Alan Graham Greer, distinguished Miami trial lawyer and civic leader, dies at 86
Over five decades, Alan Graham Greer built a reputation as an ethical trial lawyer specializing in complex litigation, political and environmental issues. He was involved in the 1970 Watergate cases, defending John Ehrlichman and Bebe Rebozo. During the 2000 presidential election, he represented the Democratic Party in the Bush v. Gore cases. He also represented Marjory Stoneman Douglas in her successful effort to halt construction of a jetport in the heart of the Everglades, the site of what is now being used by the Trump administration as Alligator Alcatraz.
On Dec. 21, Greer died at 86.
Although he had a demanding law practice, Greer made time to serve the community in many ways. He was chair of the board of WLRN, Miami’s public radio station. He was founding chair of the City of Miami’s Bayfront Park Management Trust and co-chair of Miami-Dade County’s Art in Public Places Program. Greer was most proud of his involvement with Camillus House, the largest provider of care to the homeless in Miami-Dade County. He served on the Camillus board for 25 years, three as chair.
Greer was born May 31, 1939, in El Dorado, Ark., and was raised in Alexandria, Va., then Miami, where he graduated from Miami Edison High School in 1957. His commitment to service was evident from his early days. He entered the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, graduating in 1961, and spent the next six years as a naval officer, including four years on submarines. He volunteered for duty in Vietnam and spent his last year of service there, for which he received multiple military honors.
After leaving the Navy, Greer attended law school at the University of Florida. Upon graduating he joined the firm of Frates, Fay Floyd and Pearson; he remained with that firm, which later became Richman Greer, PA, for his 52-year career as a trial lawyer. His commercial clients included Westinghouse, Microsoft, Burger King and many banks. As part of his representation of Miami’s Cedars of Lebanon Hospital (now owned by the University of Miami) he exposed the embezzlement by the hospital’s former president.
Greer was active in national and Florida Democratic politics. In 1988, he chaired the presidential campaign of Michael Dukakis in Florida and co-chaired the DNC’s national campaign finance committee, which led to his being a Florida delegate to the 1988 and 1992 national conventions. He also served as general counsel to Janet Reno during her 2002 gubernatorial campaign.
Greer was a devout Christian and wrote three books about faith: “Choices and Challenges” and “God Is,” examining the circumstantial evidence of God’s existence and man’s relationship to God and with each other; and “Who Do You Say I Am,” a novel based on the life of Jesus Christ. He was an active member of St. Hugh Catholic Church’s Marriage Covenant Ministry.
He is survived by his wife, Senior US District Judge Patricia Seitz, his sister Linda Davis, nieces Paige Patterson Hughes and Jordan Seitz, grandnephews Ian and Connor Hughes, and 10 God-children and “adopted” grandson Navy Lt. Andres Sanchez.
A celebration of life will be held for Alan Graham Greer at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, at St. Hugh Catholic Church in Coconut Grove. Donations can be made to Camillus House.