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; general liability, resort, product, and premises liability; medical and dental malpractice and wrongful death. 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, member of the American Arbitration Association’s (AAA) Roster of Neutrals, the ICDR Cruise Line and Seafarer Arbitrator Panel (CL & SAP), the CPR Panels of Distinguished Neutrals and the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (NADN). He is a Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) Accredited Mediator. Ricardo has served as arbitrator in AAA commercial disputes.
During his legal practice, Ricardo represented resorts and tour operators from Latin America in Florida’s circuit and federal courts, obtaining dismissals on forum non conveniens or lack of personal jurisdiction. Ricardo also represented domestic and international manufacturers of products on claims of design and/or manufacturing defects, and represented U.S. and Latin American clients in commercial and contractual disputes. He also represented clients in claims of design and construction defects, wrongful death suits, franchise litigation, maritime and aviation disputes, and medical and chiropractic malpractice suits.
A native of Cuba, Ricardo is bilingual in Spanish and English, and has mediated 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
- CPR & CEDR’s Advanced Commercial Mediation Skills, 2018
- International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR) Advanced Commercial Mediation Training, 2013
- ABA, Section of Dispute Resolution’s Advanced Mediation Training, 2013
- AAA’s Essential Mediation Skills for New Mediators, 2013
- CIArb’s Introduction to International Arbitration, 2015
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
- Executive Council Member, Florida Bar’s ADR Section
- AAA’s Mediator Panel
- Chair, Mediation Committee, Florida Bar’s International Law Section, 2015 – 2017
- AAA’s Roster of Neutrals
- ICDR Cruise Line and Seafarer Arbitration Panel (CL & SAP)
- CPR Panels of Distinguished Neutrals
- NADN Member
- Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) Accredited Mediator
