Chris Bonti

Chris is a skilled attorney and partner in the Litigation Department at Johnson Pope. He represents companies and individuals in a wide range of business disputes, including breach of contract, fraud, complex commercial litigation, and fiduciary duty and shareholder litigation. He also has extensive experience in real estate litigation, representing developers, investors, property owners, construction companies, and closely held businesses in landlord-tenant disputes, commercial foreclosures, escrow deposit controversies, and quiet title and boundary actions.

Chris’s practice covers the full spectrum of issues that arise throughout the real estate and development cycle. He regularly handles declaratory judgment actions, easement and property boundary disputes, land use and zoning challenges, and construction-related claims.

Whether resolving a contentious development dispute, defending a multimillion-dollar foreclosure, or steering a complex appeal, Chris’s goal remains constant: to deliver the best possible outcome in the most cost-effective and pragmatic way.

Beyond the courtroom, Chris serves as trusted outside general counsel to businesses throughout Florida, including construction firms, real estate developers, and property management companies. He provides strategic guidance on risk management, contract compliance, and dispute prevention, helping clients address day-to-day matters before they escalate.

Representative Matters

• Partnership Dispute: Successfully defended against $1.4 million in breach of contract and fiduciary duty claims, achieving a complete defense verdict and recovering prevailing party attorney’s fees after a full arbitration trial.
• Real Estate Development Dispute: Secured a complete defense verdict for a real estate developer in a $1.1 million dispute via summary judgment in Hillsborough County Circuit Court, prevailing on all counts and recovering attorney’s fees.
• Lease Dispute and Fraud: Won a $2.2 million judgment in a complex lease dispute and fraud case, including a civil theft claim, against multiple defendants in Miami-Dade Circuit Court.
• Lis Pendens Removal: Cleared title and secured a $9.7 million property sale by successfully removing a wrongfully recorded Notice of Lis Pendens after multiple evidentiary hearings in Hillsborough County Circuit Court.
• Investor Fraud Defense: Achieved summary judgment and a complete defense verdict against $1.7 million in investor fraud and unjust enrichment claims in Hillsborough County Circuit Court.
• Arbitration Trial (Real Estate): Defended against $1.5 million in claims for fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of contract, securing a defense verdict and recovering attorney’s fees after a two-week arbitration trial.
• Commercial Real Estate Dispute: Achieved a complete defense victory via summary judgment in a $5 million contractual and restrictive covenant dispute in St. Johns County Circuit Court, eliminating all claims and positioning clients to recover attorney’s fees.
• Appellate and Settlement Successes: Maintains a robust appellate practice and consistently secures six-figure judgments and negotiated settlements for clients across Florida.

Areas of Expertise

• Landlord/Tenant Disputes
• Commercial Evictions and Foreclosures
• Real Estate Escrow Deposit Disputes
• Quiet Title Actions
• Declaratory Judgments
• Property Boundary and Easement Litigation
• Land Use and Zoning Disputes
• Fraud and Deceptive Trade Claims
• Breach of Fiduciary Duty and Shareholder Litigation

• Construction Law

Bar Admissions

• Florida

• United States District Courts (Middle, Northern & Southern Districts of Florida)

Education

• University of Florida Levin College of Law, J.D., cum laude

• Wesleyan University, B.A.

Outside the Office

A former college baseball athlete, Chris brings the same focus, preparation, and competitive drive into all aspects of his life. A lifelong Florida Gator and devoted fan of Tampa Bay’s professional teams, he rarely misses a Buccaneers, Lightning, or Rays game. When he’s not working, he enjoys golfing and spending time with his wife and their two children.