ACCL Membership Directory

Luis Prats

  • Shareholder/Chair-Board of Directors
  • Carlton Fields P. A.
  • PO Box 3239
  • Tampa, Florida 33601
  • Email: lprats@carltonfields.com
  • Phone: (813) 229-4102
  • Cell: (813) 732-7240
  • Company Phone: (813) 223-7000
  • Fax: (813) 229-4133

Education

  • Law School: Stetson University

Career History

  • Luis has been lead trial counsel for 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, Luis represented:

    • The general contractor for multiple high-rise condominium and resort projects in north Florida on claims alleging, among other things, structural deficiencies.
    • The general contractor for a $200 million+ high-rise condominium/hotel project in South Florida.
    • Multiple clients, including owners and contractors, on claims involving foundation, geotechnical, and subsurface deficiencies on high-, mid-, and low-rise projects in North and Central Florida.
    • Public owner on the collapse of a parking garage in Central Florida.
    • Public owner on the partial/imminent collapse of a taxiway bridge.
    • Private owner of a museum on a partial collapse in South Florida.
    • Public owner of a large convention center on a $100 million+ delay and inefficiencies claim.
    • Lead designer of a space shuttle launching facility in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
    • Program manager of a taxiway expansion project at major international airport in South Florida.
    • Lead designer of a wastewater treatment plant in South Florida.
    • Contractor for a power plant in Guatemala City.
    • Lead designer of a $70 million highway expansion project in Central Florida.
    • Public owner’s construction counsel for $3 billion capital improvement and expansion project at major international airport.
    • Public owner’s construction counsel for $600 million convention center project.
    • Counseled national homebuilder on investigation by state attorney general’s office regarding alleged statewide violations of building codes and trade practices.
    • Represented multiple owners on claims for defective construction, yielding judgments, awards, or settlements in the hundreds of millions.

 

Biography

Luis Prats is a board certified construction lawyer with more than 40 years of experience representing public and private owners, developers, contractors, and design professionals on all types of construction matters. He has tried dozens of cases in state and federal courts, and 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 co-editor and co-author of The Construction Trial Desk Book, and a contributing author of three other books on construction law. He is a fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers and the Litigation Council of America, has been consistently 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 chair of the firm’s board of directors.

Professional Activities

  • Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Construction Law
  • Fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers
  • Fellow of the Litigation Council of America
  • 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 (2006-2023)
  • Listed in Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Business Lawyers (2006-2023)
  • Tampa Construction Lawyer of the Year (2015, 2022, 2023)
  • Selected for inclusion in Florida Super Lawyers (Construction) (2006-2022); Florida Super Lawyers’ Top 100 (2007-2014; 2019-2022)
  • 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 Who’s Who in America
  • Listed in The Legal 500 (Real Estate and Construction) (2014)

 

Court Admissions

  • 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

 

Community Activities

  • 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 (2012-2017)
  • 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 (2014-2017)
    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)

 



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