Professional Experience
John M. Guard is a member of the Firm’s Commercial Litigation Group.
Prior to joining Quarles & Brady, Mr. Guard served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. In that capacity, Mr. Guard investigated and prosecuted a wide range of criminal matters, including mail fraud, wire fraud, and healthcare fraud matters. As an Assistant United States Attorney, Mr. Guard handled a number of mortgage and financial services related fraud matters through trial.
Prior to serving as an Assistant United States Attorney, Mr. Guard worked for approximately seven years as an attorney at Holland & Knight LLP. At Holland & Knight, Mr. Guard represented clients in the telecommunications, technology, and financial services industry prosecuting and defending a variety of matters including covenant not to compete, trade secret, trademark, and copyright infringement claims, unfair competition, unfair deceptive trade practice claims, claims of fraud, contract disputes, and bankruptcy matters. He handled matters in both state and federal court through both bench and jury trials in state and federal court.
Mr. Guard also served as a law clerk to the Honorable James S. Moody, Jr., United States District Court Judge for the Middle District of Florida.
Education and Honors
- Tulane University School of Law (J.D., summa cum laude, 2000)
Order of the Coif; Dean’s Medal (highest grade point average third year of law school); George Dewey Nelson Memorial Award (highest grade point average among common law students); Tulane Law Review.
- Florida State University (B.A., 1997)
Degrees: Political Science and History.
Bar Admissions
Florida,
2000
Court Admissions
U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
Professional and Civic Activities
Tampa Connection (Class of 2006).
America Inns of Court, J. Clifford Cheatwood Inn (2005).
Federal Bar Association (Member).
Duval County Bar Association (2009-2010).
Hillsborough County Bar Association (2000-2009).