Robert K. Savage

Robert K. Savage

Investor Recovery Focused and Results Driven.
  • Stockbroker & Investment Fraud, Business Law, Insurance Defense
  • Florida, Michigan
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Biography

Robert "Bert" Savage is a New Jersey native who has been living in Florida since college. He earned his law degree and master of business administration from the University of Florida and has been a member of the Florida Bar since January 1994. Mr. Savage has significant experience in all manner of investor stock and investment losses. He is licensed to practice in all Florida state courts and the Federal District Courts for the Middle District and the Southern District of Florida

Since graduating from the University of Florida with his undergraduate, master of business administration and law degrees, Mr. Savage has dedicated his practice to helping his clients to achieve their goals in recovering investment losses.

Between 2010 and 2015, Mr. Savage was on the faculty of two law schools where he founded legal clinics to provide free legal services to those who could not afford an attorney. From 2010-2013 Mr. Savage was a professor at Florida International University School of Law, and then from 2013-2015, at Western Michigan University Cooley Law School.

Mr. Savage was senior in-house counsel and chief compliance officer for what grew to be a large regional brokerage firm. Mr. Savage worked in New York City as a regulator with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD), now known as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). During Mr. Savage’s time as a regulator, he investigated numerous customer complaints against registered representatives and brokerage firms.

Mr. Savage now primarily represents investors in arbitration matters to recover stock market and other investment losses for individual investors. Over the years, he has recovered tens of millions of investor losses for his clients by pursuing brokerage firms and registered investment advisors for their wrongdoing.

Practice Areas
Stockbroker & Investment Fraud
Business Law
Business Contracts, Business Dissolution, Business Finance, Business Formation, Business Litigation, Franchising, Mergers & Acquisitions, Partnership & Shareholder Disputes
Insurance Defense
Fees
  • Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
    Free Case Study
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Florida
The Florida Bar
ID Number: 995576
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Michigan
State Bar of Michigan
ID Number: P83270
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U.S. District Court, Southern & Middle Districts of Florida
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Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
Professional Experience
Founding Member / Attorney
Savage Villoch Law, PLLC
Current
2002 - Current
Owner
MercuryServe, Inc.
- Current
Associate Professor, Tampa Bay Campus Clinic Director
Western Michigan University Cooley Law School
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Assistant Professor of Law, Visiting Clinical
Florida International University College of Law
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Of Counsel
Bricklemyer
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General Counsel/Co-Founder
GA Financial
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Vice President
United Resources Group
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Examiner
NASDNASD
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Education
University of Florida - Warrington College of Business
MBA (1993) | Business Administration
Certificate of Entrepreneurship
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University of Florida Levin College of Law
J.D. (1993) | Law
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University of Florida
B.S./B.A. (1987) | Finance
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Awards
Superb Rating
Avvo
Best Business Lawyers in Tampa
https://www.expertise.com/fl/tampa/business-lawyer
Florida Legal Elite
Florida Trend Magazine
Florida Legal Elite
Florida Trend Magazine
Pro Bono Award
Western Michigan University Cooley Law School
Top 20 Law Professors in Florida
Online Schools Florida
Distinguished Peer Rating
Martindale-Hubbell
Professional Associations
Barney Masterson Inns of Court
Member
Current
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Michigan State Bar  # P83270
Member
- Current
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Florida State Bar  # 995576
Memeber
- Current
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Publications
Articles & Publications
7 Signs You May Be the Victim of an Investment Scam
The Legal Blog of Savage Villoch Law, PLLC
The Paraclete, Costs Bonds in Florida Trial Courts, Part 1 & 2
St. Petersburg Bar Association Magazine
Comparative Discussion of Pre-Hearing Legal Issues, Strategies and Preparation Before the Hearing: Exploring Critical Differences Among New York, Florida, California, and Texas Law
PIABA Annual Conference Securities Law Materials
Schemers Target the Elderly
The Miami Herald, Scammers
Are your tax returns trying to tell you something? What your year end investment documents can tell you about your stockbroker or investment advisor
St. Petersburg Bar Association Magazine, The Paraclete
Do Investors Have Rights When Their Investment Accounts Suffer Losses?
St. Petersburg Bar Association Magazine, The Paraclete
Securities Law Update
PIABA Annual Conference Securities Law Materials
Wall Street Often Slow To Tell of Brokers’ Sins
New York Times
Speaking Engagements
Introduction to Clinical Legal Education, Orientation
Solo Success; Practical Advice on Starting Your Law Practice, Phi Delta Phi, legal fraternity
Daubert in Florida - Changes to the Florida Evidence Code, Masterson Inns Of Court
Role of Business and the Business/corporate Lawyer in Society, and Current Ethical Issues, Stetson Law School
Comparative Discussion of Pre-Hearing Legal Issues, Strategies and Preparation Before the Hearing: Exploring Critical Differences Among New York, Florida, California, and Texas Law, PIABA National Conference
Making Room for Business: Practice and Pedagogical Challenges (and Opportunities) of Consumer and Investor Advocacy Clinics, AALS Conference on Clinical Legal Education
Securities Law Update, PIABA National Conference
Investment Fraud and How to Avoid Being A Victim
Stock Fraud - Can I sue my broker?, Lion's Club
Securities Compliance Issues, GAF National Sales Conference
Certifications
Florida Residential Foreclosure Mediator
USF Conflict Resolution Collaborative
Certified Circuit Civil Mediator
Florida Supreme Court
Websites & Blogs
Website
Robert K. Savage's Website Profile
Website
Savage Villoch Law, PLLC Website
Blog
Securities Fraud Lawyers Blog
Legal Answers
1 Questions Answered
Q. How serious is it if somebody who has a series 7 license opens an account in my mine and then cashes out the profits?
A: Hi, I agree: this is definitely shady and wrong.

Your spouse is not permitted to sign your name unless you signed a power of attorney document giving him the explicit authority to do so. Thus, if your spouse forged your signature, most fact finders would determine that that is fraud.

If the stockbroker was aware that your husband forged your signature then I would argue that the stockbroker and brokerage firm are also responsible for the money that your spouse took from you using a forged signature. Also, depending on the specific facts of the situation the stockbroker and his/her brokerage firm may be responsible even if they did not have direct knowledge but the circumstances were such that they should have known.

Further, if the stockbroker and brokerage firm took direction from your spouse in an account that is in your name only, they are likely for the damages caused because neither the stockbroker nor the brokerage firm are permitted to take orders from someone who is not the account holder, except in very limited circumstances (See: power of attorney).

While PNC Bank is not a brokerage firm in this instance, I imagine that the only way they allowed your spouse to get login credentials on your account is based on additional fraudulent documents. I think PNC Bank should have at least verified with you that someone was setting up login credentials so you could have stopped it.

You should definitely pursue these bad acts and let your family law lawyer know about what happened so she or he can notify the judge of this bad behavior. Good luck in pursuing your spouse's shady dealings.
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Contact & Map
Savage Villoch Law, PLLC
Tampa Office
400 N Tampa St. #2820
Tampa, FL 33602
Telephone: (813) 200-0013
Monday: 8 AM - 5 PM
Tuesday: 8 AM - 5 PM
Wednesday: 8 AM - 5 PM
Thursday: 8 AM - 5 PM (Today)
Friday: 8 AM - 5 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Savage Villoch Law, PLLC
Miami Office
1221 Brickell Ave #900
Miami, FL 33131
Monday: 8 AM - 5 PM
Tuesday: 8 AM - 5 PM
Wednesday: 8 AM - 5 PM
Thursday: 8 AM - 5 PM (Today)
Friday: 8 AM - 5 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed