Because of their complexity, construction projects of all sizes are oftentimes beset with legal pitfalls and issues. Contractors should seek qualified legal advice from a Florida construction lawyer before, during, and after their construction projects. At Jonathan P. Cohen, PA, our Florida contractor representation lawyer provides knowledgeable legal advice to contractors in all aspects of construction. Jonathan P. Cohen, Esq. can help negotiate, draft, or review contracts, advise you about issues with project development, and handle a broad variety of legal disputes that can happen during a project. Our firm has decades of experience focusing on Florida construction law and providing high-quality legal representation to contractors.

Matters Handled by Florida Contractor Lawyer Jonathan P. Cohen

The following is a non-exhaustive list of some of the types of construction cases Attorney Cohen handles:

1. Construction Liens: When contractors improve property in Florida, the state’s construction lien laws allow them to place liens against the property to ensure they are paid in full. Contractors can seek to enforce construction liens when property owners fail to pay as promised pursuant to their contracts. Jonathan P. Cohen, Esq. represents contractors in these disputes and helps address other issues that might arise under the state’s lien laws.
2. Payment and Performance Bond Claims and Defense: Contractors are sometimes required to post payment and performance bonds when they contract with property owners for construction projects. When something goes wrong, property owners may file claims against the contractors’ performance bond, and subcontractors who aren’t paid as promised may also file payment bond claims to recover the compensation they are owed. At Jonathan P. Cohen, P.A., we handle the defense and administration of payment and performance bond claims filed against contractors who are alleged to have failed to perform or pay as promised. We also assist subcontractors or suppliers file bond claims when they are not paid.

1. Contract Negotiation, Drafting, and Review: Before a contractor contracts with a property owner or developer, the parties must carefully negotiate, draft, and review a thorough construction contract that addresses the contractual duties and obligations of each party, the work that will be performed and who is responsible for it, milestones for the project, payment terms, and how disputes will be handled. Attorney Jonathan P. Cohen, Esq. represents contractors in negotiating, drafting,  and reviewing all types of contracts, including new construction contracts, lease agreements, purchase orders, and others.

1. Common Legal Disputes Representation: Some common disputes that might arise during a construction project include those concerning delays, scheduling issues, acceleration, differing conditions, inefficient performance, and more. Jonathan P. Cohen, Esq. represents contractors in these disputes to resolve them.

5. Construction Defect Claims: Property owners might file construction defect claims alleging poor-quality construction work and may seek to enforce construction warranties. Our law firm represents contractors when these types of claims are filed and handles other disputes concerning construction warranty claims and alleged defects.
6. Construction Design Defects and Professional Liability: Jonathan P. Cohen, Esq. has extensive experience representing contractors in disputes with architects, engineers, and other design professionals for design defects.

1. Contract Terminations: When issues arise on construction projects, work suspensions and contract terminations may be at issue. Our Florida contractor representation lawyer provides legal advice and representation to contractors dealing with these issues.

9. Resolving Disputes Through Construction Arbitration, Mediation, and Litigation: At Jonathan P. Cohen, P.A., our practice is focused on effectively resolving commercial and construction disputes through arbitration, mediation, and litigation. We prepare and file all types of court documents, depose witnesses, appear in state and federal court, and represent clients in bench and jury trials to resolve legal disputes. We also represent contractors in construction arbitration outside of court before arbitration panels and government agencies. Attorney Jonathan P. Cohen, Esq. regularly mediates cases to minimize litigation costs and resolve disputes.

Consult Florida Construction Lawyer Jonathan P. Cohen, Esq.

The law firm of Jonathan P. Cohen, P.A. has built a strong reputation within the Florida construction industry for our skilled legal advice and representation in construction contracts and disputes. If you have a construction issue and need legal guidance, contact our Fort Lauderdale, Florida office today to schedule a consultation by calling (954) 462-8850.