Richard Greenberg concentrates his practice in the areas of professional responsibility, professional licensure defense, and criminal defense. For 35 years, Richard has focused his practice on representing attorneys in grievance matters before The Florida Bar and representing Florida Bar applicants in proceedings before the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. He also provides letters of advice on legal ethics issues and serves as an expert witness on legal ethics. In addition to representing attorneys and Florida Bar applicants, Richard represents professionals in licensure matters before state regulatory bodies.
He has an extensive background in criminal defense, representing clients in matters ranging from traffic offenses and DUI to serious felony offenses punishable by life in prison. He represents clients in both state and federal courts in the State of Florida and in the State of Georgia. Richard has personally tried over 150 jury trials to verdict, and has extensive experience representing individuals seeking clemency through the Florida Office of Executive Clemency.
Richard also represents clients in appellate matters in both state and federal courts and has appeared for oral argument before the Supreme Court of Florida and the United States Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. He has been counsel of record in over 75 published opinions.
Richard served as an assistant public defender in Tampa, Florida from 1984-87 and as an assistant staff counsel for The Florida Bar in its Tampa office from 1987-89. After leaving The Florida Bar and returning to his hometown of Tallahassee, Richard had a successful career as a sole practitioner for sixteen years. He also served as the first Traffic Court Hearing Officer in Leon County, Florida from 2002 -2005.
Richard is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible rating. He has been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America since 2004 in the field of criminal defense (non-white collar).
He is a past president of the statewide Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (FACDL) and is the treasurer for the Tallahassee chapter of FACDL. He formerly served as president of the Tallahassee chapter. In addition, Richard is president of the Tallahassee Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.
Community
•Capital Tiger Bay Club
Certifications
•AV-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Awards & Honors
•Listed in Best Lawyers in America, Criminal Defense: General Practice, 2005-2026
•Selected as 'Lawyer of the Year' for Criminal Defense - Non-White Collar in Tallahassee by Best Lawyers in America 2013
•Recipient of the 2012 Gene Taylor Memorial Award, Tallahassee Chapter FACDL
•Recipient 2005 and 2012 Appreciation Award, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Articles & Presentations
•Speaker, 'Artificial Intelligence in the Law and Legal Practice,' Florida Bar Trial Lawyers Section Membership Retreat, November 2024
•Author, 'Bar Admission Requires Proof of Character and Fitness,' preLaw Magazine, October 2024
•Panelist, 'Bulldog or Bully? Incivility or Zealous Advocacy?' Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers (APRL), Mid-year Meeting, February 2024
•Author, 'The Florida Bar Provides Guidance on Lawyers’ Use of Artificial Intelligence,' January 2024
•Panelist, 'A Case Study of Florida Bar v. Scott Kallins, and the Disciplinary Process from Complaint to Reinstatement,' Orange County Bar Association Professionalism Committee CLE, April 2023
•Speaker, 'Demystifying the Bar Grievance Process,' Tallahassee Women Lawyers, November 2022
•Speaker, 'What Students Need to Know About Bar Admission and Character and Fitness Clearance,' FAMU College of Law New Student Orientation, August 2022
•Speaker, 'Ethics Update,' FACDL Criminal Law Certification and Review Seminar, March 31, 2022
•Speaker, '2022 Annual Estate/Probate and Trust Seminar: Ethics Update,' Palm Beach County Bar Association, March 2022
•Presenter, 'Tallahassee Chapter of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers,' Ethics Update, November 2021
•Panelist, 'Federal Practice Panel,' for the Federal Bar Association at Florida State University, November 2021
•Author, 'Judicial Referrals to Receive Special Treatment,' October 2021
•Presenter, 'Ethical Issues in the COVID Litigation Era,' 47th Annual Public Employment Labor Relations Forum, October 2021
•Author, 'Florida Bar Admission Proceedings: Why You Need Counsel,' Updated April 2021
•Co-Presenter, 'Taking the Bar Exam and Bar Admissions Process,' to FAMU Law School, RumbergerKirk Professional Development Series for FAMU, September 2020
•Author, 'Are You Willing to Bet Your Law License on That Client?' June 2020
•Speaker, 'How to Stay Out of Trouble with The Bar,' AAML 42nd Annual Institute, April 2020
•Speaker, 'Introduction to Federal Practice,' Tallahassee Barristers Association and the Federal Bar Association, Tallahassee Chapter, March 12, 2020
•Legal Ethics Training for Nonlawyers, Innocence Project of Florida, August 2019
•Speaker, 'A Primer on Professionalism,' Florida State University College of Law Professional Development Class, March 2018
•Speaker, 'Navigating the Four Cs: Competence, Communication, Conflicts and Candor,' Defender Summer School hosted by Robert Wesley, Public Defender, Ninth Judicial Circuit and Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law, August 2018
•Speaker, 'Mental Health Inquiries in the Bar Admissions Process,' Florida State University College of Law, November 8, 2017
•Speaker, 'Ethics Update,' FACDL Criminal Law Certification Review Seminar, April 21, 2017, Tampa, Florida
•'Florida Bar Admission Proceedings: Why You Need Counsel,' May 2017
•Co-Author, “Justice Antonin Scalia: Darling of the Criminal Defense Bar?” Fall 2016 issue of the Florida Defender, the quarterly publication of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
•Recent Changes to the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, Florida Defender
•Lawyers vs. Judges: The Florida Bar JQC - the Consequences of Courtroom Conflict; Annual Meeting of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, June 2016
•Why Can't We Be Friends? Limitations on the Use of Social Media by Attorneys', Florida Defender (Summer 2014)
•Florida's Code for Resolving Professionalism Complaints, Florida Defender (Fall 2013)
•How to Avoid a Bar Admission Investigative Hearing and Understanding the Bar Admission Process; at the Florida A&M University College of Law
•Presenter, 'Financial Responsibility for Bar Applicants and Attorneys,' Tallahassee Women Lawyers Seminar
•Speaker, The Ethics of Outsourcing and Metadata, Northern District of Florida Bankruptcy Bar Association Annual Seminar 2010
•Ethics - A Review of Important Decisions; Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Criminal Law Certification Review Seminar - April 2010
•Speaker, Constitutional Ethics Issues, Society of Criminal Defense Bar; Got Rights?; Constitution Day CLE Seminar, September 2007
•;Recent Changes to the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, Florida Defender, Winter 2004
•Plea Negotiations: Communication is the Key, Florida Defender, Summer 1997
•Ethics: Representation of Criminal Co-Defendants, Florida Defender, Summer 1996
•Ethics: How Can You Represent Those People?, Florida Defender, Spring 1996
•To Testify or Not: Who's Decision Is It?, Florida Defender, Winter 1995
•What Can You Say, and Is Anybody Listening? Florida Defender, Winter 1992
•Ethics and Criminal Law, Florida Defender, Fall 1995
•Taking The Fifth in Bar Disciplinary Proceedings: DeBock Revisited, Florida Defender, Spring 1991
•Author, Collateral Consequences of an Attorney's Arrest, Florida Defender
Richard's News and Insights
08.21.2025
Firm News
28 RumbergerKirk Attorneys Named to the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America
Dan Gerber and Leonard Dietzen Named “Lawyer of the Year;”...
05.27.2025
Media Mentions
Florida Judicial Referee Advises No Ethics Charges for Trial Lawyer, Daily Business Review
RumbergerKirk partner Richard Greenberg said he and his client, Clayton...
01.14.2025
Events
Richard Greenberg Shares Insights with FSU College of Law Students
RumbergerKirk attorney Richard Greenberg delivered an engaging presentation to the...
10.24.2024
Professional Liability
Bar Admission Requires Proof of Character and Fitness
Getting through law school and passing the bar exam are...
08.15.2024
Firm News
Best Lawyers in America 2025 Edition Recognizes 24 RumbergerKirk Attorneys
Two Named “Lawyer of the Year” and Two Named “Ones...
01.25.2024
Professional Liability
The Florida Bar Provides Guidance on Lawyers’ Use of Artificial Intelligence
“I fear that AI may replace humans altogether. If people...
Photo: Shutterstock.com/Sansoen Saengsakaorat
02.02.2024
Events
Bulldog or Bully? Incivility or Zealous Advocacy?
Partner Richard Greenberg joined a panel discussion at the Association...
08.17.2023
Firm News
Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 24 RumbergerKirk Attorneys with Managing Partner Frank Sheppard Named Lawyer of the Year
ORLANDO, FL - August 17, 2023 - Best Lawyers has...
04.04.2023
Events
A Case Study of Florida Bar v. Scott Kallins, and the Disciplinary Process from Complaint to Reinstatement
RumbergerKirk Partner Patrick Delaney, committee chair of the Orange County...
11.09.2022
Events
Demystifying the Bar Grievance Process
RumbergerKirk Tallahassee partner Richard Greenberg participated in a panel presentation...
