After more than twenty years practicing in a large, multi-national law firm, Barbara Locke opened her own firm at the end of 2008 in an effort to provide her clients with the same quality legal services as the big firms, under more flexible billing arrangements. During her successful career, Ms. Locke has developed an expertise in a number of practice areas, most notably in the areas of maritime law and financial institutions. She has represented owners, banks and buyers in matters related to vessel purchases and sales, as well as in matters relating to maritime lien foreclosure and defense of personal injury aboard cruise ships. Ms. Locke has represented numerous financial institutions in a wide variety of matters, including fraud, check kiting and identity theft. Most recently, she successfully negotiated with various governmental agencies on behalf of major financial institutions for the prompt return of collateral seized in the course of illegal activities. While experienced in litigating in both state and federal courts, Ms. Locke approaches litigation from a proactive problem-avoidance perspective, searching for alternatives to the courts as a more economic and efficient resolution of business disputes.

Having obtained her high school and undergraduate degrees in Costa Rica, Ms. Locke is fully fluent in Spanish. Her experience working in law firm management as well as her service on several boards of directors, both public and not for profit, provide her with a unique insight into the context in which her corporate clients’ decisions are made.

Ms. Locke is committed to community involvement, having held leadership positions in various charitable and community organizations. She is the recipient of several awards for her community-based activities.

Ms. Locke graduated magna cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law, where she was an Editor of the Law Review. Following graduation, she spent a year clerking for the Honorable Thomas E. Scott, United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida, before joining the law firm of Holland & Knight, LLP where she rose from the ranks of associate to equity partner before starting her own firm.