      Odem v. DiTech Financial, LLC, 287 So. 3d 529 (Fla. 2d DCA 2019)
9.      Jupiter House, LLC v. Green Tree Servicing, LLC, 289 So. 3d 540 (Fla. 2d DCA 2020)
10.  Burton v. Oates, 362 So. 3d 311 (Fla. 5th DCA 2023)

Florida Appellate Decisions (Family)

1.      Deale v. Deale, 68 So. 3d 432 (Fla. 5th DCA 2011)
2.      In Re Contempt Adjudication of Weiner, 278 So. 3d 767 (Fla. 2d DCA 2019)
3.      Lifsey v. Lauder, 344 So. 3d 411 (Fla. 2d DCA 2022)
4.      R.B. v. B.T., 353 So. 3d 711 (Fla. 2d DCA 2023)
5.      Martin v. Martin, 356 So. 3d 793 (Fla. 2d DCA 2023)
6.      Rushing v. Rushing, 2025 WL 2679794 (Fla. 6th DCA September 19, 2025)
7.      Rushing v. Rushing, Case No. SC2025-1814 (Fla. 2025)
8.      Jefferson v. Jefferson, Case No. 2D2024-2375 (Fla. 2d DCA 2025)

Education

Richard attended the University of Florida College of Law, where he graduated with honors. In 1998, he was the Chester Ferguson Scholarship Recipient.  Richard was also a member of the International Moot Court Team and participated in the William C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot. Additionally, Richard served as a Teaching Assistant for Legal Research and Writing and Appellate Advocacy.

Richard was also a leader on campus, where he was elected President of the Law School's Student Bar Association.  He also served on the Executive Board of the University of Florida's Law College Council.  Prior to graduation, Richard was inducted into the Florida Blue Key leadership honorary, received the University of Florida Presidential Recognition Award, received the Levin College of Law Pro Bono Certificate, and was named the Levin College of Law 2000 Student of the Year. 

In 2002, Richard earned his Master of Laws in Taxation from the University of Florida’s Graduate Tax Program.  The Graduate Tax Program is widely recognized as one of the nation's best.

Military Service

Prior to becoming an attorney, Richard served as a United States Marine with the 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion in Tampa, Florida. Richard was the Battalion Embarkation Specialist prior to the Unit's mobilization to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Richard received the Navy Achievement Medal for his exemplary efforts to prepare his battalion to embark for combat.  Richard was also recognized as the Honor Graduate during his training at the Naval Expeditionary Warfare College, Atlantic.  Richard also received the Outstanding Community Service Medal, National Defense Medal, Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal, and a Marine Corps Certificate of Commendation for exemplary community service.  Richard's military experience helps him relate to military service members and families.

Bar Admissions

  • All Florida State Courts

  • U.S. Supreme Court

  • U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit

  • U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit

  • U.S. District Courts

    • Southern District of Florida

    • Middle District of Florida

    • Northern District of Florida

  • U.S. Tax Court

Classes and Seminars Taught

  • Nuts & Bolts of Florida Family Law Mandatory Disclosures (HCBA Lawyer Magazine, 2020)

  • Trial Advocacy in Family Law Cases, Hillsborough County Bar Association (CLE Presenter, 2019)

  • Expert Witnesses in Child Custody Cases (CLE Presenter, 2018)

  • Are All Sales Really Final? – The Enforceability of Prenuptial, Post-Nuptial, and Marital Settlement Agreements (HCBA Lawyer Magazine, 2014)

  • Cast of Characters: Professionals in a Family Law Case (HCBA Lawyer Magazine, 2013)

  • Discovery of Medical Records and Trial of Cases Involving Medical Evidence (CLE Presenter, 2013)

  • Developing Parenting Plans for Children with Developmental Disorders (CLE Presenter, 2012)

  • Preparing Your Family Law Case for Trial, Hillsborough County Bar Association (CLE Presenter, 2012)

  • Prenuptial Agreements: 'Til Death Do Us Part (HCBA Lawyer Magazine, 2011)

  • Evidence and Trial Advocacy for Family Law Practitioners

Past and Current Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Florida Bar Trial Lawyers Section

  • Florida Bar Family Law Section

  • Florida Bar Business Law Section

  • International Academy of Collaborative Professionals

  • Hillsborough County Bar Association

  • Federal Bar Association

  • American Bar Association

  • Cheatwood Inn of Court

  • Tampa Family Law Inn of Court

  • HCBA Executive Board - Family Law Section

Speak with Trial Attorney Richard J. Mockler

If your case involves complex divorce, high net worth divorce, military divorce, alimony modification, relocation, or another matter that requires real trial experience, Richard J. Mockler can help you understand the issues and build a strategy.

Call Mockler Leiner Law, P.A. today at (813) 331-5699 or contact us online.