Luis Prats

• Mr. Prats has represented many clients on claims for defective construction, yielding judgments, awards or settlements in excess of $100 million.
• He has defended dozens of construction clients on claims for breach of contract, business torts, fraud, statutory violations, and other claims in state and federal courts. Among others, Mr. Prats defended:
  • The lead designer of a space shuttle launching facility in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
  • The contractor for a power plant in Guatemala City, Guatemala.
  • The manufacturer of equipment for a utility project in Nicaragua.
  • The general contractor of a $200 million-plus resort in Dade County, Florida.
  • The general contractor of a large condominium and resort facility in Destin, Florida.
  • The lead designer of a $70 million-plus highway expansion project in Central Florida.

Luis Prats is a board certified construction lawyer with more than 30 years of experience representing public and private owners, developers, contractors, and design professionals on all types of construction matters. He has tried, arbitrated or mediated hundreds of construction disputes. Mr. Prats lectures regularly on the subject of construction law and has published or presented numerous papers on the subject. He is also a contributing author of three books on construction law. He is a fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers, has been recognized by Florida Super Lawyers as one of Florida’s Top 100 Lawyers, and is listed in Best Lawyers in America, Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, and Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Business Lawyers, among other professional rating publications.

Mr. Prats is the Tampa office managing shareholder and construction practice group co-leader.

• Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Construction Law
• Fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers
• AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Selected as the 2006 recipient of the Paul M. May Meritorious Service Award by the Stetson Lawyers Association
• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Construction Law (2006-2018)
• Listed in Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Business Lawyers (2006-2017)
• Selected for inclusion in Florida Super Lawyers (Construction) (2006-2017); Florida Super Lawyers’ Top 100 (2007-2014)
• Listed in Florida Trend magazine’s Florida Legal Elite issue (Construction) (2006-2008, 2012-2013, 2015)
• Listed in United Who’s Who Registry of Executives & Professionals
• Sixth Circuit Award for Meritorious Public Service
• Recognized by the Florida Supreme Court and 11th Circuit Court of Appeals for representation of a death row inmate
• Florida Bar Certificate of Appreciation for contribution to the Legal Profession as a Legal Education Author (1999-2000; 2002-2003)
• Hillsborough Attorney’s Award of Merit in Recognition of Pro Bono Efforts (1993-1999)
• Listed by the Tampa Bay Business Journal as Who’s Who in Tampa Bay Business
• Finalist: Tampa Bay Business Journal 2005 Minority Businessperson of the Year
• Listed in The Legal 500 (Real Estate and Construction) (2014)

• Florida State Courts
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida

• The Florida Bar
  Construction Law Certification Committee (2011-2014)
  Executive Council, Trial Lawyers Section (2008-2009)
  Chair, Judicial Relations Committee (2009)
• Hillsborough Bar Association
  Construction Law Committee
• American Bar Association
  Litigation Section
  The Forum on the Construction Industry
  Division 1 Steering Committee (2007-2014t)
  Division 1 Chair (2012-2014)
  Division 8 Steering Committee (1995-1996) (1999-2000)
• Diversity Committee (2012-present)
• Sixth Judicial Circuit Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee (1990-1991)
• Tampa Habitat For Humanity
  Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and Legal Committee (1990-1992)
• Stetson University Alumni Association
  President (2004-2008)
  Board of Directors (1993-1997) (2001-present)
• Stetson University
  Chair, Board of Trustees (2014-present)
  Member, Board of Trustees (2004-present)
• Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce
  General Counsel (2004)
  Board of Directors (2004-present)
• NALP Foundation for Research and Education
  Board of Trustees (1999-2000)