01
BP oil spill
Represented more than 3,500 corporate victims affected by a major environmental disaster, including municipalities, government agencies, tourism businesses, and hotels.
Source trail ↗Litigation · Leadership · Impact
Ricky K.
Patel
Trial attorney in Miami. Counsel on complex disputes, crisis matters, mass torts, and the hospitality industry.
01Profile
Built for consequential matters.
Ricky K. Patel is a Miami trial attorney — formerly Of Counsel at Akerman LLP — advising clients in complex state and federal litigation, crisis management, mass torts, arbitration, and hospitality disputes.
He joined Akerman in November 2022 after serving at Farrell, Patel, Jomarron & Lopez. His practice combines courtroom advocacy with discreet counsel for high-profile individuals, businesses, and public entities.
02Selected matters
High stakes.
Quiet command.
A public record spanning mass claims, product liability, criminal defense, insurance disputes, and crisis-sensitive representation.
02
International product-liability class action
Successfully settled a class action against one of the world’s largest electronics manufacturers.
Source trail ↗03
Dalvin Cook defense
Defense counsel in the 2015 criminal matter that ended in a not-guilty verdict on a misdemeanor battery charge.
Sporting News ↗04
Hurricane Maria
Represented the Puerto Rican government in property-damage insurance disputes and worked on Bill 1645, legislation addressing insurer bad faith.
Source trail ↗05
Warren Sapp
Represented the Hall of Fame NFL player in a 2020 lawsuit in which the accuser’s lawyer was ordered to pay Sapp’s legal fees.
Source trail ↗06
Key West parasailing wrongful death
Represented the family in a 2023 wrongful-death matter and discussed the case on Good Morning America.
Source trail ↗03Impact
Leadership measured in service.
Patel’s civic work concentrates on children, education, health, and stronger community relationships.
ITS4THEKIDS
Founder and chairman since its 2019 founding. The foundation supports children facing health and wellbeing challenges, including foster-youth duffle bags and food relief for Haitian orphanages.
ITS4THEKIDS ↗Bridge The Gap
Created in summer 2020 through ITS4THEKIDS to help Miami police officers deliver needed items in underserved communities and strengthen police-community relations.
ITS4THEKIDS ↗Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation
Past chairman of the Board of Trustees and current board member. Public coverage identifies him as foundation board chair in 2021; exact chair start and end dates are not independently confirmed.
Hospital News ↗Make-A-Wish Southern Florida
Vice Chairman of the Board. Appointed to the Board of Directors effective September 9, 2025, and now serving as Vice Chairman, helping lead the chapter that grants life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses across Southern Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Make-A-Wish board ↗St. Thomas University School of Law
Vice chairman of the board of advisors, co-founder of STU Law Young Alumni, and founder of the Pay It Forward Scholarship in 2020.
Akerman ↗Gracious Hands Orphanage
Co-founded in Gressier, Haiti, in 2016. Patel serves as president and guardian to 42 children.
Source trail ↗Over $2.5 millionDonated since 2010 to organizations including Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation, Gracious Hands Orphanage, United Way, and Little Lighthouse Foundation.Source trail ↗
04
Authorship
The Beautiful Caterpillar (2020), co-written with his daughter Maya and published by ITS4THEKIDS, LLC, is a children’s book centered on self-worth and avoiding predatory behavior.
Publication record ↗05
Ventures
- Fort DeviceCreator of the Intelligent Smoke Detector System; U.S. patent recipient, 2017. Public sources do not establish Fort Device as an operating company.
- RKP VenturesA Florida LLC with a 2026 annual report on file. Its investment focus and operations are not described in public sources.
- The Spot BarbershopIdentified by the Florida Bar in 2021 as company president; further public detail was not located.
Featured and quoted across national media
CNNFOX TVNBCESPNABC60 MinutesGood Morning AmericaPeople
06Speaking
From the courtroom to the stage.
2024STU Benjamin L. Crump College of Law CommencementCommencement speaker · Sept. 14
2024Big Law UnveiledQ&A · Jan. 25
2023National Trial Lawyers SummitThe Importance of Giving Back to Communities
2023Akerman Franchise Business Network Global Summer SummitProtect, Promote and Evolve the Brand
2018Win the Storm Conference and ExpoAdjusting Puerto Rico Claims
2011–14AAHOA Hotel ConferencesHospitality regulation, tourism & asset protection
07Recognition
A record of recognition.
2026–27The Best Lawyers in America, Leisure & Hospitality Law ↗
2025APABA Trailblazer Award
2024STU Legal Luminary in Class Action Litigation; Honorary Doctorate
2023Forestdale Children’s Champion Award
2021Inaugural STU Law Black Law Student Association Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award ↗
2018Little Lighthouse Foundation Philanthropist of the Year
2016–22Super Lawyers Rising Star, Florida ↗
2014National Trial Lawyers Top 100
2013South Florida Business Journal 40 Under 40
2013Brioni & Neiman Marcus Man of the Year
2012AAHOA Chairman’s Award for Leadership and Ongoing Services
2017U.S. patent recipient, Intelligent Smoke Detector System
Connect
For consequential work.
Professional, speaking, philanthropic, and business inquiries.
ricky@rkpventures.com
Miami, Florida