R. Lee Bennett Attorney At Law

Lee began his legal career in the real property area. Within a few years, he developed a practice in commercial, construction, and surety litigation and general business law. Lee handles trademark and copyright prosecution and is a member of the GrayRobinson Technology Team, which serves the special needs of technology companies. Lee has considerable experience in drafting contracts involving proprietary technology, hosted software systems, trade secrets, copyrights, and trademarks, and has handled the purchases and sales of businesses and loan closings involving millions of dollars. Lee's diverse background serves him well in counseling his business clients, in negotiating commercial transactions, and the ability to successfully resolve business and transactional disputes. His practice includes negotiating software development agreements and licensing arrangements for both vendors and users. Lee served as a director of a publicly-held software company and during his career has represented both privately and publicly-owned companies. Lee has assisted his clients in beginning transnational business operations and engaging in international transactions by assisting in the formation of foreign corporations and branches, as well as preparing contracts for the sale and distribution of products and services overseas. Lee has represented clients doing business in the Far East, Australia, and Europe. In addition, Lee argued and won a landmark case concerning real estate taxation decided by the Florida Supreme Court. 

• Background

  Lee is almost a native of Florida, having moved with his family to Dade City, Florida, from Massachusetts at the age of 6 years. He graduated from Brown University with a Bachelor’s degree in English literature. For the next six years he served in the U.S. Navy flying various aircraft, including helicopters, aboard aircraft carriers. After fulfilling his military commitment for the Naval Aviation program, he attended Vanderbilt University College of Law, where he was Treaty, Case and Note Editor for the Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law. After receiving his Juris Doctor, he returned to Florida to practice. He and his wife, Marilynn, live in Orlando and have eight adult children. 

• Education
  • Brown University, A.B. English literature
  • Vanderbilt University, College of Law, J.D.
    • Treaty, Case and Note Editor for Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law 
• Admissions
  • Florida
• Professional Associations and Memberships
  • American Bar Association
    • Business Law Section
    • Business and Commercial Law Committee, Past Newsletter Editor
  • The Florida Bar
    • Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, 2010-2014
    • Professional Ethics Committee, 2010-2014
    • Grievance, Mediation, and Fee Arbitration Committee, Member
    • Unlicensed Practice of Law Committee, Past Chair
    • Business Law Section
    • 5th District Court of Appeal, Judicial Nominating Commission, 2008-2012
    • 9th Judicial Circuit Nominating Commission, appointed by Governor Bush
    • 9th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee, Past Member
  • Orange County Bar Association
    • Delegate to the ABA House of Delegates, 1996-2012
    • Recipient of Professionalism Award, 2000
    • Professionalism Committee, 2000-present
    • President, 1993-1994
    • Former Trustee, Legal Aid Society
    • Executive Council, Member, two three-year terms
    • Executive Council Member Award, three times
    • Corporate and Business Law Committee, Past Chair
  • Orange County Bar Association Foundation, Inc., President, 1996 
• Awards and Recognitions
  • AV Preeminent® rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Best Lawyers in America, 2010-2013, 2015-2025
    • Corporate Law
  • Orlando Magazine, Best Lawyers, 2013-2016, 2019-2021
  • Rotarian of the Year, Rotary Club of Orlando, 2011 
  • Orlando Business Journal, "The Best of the Bar"
  • Florida Council of Bar Association Presidents, Outstanding Past President Award, 2003 
  • Junior Achievement of Central Florida, Henry Cragg Volunteer Award, 2011
• Civic
  • Junior Achievement of Central Florida, Member of Executive Committee and Board of Directors (1996-2016), Former Treasurer, Volunteer Classroom Teacher
  • Better Business Bureau of Central Florida, Past Director
  • International Visitors Council, Past Director
  • Orlando Healthy Community Initiative, Stakeholder
  • Rotary Club of Orlando, Past Director
  • Leadership Orlando, Class 78 
• Articles and Publications
  • Wrote and continuously updates chapter in practice aid book for Florida lawyers on Corporate Practice in Florida