Category Archives: Press

Eleven Attorneys Earn National Recognition for Achievements in Condominium and HOA, Construction, Real Estate, and Business Litigation Law MIAMI (August 21, 2025) – Haber Law is pleased to announce that for another consecutive year, 11 of its attorneys have been included in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers in America® and Ones to Watch®. The […]

Financial planning for community associations goes beyond line items and spreadsheets—it requires legal awareness to anticipate and manage risk.  

Kara Olesky’s Florida Bar recognition marks a significant milestone in her legal career MIAMI — Aug. 1, 2025 — Haber Law is proud to announce that partner Kara Olesky has earned Florida Bar Board Certification in Construction Law, placing her among a distinguished group of attorneys recognized for their dedication, expertise, and professionalism. Board certification […]

It appears to be the position of the Florida Supreme Court and its legions of trial court judges that, if only there was better communication among lawyers, many of the disputes that are clogging our court system could be resolved without judicial intervention.  

A group of unit owners at a two-tower condo on Brickell Avenue in Miami voted to oust their association president in late November, as they were fed up with a series of his and the board’s actions that included enacting a $21 million special assessment and eliminating electronic voting.  

In the wake of mounting financial pressure and persistent safety concerns, Florida condo owners are finally getting a break as a new law takes effect on July 1. Last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a sweeping condominium reform bill aimed at easing the burden on condominium associations and owners struggling to meet the steep requirements introduced after the 2021 Surfside condo […]

Understanding Changes to the Built Environment After the Surfside Collapse  

A Miami condominium association has filed for bankruptcy, buried under tens of millions in debt.  

In this episode, host Kathryn Rubino chats with Marnie Dale Ragan, Ariella Gutman, and Kara Olesky. They share insights on their unique journeys in the legal field, focusing on the intricacies of condominium law, litigation, and business. Explore how they balance professional growth with personal life, tackle high-stakes disputes, and the dynamics of partnership. Perfect […]

Haber Law is proud to announce that 12 attorneys at the firm have been named to the 2025 Florida Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists by Super Lawyers, a prestigious distinction awarded to no more than 5 percent of attorneys in the state.  

When it comes to any potential emergency, including hurricanes, Haber Law strongly recommends that associations conduct workshops and implement an appropriate preparedness plan to establish planned action items, policies, and procedures and to engage appropriate professional assistance as needed to prepare for the next natural disaster or other emergency.  

Florida law firm Haber Law has selected a pair of longtime construction law attorneys to lead its practice group in that field, bringing a mix of perspectives in representing owners and community associations as well as contractors and other industry professionals.

Appointment reaffirms the practice’s strength and the Firm’s commitment to continued growth and exceptional service across South Florida   MIAMI, Fla. – May 14, 2025 – Haber Law today announced that partners Dan Levin, Esq., and Jacob Epstein, Esq., will serve as the Firm’s new Construction Law practice Co-Chairs effective May 30, 2025. Both attorneys […]

Like in any mediation, the first question a good mediator must answer is—what are the parties’ goals? Are the business and its members seeking to make the business a success, is the objective to create a fair and orderly wind down, or is it something in between, such as the buyout of a family member […]

Crews placed the final steel beam atop the $2.1 billion Buffalo Bills stadium in Orchard Park, New York, last month, a project overseen by a joint venture between Gilbane and Turner. In Los Angeles, a JV led by Stacy and Witbeck, Flatiron West and Modern Railway Systems also recently broke ground on the $668 million […]

New state regulations designed to forestall another deadly disaster like the Surfside condominium collapse have triggered widespread financial calamities for condo dwellers and their associations that the Florida Legislature is trying to fix as the clock runs out.

House Bill 913 is in the process of moving through Florida’s legislature, and it promises to make consequential changes regarding condo safety regulations.

Haber Law is pleased to announce the promotion of Marnie Dale Ragan to Equity Partner.

Budget pressures, coupled with evolving agency needs, are driving a shift away from large, traditional office spaces. This prospect raises serious concerns for landlords, investors and the broader economy.

A lender is going toe-to-toe with Don King, alleging the Donald Trump loving boxing promoter defaulted on a $5.3 million mortgage.

Legendary boxing promotor Don King was named in a $5.35 million foreclosure lawsuit over his headquarters complex in Deerfield Beach.

A Florida bill that would require condominium associations tocomply with building safety laws or risk their last-resort insurance option is well-intentioned, but couldresult in a slew of negative consequences for condo owners, insurance experts say.

The role of board member is essential to community association living. The role can be satisfying when the community is thriving and residents are mostly content. But serving on the board is a serious responsibility, and there are many areas with which to be occupied.

Condominium associations are required to attach proposed contracts to board meeting notices. This new requirement is intended to increase transparency and ensure that association members are fully informed about the decisions being made by their board of directors.

Florida’s condo market is under immense pressure from new regulations requiring inspections and expensive repairs.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Haber Law, Miami – Marnie Ragan was recently recognized in the 2024 Florida Trend Legal Elite NOTABLE – Women Leaders in Law special section. As recognized leaders within their industry, these peer nominated Women Leaders in Law are regarded for their leadership, vision, and ability to effect growth in the professional […]

David Haber, the founding partner of Haber Law, spoke with WSVN in regards to the $15,000 check that raised new questions about former Aventura condo president accused of stealing $1.5 million from association. David explained that the main issue is whether the previous board approved the payment. While the board is legally allowed to hire […]

Welcome back, snowbirds. Is your property a candidate for patio furniture restoration? Condominiums, country clubs, and HOAs with old and worn patio furniture should consider a powder-coating restoration process instead of taking on the greater expense of furniture replacement.

David Haber, the founding partner of Haber Law, said HOAs need board meetings on a regular basis, financial transparency, and proper insurance for directors and officers against forgery and theft.  

David Haber spoke to WSVN to highlight the significant financial burden that Florida’s condo owners face due to the state-mandated inspections and special assessments following the tragic Surfside building collapse.  

MIAMI, Fla. – September 16, 2024 – Haber Law today announced that associates Kara Olesky and Daniel Jovanov have been promoted to partners in the Construction Law Group of the Firm. This move underscores Haber Law’s commitment to expanding its expertise in the Construction Law sector, an area experiencing significant demand due to the ongoing […]

Annie Schneider spoke to WSVN about the emergency motion to ban Kelvin Veras from a South Beach condo after he was seen pointing a rifle from a balcony. A judge ruled Veras wouldn’t be allowed to return to the condominium after lawyers described his behavior as dangerous.

Ariella Gutman habló con América TeVé sobre la ley de reservas que fue aprobada en mayo del 2022 y obliga a todos los condominios hacer una inspección estructural y obtener reservas para reparaciones. La ley debe cumplirse antes de que acabe el año.

David Podein sat down with Omar DeWindt from the Miami Real Estate Podcast to discuss the current landscape of Miami’s condo market. Podein breaks down the market into three key segments: the high-end market, which is thriving with record-breaking prices; the middle market, facing challenges due to new reserve requirements and recertification costs; and the […]

Miami-based Haber Law is adding Jonathan Beloff and his Beloff Law team to boost its real estate law practice, according to a press release.

Miami’s Haber Law is continuing its growth spurt with the addition of a team from Beloff Law PA, including its founder, with 50 years of experience in real estate law.

Ten Attorneys from the Miami-Based Firm Recognized for Excellence Across Multiple Practice Areas, Including Complex Business Litigation, Construction Law, and Real Estate  Miami, Fla., (August 15, 2024) – Haber Law is pleased to announce that for another consecutive year, 10 of its attorneys have been included in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers in America® […]

Condo HOA fees jumped 60% in South Florida in past 5 years. Why higher costs are ahead by REBECCA SAN JUAN

These phrases can have varying effects, instilling fear or the misguided belief that a storm is a reason to celebrate.

Many Americans dream of the time in their lives when they can comfortably retire, find a home near the ocean, have a cocktail in the afternoon, and participate in their favorite pastime.

Every year between the months of June and November, residents all over the Sunshine State brace themselves for hurricane season.

MIAMI, Fla. (June 24, 2024) — For another consecutive year, Haber Law is pleased to announce that six attorneys at the firm have been named as Florida Super Lawyers and another seven attorneys named Rising Stars on the prestigious list of highly regarded attorneys across the state. The recognition includes a cross-section of the firm’s […]

Contractors, like any skilled professional, expect to be paid for their work. In exchange, owners expect to receive a completed construction project that is done in compliance with the project’s specifications and applicable codes, and in accordance with any applicable deadlines under the governing contract.

The law firm opened a new office in downtown Fort Lauderdale and sublet space for a new outpost in Palm Beach Gardens.

Miami-based Habel Law set up shop in two new cities in South Florida to expand its reach and respond to client demand in its specialty practice areas.

In the world of high-end residential real estate, developers are constantly pushing the boundaries of “luxury,” searching to meet the needs and desires of an ever-growing base of high-net-worth consumers.

Partner, Roger Slade, authors an article in “Litigation” a publication of the American Bar Association Litigation section.  

In this episode, Ariella Gutman, Partner at Haber Law and a remarkable lady lawyer, discussed how she has mastered the delicate art of balancing a thriving business civil law career with the joys and challenges of motherhood! To listen to the full episode, visit Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

On The Real Estate Dealmakers Podcast, David Podein, an Equity Partner with Haber Law shares his insights on navigating Miami’s condo crisis. Podein concentrates his practice on community association representation, real estate, and construction law. He represents real estate developers, investors, lenders, and landlords. He also serves as outside general counsel to community associations. In […]

How can an association or developer protect its rights against difficult, meddlesome or all-out dangerous neighbors? The answer is simple, “good neighbor agreements.” A good neighbor agreement is a contractual agreement between neighbors, which can be used to outline protocols, policies, and mutual rules of respect and safety between the parties.

Representing real estate developers and condo associations both come with unique skill sets with the multitude of issues that arise when developing large-scale projects. On The Real Estate Law Podcast, Alexander Leon, an attorney with Haber Law focusing on construction law in South Florida, shares his insights. With over a decade of experience representing both […]

To help meet a spike in the demand for condominium and construction law expertise in South Florida, Haber Law recently brought on the entire seven-attorney team from boutique Gursky Ragan PA, which specializes in construction and condominium law. Law360 Pulse recently caught up with the founders of the two firms to learn more about the […]

“You can organically grow, which is very painful,” said Haber Law managing partner David Haber. “Alternatively, you can join forces with someone else that already has that infrastructure.”

The move will join the two firms offering a deeper, broader range of legal expertise

Haber Law has been named to the Daily Business Review’s 2023 Watch List because of the firm’s impressive 25% growth in attorney headcount in just the first half of 2023, piggybacking on a similar expansion in 2022. Haber Law’s inclusion in the DBR’s 2023 Watch List is a testament to our ongoing commitment to the […]

As we continue our series on South Florida’s housing crisis, tonight we focus on condos. Some of the estimated 3.5 million Floridians living in condo units face a perfect storm of financial problems, with no easy fix. David Podein, attorney, Haber Law: “I think it is a dire situation on the horizon.” Condo law attorneys […]

As one of the top experts on condominium and HOA law in Miami, David Podein gives an insider’s view into the booming yet complex high-end real estate market down in Miami. He provides his insights into the booming Miami real estate market, noting sky-high demand for luxury single-family homes and condos. David also shares valuable […]

Macklowe affiliate acquired Biscayne Sea Club co-op and is acquiring units at adjacent condo building

Theft of association funds, election fraud and brazen bullying continues, residents and suits say

This potentially unsettling phenomenon is poised to rise from a confluence of factors, including the newly enacted SB-4D and 154 reserve funding and repair laws, skyrocketing insurance costs, inflation, obsolescence, rising sea levels and intensifying hurricanes, and other financial burdens.

A lawyer who advocates for homeowners has revealed a rampant issue of fraud among HOAs when everyday people are in complete control.

“Right away we were all handling cases on Zoom, whereas in other states, the transition’s been a lot slower and it didn’t take effect that quickly,” said Roger Slade, the immediate past president of the Miami-Dade Bar Association.

Higher deductibles can lower insurance premiums—but they are a gamble. Homeowners in search of relief from rising insurance bills are offering to pay more out of pocket in the event of fire, theft or other damage to their property.

Deals are falling apart, stalling or resulting in messy legal fights in South Florida

South Florida’s booming real estate market comes with inflation and stress on infrastructure; Higher housing prices, stress on infrastructure and less capacity at schools could dampen the region’s allure; Developers are seeing some pressure on mid-market deals.

David Haber joined This Week in South Florida with host Glenna Milberg to discuss Florida’s new condo laws. Haber is one of South Florida’s leading attorney’s in condo and construction law. He is on the front lines with homeowners associations.

Some of the same problems and dynamics remain in South Florida that led to the deadly collapse.

Proposed 57-unit oceanfront building could be approved by year-end, though project is in for a public relations test

David B. Haber, Managing and Founding Shareholder of Haber Law agrees that the continuation of alternative methods of communication have been helpful to the practice of law at his firm post-COVID.

Congratulations to David B. Haber for being ranked for the second consecutive year in Chambers USA: Construction! For over two decades, Chambers USA has been the world’s leading legal data and analytics provider, recognizing and showcasing the top lawyers and law firms across the country. This prestigious ranking underscores Mr. Haber’s expertise and dedication to […]

Condo owners who purchase poorly constructed properties in the Sunshine State could have no legal recourse.

Florida legislature, real estate edition: Here’s what you need to know Bills tied to HOA oversight, condo safety and approval challenges headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk for his signature

“The association is doing what it has to do, not only for Florida law, but also to make its building safe and to make the board of directors discharge their fiduciary duty to all of the condominium residents,” said Steven Davis of Haber Law in Miami.

Attorney David Haber, who specializes in condo law, said when it comes to investigating HOAs and property management companies, Florida has a resource problem. “They have passed laws that says there could be civil penalties, criminal liability, that’s great. Who is out there checking? The Department of Business and Professional Regulation is there to enforce […]

In this episode of the Miami Real Estate podcast, David Podein, a Partner and chair of the Real Estate and Transactional Law Group at Miami-based Haber Law, sheds color on the Florida Senate Bill 4D and what it means for Miami condo owners. Florida’s Senate Bill 4D, which was passed in May 2022, and made […]

The evacuation of their buildings revealed a stark truth: Their apartments are likely going to be expensive to repair — and the fees will only go up, up, up.

Ariella Gutman is a partner at Haber Law in the litigation department, focusing on matters including contractual disputes, complex commercial cases, business fraud, real estate litigation, partnership disputes, and litigation specific to issues within the hospitality industry. Ms. Gutman is experienced in all types of issues businesses face during all phases of their lifecycle and […]

In late May of this year, the signs were already rising with the dry hot sun of interest rate increases. With them went the costs of interest rate caps. “The prices have skyrocketed,” David Podein, a partner at Haber Law in Miami who focuses on commercial real estate, tells GlobeSt.com. “In some instances, the price […]

Carlos Castañeda and Genesis Martusciello fled Venezuela in the middle of the previous decade, arriving in Miami with little money and few prospects but in search of a better life.

Hybrid work and a better work-life balance are luring more candidates to midsize firms, as Big Law becomes more stringent with return-to-work policies

Law360 (September 21, 2022, 3:58 PM EDT) — As a string of national firms have recently planted flags in South Florida, the region’s booming legal market has also boosted outfits like the Miamibased boutique Haber Law, which has increased its headcount by 25% over the last six months with a focus on practices tied to […]

South Florida’s real estate and construction booms drove hiring at the now-23-lawyer firm. which lured even more new faces as assoaates were drawr the firm’s growth and flexible working policies.  

It could become an unpleasant choice for many South Florida condominium owners, ahead of a new state building inspection law driven by last year’s catastrophic collapse of the Champlain Towers South building in Surfside.

Nearly all newly elected board members in the state, and their management teams, come across this issue shortly after turnover-whether to investigate and pursue claims for construction defects at their property. Some of the main deciding factors of whether to pursue the claims are the costs and effort. By Chris Utrera and Kara Olesky

David Haber sits down with ABC News’ Victor Oquendo to discuss the tragedy of the Champlain Towers.

For developers, the tragedy resulted in increased scrutiny, but also opportunities. They must be more careful when building now, but the crackdown on condo maintenance will lead to the redevelopment of older buildings.

“I’ve been seeing a trend where the courts are making the requirements on proposal for settlement increasingly strictly over the last few years,” said Anthony J. Russo, a trial lawyer not involved in the underlying matter.      

Florida lawmakers on Tuesday reached a deal on the most significant overhaul of Florida’s condominium laws in two decades, seeking to prevent a repeat of last year’s catastrophic collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside that left 98 dead.      

Law360 – Florida’s special session this month is expected to address major issues hitting the state’s insurance market hard, with one area of focus on how changes to building codes for properties in the state could positively affect homeowners’ premiums and insurer concerns.    

Fort Lauderdale — The ugly feud between the boat show and its Bahia Mar landlord shows no sign of fizzling anytime soon.        

Miami boutique Haber Law picked up two new partners, an associate attorney and other staff in its latest round of hires to accommodate a “significant increase” in business.    

The developer that aims to redevelop 39 acres of cityowned land at the Bahia Mar Fort Lauderdale Beach hotel is countersuing the organizers of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show for damages in excess of $10 million.        

If we do not receive that order on Sunday night or read that email in the middle of the night, the likelihood is that no one is going to die. Let’s reduce stress and improve the quality of our lives.  

It is never too early to start networking and thinking about career/business development. In the past five years of my career I have focused on this, but the reality is that law is a business, and you are your brand, so on the sooner you understand this, you are ahead of many of your contemporaries. […]