Jeffrey J. Molinaro, Esq.

Jeffrey Molinaro, B.C.S., is a Board-Certified Specialist in appellate practice, a partner with FIDJ, and chairs the firm’s appellate practice group. In addition to his appellate practice, Mr. Molinaro also practices in the areas of Civil and Commercial Litigation, Government Agency Litigation, and Anti-Money Laundering Regulatory Compliance. He originally joined FIDJ as a law clerk in 2008.

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Board certification is a voluntary program for lawyers, officiated by The Florida Supreme Court and administered by the Florida Bar. To qualify for board certification in appellate practice, attorneys must be licensed for at least five years, devote a certain percentage of their practice to appellate law, have handled all or a substantial part of at least twenty-five appellate cases in the last five years, receive judicial and fellow lawyer recommendations, attend continuing education courses, and pass a multi-hour written examination. As of 2021, only 209 of all eligible Florida Bar members are board-certified in appellate practice.

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During his time with FIDJ, Mr. Molinaro has engaged in comprehensive and extensive appellate practice. Mr. Molinaro has litigated numerous appellate cases on a wide range of matters including administrative law, constitutional law, civil and criminal procedure, commercial litigation, business torts, commercial evictions, nursing home negligence, personal injury, and first-party insurance. Mr. Molinaro has represented clients before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second, Third, Ninth, Eleventh, and D.C. Circuits, the Florida Supreme Court, and the Florida District Courts of Appeal.

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Within the areas of civil and commercial litigation, Mr. Molinaro has represented clients in multiple areas. Mr. Molinaro has represented his commercial and business clients in the prosecution and defense of a variety of claims including breach of contract, unjust enrichment, breach of fiduciary duties, fraud, tortious interference, and violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (“FDUTPA”). Mr. Molinaro has also represented clients in an assortment of real estate disputes and probate litigation.

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In addition, Mr. Molinaro has effectively represented clients in litigation and appellate practice against several federal and state agencies including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Federal Trade Commission, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, and the Consumer Protection Division of the Florida Office of Attorney General.

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Within the area of Anti-Money Laundering, Mr. Molinaro has drafted legal opinions regarding Bank Secrecy Act/FinCEN regulatory compliance, compliance with various state department of banking and financial institutions regulatory regimes, and OFAC sanctions program compliance for a variety of money services businesses including money transmitters, currency dealers, currency exchanges, prepaid access providers, payday lenders, and merchant payment processors. He has assisted in the negotiation of consent orders and settlement agreements with FinCEN and state departments of banking and financial institutions regarding money services businesses licensing issues and BSA compliance. Mr. Molinaro has also researched and analyzed provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act, FinCEN Administrative Rulings and applicable regulations of 31 C.F.R. Chapter X, and various state financial regulations for responses to federal and state regulatory and law enforcement inquiries.

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Mr. Molinaro was born in Staten Island, New York, and was raised in South Florida. He attended Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida where he graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Criminal Justice in 2003. In 2010, Mr. Molinaro graduated magna cum laude and ranked third in his class at the Florida International University College of Law in Miami, Florida. While in law school, Mr. Molinaro had the privilege of working as a research assistant to Prof. Thomas Baker where he focused his research on Constitutional Law, Supreme Court Jurisprudence, and Federal Appellate Practice.

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Outside the office, Mr. Molinaro is an active member of the FIU College of Law Alumni Association and the Broward Chapter of the FIU Alumni Association. Mr. Molinaro previously served as President and Vice President of each organization. During his time as President of the FIU College of Law Alumni Association, Mr. Molinaro spearheaded the creation of the alumni-student mentoring program, expanded association membership, and partnered with third-party nonprofits to raise funds for the College of Law and Kristi House Children’s Advocacy Center. While working with the Broward Chapter, Mr. Molinaro oversaw the creation and funding of the Broward Panther Network Scholarship which provides scholarships to FIU students who attended a Broward County High School. Since 2001, Mr. Molinaro has also volunteered his time as a high school football coach.