Ricardo J. Cata
Mediator and Arbitrator
Fully Bilingual: Spanish
Ricardo Cata practiced law as a civil litigator and trial lawyer in South Florida for 38 years. His mediation practice focuses on commercial, franchise and contractual disputes; trademark infringement; cross-border disputes (in litigation or arbitration); aviation and maritime and cruise passenger claims; construction and design defects; resort, product, premises, and general liability; medical and dental malpractice; wrongful death; coverage disputes; bad faith claims; and ADA/FHA service animals disputes.
Ricardo is able to mediate in the Spanish language. He is certified to mediate civil cases by the U.S. District Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida, and is a member of the American Arbitration Association’s Mediator Panel, a Florida Supreme Court Approved Arbitrator, and a member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (NADN). He is a Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) Accredited Mediator.
As a member of the American Arbitration Association’s Roster of Neutrals, Ricardo served as arbitrator in AAA commercial disputes. He also was a member of the ICDR Cruise Line and Seafarer Arbitrator Panel (2015-2019) and the CPR Panels of Distinguished Neutrals (2016-2019).
During his legal practice, Ricardo represented resorts and tour operators from Latin America in Florida’s circuit and federal courts. He also represented domestic and international manufacturers of products on claims of design and/or manufacturing defects, and U.S. and Latin American clients in commercial and contractual disputes. He represented clients in claims of design and construction defects, wrongful death suits, franchise litigation, maritime and aviation disputes, and medical and chiropractic malpractice suits. Ricardo represented insurance clients in coverage disputes and defended ADA claims in federal court.
A native of Cuba, Ricardo is bilingual in Spanish and English and has mediated 100 percent in Spanish.
Professional Education and Qualifications
B.A. ~ Long Island University, 1972, summa cum laude
J.D. ~ St. John’s University School of Law, 1975
M.A. ~ University of Miami Graduate School of International Studies
- Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator
- American Arbitration Association Mediator Panel and Roster of Neutrals
- Certified Mediator, USDC, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida
- Florida Supreme Court Approved Arbitrator, 2015
- Martindale Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ rated
- International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution’s (CPR) Panel of Distinguished Neutrals, 2016-2019
- ABA, Section of Dispute Resolution’s Advanced Mediation Training, 2013
- Arbitration Fundamentals and Best Practices for New AAA Arbitrators, 2015
- CIArb’s Introduction to International Arbitration, 2015
- Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) Accredited Mediator
Bar Admissions
- The Florida Bar
- U.S. District Court, Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Professional Memberships
- Miami International Arbitration Society, 2013-2018
- The Florida Bar: Alternative Dispute Resolution and International Law Sections
- ADR Section Executive Council Member – 2016-2018.
- AAA’s Mediator Panel
- Chair, Mediation Committee, Florida Bar’s International Law Section, 2015 – 2017
- NADN Member
- CEDR Accredited Mediator
