Guy M. Burns

Litigation - Banking and Finance

4.0 (1 reviews)

Tampa, Florida

52+ years experience

Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns LLP

Updated: Jan 02, 2026

Contact Information

813-225-2500

https://www.jpfirm.com/people/guy-m-burns

400 N Ashley Drive, Suite 3100, Tampa, FL 33602

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Bio

Guy has over 40 years of trial experience with over 100 trials in State and Federal Courts, as well as dozens of trials conducted before arbitration panels. He primarily represents plaintiffs in complex commercial, securities, financial malpractice and consumer fraud litigation and in class actions, generally on a contingency fee basis. He also represents defendants in selected large, complex commercial disputes. He has successfully represented plaintiffs in numerous disputes against brokerage firms, investment advisers, insurance companies, law firms, accounting firms and other corporate and financial institutions. Guy has represented clients who have record-setting awards and settlements totaling hundreds of millions of dollars.Guy has a long history of representing plaintiffs on a pro bono basis in numerous public interest cases in both State and Federal Courts. These cases have arisen out of discrimination based upon race, gender and sexual orientation. He has also represented plaintiffs in litigating constitutional claims relating to education and public housing.Guy has been listed for many years as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” for commercial and financial litigation, and he has regularly been named to the lists of “Florida’s Legal Elite”, “Bet the Company Trial Lawyers” and “Super Lawyers”. For 2013, he was named by Best Lawyers in America as “Lawyer of the Year” in the category of Banking and Financial Litigation. He has now been named as “Lawyer of the Year” three times in the categories dealing with securities and financial litigation. These cases have arisen out of discrimination based upon race, gender and sexual orientation. He has also represented plaintiffs in litigating constitutional claims relating to education and public housing. Guy has been listed for many years as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” for commercial and financial litigation, and he has regularly been named to the lists of “Florida’s Legal Elite”, “Bet the Company Trial Lawyers” and “Super Lawyers”. For 2013, he was named by Best Lawyers in America as “Lawyer of the Year” in the category of Banking and Financial Litigation. He has now been named as “Lawyer of the Year” three times in the categories dealing with securities and financial litigation.

Practice Areas

Litigation - Banking and Finance

Awards & Recognition

Lawyer of the Year: Litigation - Securities, Tampa (2023)
Lawyer of the Year: Litigation - Securities, Tampa (2021)
Lawyer of the Year: Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy), Tampa (2020)
Lawyer of the Year: Litigation - Securities, Tampa (2018)
Lawyer of the Year: Litigation - Banking and Finance, Tampa (2017)
Lawyer of the Year: Litigation - Securities, Tampa (2014)
Lawyer of the Year: Litigation - Banking and Finance, Tampa (2013)
Recognized: Litigation - Banking and Finance
Recognized: Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
Recognized: Litigation - Securities
Recognized: Securities / Capital Markets Law
Practice Area: Bet-the-Company Litigation
Practice Area: Commercial Litigation
Practice Area: Securities Regulation
Special Focus: Litigation
Special Focus: Mass Tort
Special Focus: Plaintiffs
Special Focus: Securities
The Best Lawyers in America© since 1999, in the fields of• Litigation – Banking and Finance• Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)• Litigati
Super Lawyers

Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2001

Education

University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law, J.D., graduated 1973

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Reviews

Thomas Collins

2 weeks ago

A formidable advocate with decades of trial mastery

Mr. Burns represented me in a complex securities litigation matter, and his depth of experience was immediately apparent. With over 100 trials under his belt, his courtroom strategy was both meticulous and commanding. He leveraged his deep knowledge of SEC regulations to build a compelling case, and his recent 'Lawyer of the Year' recognitions are clearly well-earned. While his billing structure is commensurate with his expertise and the firm's stature, it is a significant investment. That said, you are paying for a level of seasoned judgment that is truly rare. For high-stakes litigation, his five decades of practice make him an invaluable asset.