Joseph C. Coates

Commercial Litigation

4.0 (1 reviews)

West Palm Beach, Florida

37+ years experience

Greenberg Traurig

Updated: Jan 03, 2026

Contact Information

561-650-7900

https://www.gtlaw.com/en/professionals/c/coates-iii-joseph-c

777 South Flagler Drive, Suite 300 East, West Palm Beach, FL 33401

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Bio

Joseph C. Coates III focuses his practice on securities litigation, regulatory and class actions and serves as the head of the West Palm Beach Securities Litigation Group. Joe has represented most of the major broker/dealers in all aspects of their business, including federal and state courts, regulatory matters, and arbitrations. His representation of clients include appearances as appellate counsel in securities litigation cases in federal and state courts. Joe also focuses on shareholder derivative, corporate governance and merger and acquisition litigation. Joseph C. Coates III focuses his practice on securities litigation, regulatory and class actions and serves as the head of the West Palm Beach Securities Litigation Group. Joe has represented most of the major broker/dealers in all aspects of their business, including federal and state courts, regulatory matters, and arbitrations. His representation of clients include appearances as appellate counsel in securities litigation cases in federal and state courts. Joe also focuses on shareholder derivative, corporate governance and merger and acquisition litigation. Joseph C. Coates III focuses his practice on securities litigation, regulatory and class actions and serves as the head of the West Palm Beach Securities Litigation Group. Joe has represented most of the major broker/dealers in all aspects of their business, including federal and state courts, regulatory matters, and arbitrations. His representation of clients include appearances as appellate counsel in securities litigation cases in federal and state courts. Joe also focuses on shareholder derivative, corporate governance and merger and acquisition litigation.

Practice Areas

Commercial Litigation

Awards & Recognition

Lawyer of the Year: Litigation - Securities, West Palm Beach (2025)
Lawyer of the Year: Litigation - Securities, West Palm Beach (2022)
Lawyer of the Year: Litigation - Securities, West Palm Beach (2020)
Recognized: Commercial Litigation
Recognized: Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
Recognized: Litigation - Securities
AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5
Chambers USA Guide, 2007-2012
Daily Business Review, "Top Dealmaker of the Year - Corporate Finance Category," 2013
Super Lawyers magazine, Florida Super Lawyers, 2013

Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2011

Education

Florida State University, graduated 1988

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Reviews

Patricia White

2 weeks ago

A formidable advocate in complex securities litigation

Our company faced a challenging shareholder class action suit that threatened significant financial and reputational damage. After consulting with several firms, we engaged Joseph Coates at Greenberg Traurig. His deep, 37-year tenure in securities litigation was immediately apparent. Joe didn't just react to the complaint; he provided a strategic overview that considered both the immediate litigation and the broader regulatory landscape, a perspective honed from leading the West Palm Beach Securities Litigation Group. His recognition as Lawyer of the Year in this field on multiple occasions is well-earned. He and his team were exceptionally thorough, dissecting complex financial disclosures with precision. While his expertise is top-tier and his guidance was invaluable, there were occasional delays in receiving draft documents from junior team members, which required a follow-up. That said, Joe himself was always accessible for critical discussions. The outcome was a favorable settlement that was far better than we anticipated, protecting our interests entirely. For high-stakes securities matters in Florida, Joseph Coates is an outstanding choice whose experience delivers real results.