Florida Construction Lawyer Blog

Our firm is proud to represent Bouygues Civil Works Florida, Inc., the constructor of the Port of Miami Tunnel, for the public-private partnership among FDOT and MAT Concessionaire, LLC, the concessionaire chosen to design, build, operate and maintain the tunnel. The $900 million Miami Access Tunnel will connect I-95 via I-395 directly to the Port of Miami.

The Florida Department of Transportation partnered with a consortium consisting of Bouygues, builder of the "Chunnel" under the English Channel linking England and France, and private lenders to design, build, operate and maintain the tunnel. This landmark deal is part of a new trend, finding the use of public-private partnerships an effective way of accomplishing major infrastructure construction projects in South Florida and throughout the country.

Click here to read today's article from The Miami Herald, which gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at this remarkable project that is now underway on Watson Island.

Our firm's construction law attorneys regularly conduct presentations and serve as the featured speakers at events focusing on the legal issues that affect the construction industry.

At the Construction Claims in Florida Seminar taking place November 10, 2011 at the Courtyard Miami West/FL Turnpike (11580 N.W. 105 Street), partner Michael J. Kurzman will conduct the presentation on "Florida Construction Lien Law and Lien Claims." This all-day seminar qualifies for continuing education credits for attorneys, contractors, architects and engineers. It will provide attendees with a clear understanding of the effects that construction defect claims have on the construction and legal processes in Florida. Click here for additional information or to register online for this event.

The 2011 Fall Meeting of the American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry in Atlanta on Oct. 13-14 featured partner Stuart H. Sobel's presentation titled "When it Comes to the Lay of the Land, Forum Matters." Stuart discussed crucial strategies for preparing, presenting and closing out contract disputes in state versus federal courts.

On Sept. 21, 2011, partner Vivien T. Montz conducted a complimentary webinar titled "Construction Contracts in Florida: Issues Involving AIA Documents" that focused on effective strategies in the negotiation of construction contracts, and how Florida law affects certain standard provisions in these documents. The webinar qualified for 1.5 hours of continuing education credits from The Florida Bar.

We encourage those who are interested in receiving the presentations and information that our attorneys covered at these seminars and webinars to call the corresponding attorney or send us an e-mail at info@siegfriedlaw.com.

The attorneys and professionals of Siegfried, Rivera, Lerner, De La Torre & Sobel, P.A. would like to congratulate several of our shareholders and an associate for, once again, being named to the annual Florida Super Lawyers listing. Pictured above from left to right, partners Steven M. Siegfried, Stuart Sobel and Michael J. Kurzman were each named to the listing for Construction Litigation practitioners, which includes less than 100 lawyers statewide. In addition, associate Jason M. Rodgers-da Cruz was recognized as a "Rising Star" in Construction Litigation, which includes less than 50 of the top up-and-coming construction law attorneys in Florida.

The 2011 list marked the sixth consecutive year as Florida Super Lawyers for Siegfried and Sobel, and it was the fifth consecutive yearly listing for Kurzman and the third consecutive year as a Rising Star for Rodgers-da Cruz.

Super Lawyers, a service of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

Click here to read our press release with the complete details on this announcement and the stringent selection process used by Super Lawyers.

The 10th edition of "The Florida Construction Lien Law, an Overview" by the firm's Steven M. Siegfried and Nicholas D. Siegfried has now been published and become available. Originally published in 1986 to provide lienors in Florida with important information to comply with the state's complicated lien statute, the book has become a valuable resource for all of the participants in the construction process, including lenders, owners, design professionals, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and attorneys. It includes a complete copy of the Florida lien statute and all of the forms that are needed to comply with the lien law.

The book is priced at $90, and orders can be placed via e-mail at info@siegfriedlaw.com or by calling us at 1-800-737-1390.

Every year our firm and attorneys support important and worthwhile organizations, and this year we are pleased to serve as an "Comic Relief Sponsor" for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America's 2nd annual "Comedy Night," which marks the start of the Fort Lauderdale edition of Take Steps, the CCFA's largest annual fundraising event.

The kick-off event, which will feature hilarious comedians and fantastic raffle prizes, will take place at the Improv Comedy Club at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood on Wednesday, Feb. 16, from 6-9 p.m. Last year's event raised more than $24,000 for the organization, which focuses on funding research to find a cure for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and on improving the quality of life of children and adults affected by these diseases.

Click here to learn more or purchase tickets, which are only $25 and benefit CCFA, or call Liz Korfin for more information at (305) 218-5369.