Bilzin Sumberg Expands with Addition of Powerhouse Construction Team
Florida Firm Adds Seven Construction Lawyers, Led by Joy Spillis Lundeen and Felix Rodriguez
Press Release
May 11, 2020
May 11, 2020 – Miami, FL – Bilzin Sumberg, one of Florida’s leading commercial law firms, announced today that highly acclaimed construction law attorneys Joy Spillis Lundeen and Felix Rodriguez have joined the firm. Lundeen and Rodriguez, along with three other attorneys – Kelly Ruane Melchiondo, Michael Larmoyeux, Jr., and Alexander Leon – joined Bilzin Sumberg effective May 1, 2020.
With a strong presence in the industries that drive Florida’s economy, Bilzin Sumberg stands at the center of virtually every major matter, development or transaction shaping the state. The addition of the team led by Lundeen and Rodriguez bolsters the firm’s statewide capabilities representing the owners and developers of real estate, with an emphasis on construction planning, the creation of contracts and development agreements, complex permitting matters, and disputes involving payments, contracts, and alleged construction defects.
“We are delighted to have this talented group of attorneys join us,” said Albert E. Dotson, Jr., managing partner of Bilzin Sumberg. “They bring an extraordinary track record representing owners and developers in construction-related contract work and disputes. Collaborating with our Real Estate, Land Development and Litigation Groups, the team will deepen the breadth of our construction practice and offer our clients access to a wider range of specialties, such as complex construction defect and delay claims, surety bonds, insurance coverage, construction liens and warranty claims.”
Lundeen joins Bilzin Sumberg as the head of its Construction Group, having earned acclaim in prominent publications that rank top lawyers. Chambers calls her “a superb trial attorney,” who “handles a lot of complex cases.” Benchmark describes Joy as, “the reputed 'go‐to' person for all things construction. Lundeen joins the rankings with a chorus of praise for her depth of knowledge in construction defects as well as her courtroom dynamism and ability to communicate with a jury.”
“As we considered how to best advance our clients’ business goals, we felt it was important to select an environment offering a deep bench in a variety of development-related disciplines,” said Lundeen. “Joining Bilzin Sumberg made sense because of the firm’s reputation in Florida and its dominance in real estate, hospitality, litigation and public private partnerships. We see our team as being the perfect fit for Bilzin Sumberg, complementing existing areas of strength and bringing added firepower that will benefit the firm’s developer clients.”
Lundeen and her team specialize in contract negotiation and risk management, as well as counseling clients’ development activities from site acquisition to the conclusion of the warranty period for a finished project. Following completion and disposition of a project, the team also assists clients in resolving warranty and latent defect claims. The team represents clients including the ownership groups of Hard Rock Stadium and the Miami Marlins, Codina Partners, Florida Crystals Corporation, The Comras Company, Bayview Financial, Newgard Development Group, Mast Capital, Bank of America Community Development Group and the Tampa Housing Authority.
Miami Dolphins owner and Related Companies Chairman Stephen Ross, a client of both Lundeen’s group and Bilzin Sumberg, said in response to the news, “I am thrilled for Joy and her entire team. Joy is a terrific construction litigator, the best of the best, and Felix is an extremely effective lawyer. Together, they have out-maneuvered some of the country's top construction lawyers on behalf of our business.”
Bilzin Sumberg's Land Development and P3 team represent the same ownership group in the Stadium’s ongoing $500 million modernization project that began in 2014. Bilzin Sumberg also represents Related Urban in the development of their iconic Liberty Square affordable housing project. The firm's Litigation team assists developers and owners of some of the largest and most well-known development projects with both the prosecution and defense of high value construction disputes, including the representation of several luxury hotels across Florida and in the Caribbean in connection with construction defect claims both in court and arbitration.
Lundeen, a Miami native, is a Founding Board Member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami Foundation and has served as past chair of the organization. She earned her Juris Doctorate and bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami.
Rodriguez, a licensed contractor in Florida, is a member of The Florida Bar’s Construction Law Committee, the vice chair of the Dade County Bar Association’s Construction Law Committee, and a member of the Cuban-American Bar Association. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami and his bachelor’s degree from Florida International University.
About Bilzin Sumberg
Bilzin Sumberg works with clients whose business and legal opportunities and challenges span the United States and cross borders to Europe, Latin America, Canada, the Middle East, and Asia. The firm's growth has paralleled that of its Miami home base, a region known for its rich cultural, social, and professional diversity. Bilzin Sumberg lawyers concentrate on services at the heart of both regional and international commerce, including real estate, land development and government relations, environmental, corporate law, joint ventures, domestic and international tax and estate planning, business litigation, finance, and public-private partnerships. For more information, please visit bilzin.com.
With a strong presence in the industries that drive Florida’s economy, Bilzin Sumberg stands at the center of virtually every major matter, development or transaction shaping the state. The addition of the team led by Lundeen and Rodriguez bolsters the firm’s statewide capabilities representing the owners and developers of real estate, with an emphasis on construction planning, the creation of contracts and development agreements, complex permitting matters, and disputes involving payments, contracts, and alleged construction defects.
“We are delighted to have this talented group of attorneys join us,” said Albert E. Dotson, Jr., managing partner of Bilzin Sumberg. “They bring an extraordinary track record representing owners and developers in construction-related contract work and disputes. Collaborating with our Real Estate, Land Development and Litigation Groups, the team will deepen the breadth of our construction practice and offer our clients access to a wider range of specialties, such as complex construction defect and delay claims, surety bonds, insurance coverage, construction liens and warranty claims.”
Lundeen joins Bilzin Sumberg as the head of its Construction Group, having earned acclaim in prominent publications that rank top lawyers. Chambers calls her “a superb trial attorney,” who “handles a lot of complex cases.” Benchmark describes Joy as, “the reputed 'go‐to' person for all things construction. Lundeen joins the rankings with a chorus of praise for her depth of knowledge in construction defects as well as her courtroom dynamism and ability to communicate with a jury.”
“As we considered how to best advance our clients’ business goals, we felt it was important to select an environment offering a deep bench in a variety of development-related disciplines,” said Lundeen. “Joining Bilzin Sumberg made sense because of the firm’s reputation in Florida and its dominance in real estate, hospitality, litigation and public private partnerships. We see our team as being the perfect fit for Bilzin Sumberg, complementing existing areas of strength and bringing added firepower that will benefit the firm’s developer clients.”
Lundeen and her team specialize in contract negotiation and risk management, as well as counseling clients’ development activities from site acquisition to the conclusion of the warranty period for a finished project. Following completion and disposition of a project, the team also assists clients in resolving warranty and latent defect claims. The team represents clients including the ownership groups of Hard Rock Stadium and the Miami Marlins, Codina Partners, Florida Crystals Corporation, The Comras Company, Bayview Financial, Newgard Development Group, Mast Capital, Bank of America Community Development Group and the Tampa Housing Authority.
Miami Dolphins owner and Related Companies Chairman Stephen Ross, a client of both Lundeen’s group and Bilzin Sumberg, said in response to the news, “I am thrilled for Joy and her entire team. Joy is a terrific construction litigator, the best of the best, and Felix is an extremely effective lawyer. Together, they have out-maneuvered some of the country's top construction lawyers on behalf of our business.”
Bilzin Sumberg's Land Development and P3 team represent the same ownership group in the Stadium’s ongoing $500 million modernization project that began in 2014. Bilzin Sumberg also represents Related Urban in the development of their iconic Liberty Square affordable housing project. The firm's Litigation team assists developers and owners of some of the largest and most well-known development projects with both the prosecution and defense of high value construction disputes, including the representation of several luxury hotels across Florida and in the Caribbean in connection with construction defect claims both in court and arbitration.
Lundeen, a Miami native, is a Founding Board Member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami Foundation and has served as past chair of the organization. She earned her Juris Doctorate and bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami.
Rodriguez, a licensed contractor in Florida, is a member of The Florida Bar’s Construction Law Committee, the vice chair of the Dade County Bar Association’s Construction Law Committee, and a member of the Cuban-American Bar Association. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami and his bachelor’s degree from Florida International University.
About Bilzin Sumberg
Bilzin Sumberg works with clients whose business and legal opportunities and challenges span the United States and cross borders to Europe, Latin America, Canada, the Middle East, and Asia. The firm's growth has paralleled that of its Miami home base, a region known for its rich cultural, social, and professional diversity. Bilzin Sumberg lawyers concentrate on services at the heart of both regional and international commerce, including real estate, land development and government relations, environmental, corporate law, joint ventures, domestic and international tax and estate planning, business litigation, finance, and public-private partnerships. For more information, please visit bilzin.com.
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