Category Archives: Press

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.

As most construction litigation practitioners are aware, the vast majority of construction defect cases settle before trial and even those that proceed through trial may not get all the way through the appellate process.

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

Prominent Partners Ascend to Equity Partners

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 […]

The impact of COVID-19 also appears to have resulted in a widespread decline in mental health. Airlines, for example, recorded a 47% increase in unruly passenger incidents in 2021, reported the International Air Transport Association. At Haber Law, we have also experienced the number of unruly resident incidents skyrocket at condominium and homeowners’ associations in […]

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.

Imagine you have an employee that opens a credit card in your name for your business. Your employee then runs up tens of thousands of dollars of debt on the account and illegally accesses your bank accounts to partially pay off the monthly statements.

Haber Law, a leading South Florida law firm, is pleased to announce 10 of its attorneys have been included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® and Ones to Watch®.

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

Dedication to hard work: Recognize that long hours and hard work are inherent to the litigation profession. Preparation and putting in the necessary time are key components of achieving success. At the same time, integrating personal time is important also.

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.

MIAMI, FL., June 27, 2023 – Haber Law, a leading South Florida law firm is pleased to announce six of its attorneys have been named among the 2023 Florida Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists by Super Lawyers. This selective recognition entails a thorough review of the Firm’s expertise including construction litigation, real estate, business […]

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.

The firm welcomes strong lineup of new hires while promoting internal talent.

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.

The Florida Legislature recently passed statutory changes that, among other things, reduce the time condominium and property owners have to file lawsuits over construction defects from ten years to seven years. This means that owners purchasing newly constructed properties years after construction could be left with no recourse if the property was defectively designed or […]

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.

MIAMI, Mar, 07, 2023 – Haber Law, a renowned Miami boutique law firm, has seen significant internal growth to kick off the new year, with various notable promotions. The Firm is pleased to announce the promotion of Frank Soto to Senior Partner, Jacob Epstein to Partner, and Annie Schneider to Senior Associate. “I am thrilled to watch […]

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.  

Frank Soto, partner at Haber Law was interviewed on WLRN’s Ante Usted to discuss construction and recent updates in condominium laws.  

David B. Haber, Franchesco Soto, Christopher Utrera, Harold L. Lewis named Best Lawyers in America® for another consecutive year. Jonathan S. Goldstein named for the first time and Jacob Epstein as Ones to Watch for the second year. MIAMI, Fla. — (August 18, 2022) — Haber Law announces the sixth year that multiple attorneys at […]

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.

Miami, Fl — June 24, 2022  Haber Law, a law Firm recognized for their outstanding achievements several years in a row, is honored to be recognized as Superlawyers and Rising Stars once again. This highly selective list of well-respected Florida attorneys is an immense prestige for the firm. The recognition entails a thorough review of […]

“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.      

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. […]

After a catastrophic partial building collapse in Surfside left 98 dead and a community traumatized, Florida’s lawmakers were tasked with finding a legislative solution to long simmering issues of lax inspections, poor upkeep and sloppy enforcement of 40-year structural recertifications, all seen as factors that may have contributed to the tragedy at Champlain Towers South. […]

Despite the tragic condominium collapse in Surfside in June 2021, the Florida Legislature has still not agreed on a bill that would require more rigorous inspections for condo.        

“Just be aware of the big picture. You don’t need to have a scorched earth mentality or approach in order to get the best result for your client,” said Christopher Utrera of Haber Law.        

The awards recognize top leaders in the tri-county area who have created business success stories and provided leadership to women and the broader community. MIAMI, Fla. – March 1, 2022 – Haber Law is pleased to announce Rebecca Newman Casamayor, Esq., partner at the Firm, has been recognized as an honoree in the Rising Stars […]

An obscure provision in the Florida Condominium Act making individual unit owners        

South Florida’s law firm leaders are finding success in an unprecedented market.        

Find out who gained top talent and who lost rainmakers in our review of South Florida’s biggest laterals this year.    

To chronicle the unprecedented expansion of the Miami legal market over the course of 2021, we checked in with hundreds of attorneys in almost every practice. Asked how they were doing, all said some version of “busy.”    

To chronicle the unprecedented expansion of the Miami legal market over the course of 2021, we checked in with hundreds of attorneys in almost every practice. Asked how they were doing, all said some version of “busy.”    

As a result of the recent tragedy at Surfside, the Condominium Law and Policy on Life Safety Issues Advisory Task Force (the Task Force) was formed to provide detailed recommendations to Florida lawmakers.    

MIAMI, FL – November 23, 2021- Haber Law is pleased to announce that the Firm has been recognized both nationally and regionally in the 2022 Edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms.”   Haber Law is nationally ranked in one practice area and regionally ranked in three practice areas. The Firm received […]

In-demand attorneys may be able to keep their desks while working in-office two or three days a week, but some South Florida law firms have already given up assigned offices and moved to hoteling.  

David Haber prides himself on operating a forward-thinking law firm. When Haber Law (then Haber Slade) moved to Wynwood in 2018, the founding and managing shareholder was already planning for remote work and office hoteling.    

“Leaders of the technology and finance worlds who are relocating to Miami realize Wynwood is where they need to be.”  

Welcome to FLCAJ’s sixth annual “Women Making a Difference” feature. We have long recognized the critical role that many women play in the community association industry; from community management to business leadership, the number of women in decision-making roles is accelerating.  

Our annual Law Firm Leaders Outlook examines the top issues South Florida firm leaders face going into the new year.  

“The ruling of the court provides security for contractors looking to secure payment at the end of the day, and it provides security to the developers who partner with public entities, and not subject the land and the developer’s interest in that land to those liens.” said Christopher Utrera, Haber Law attorney involved in the […]

Haber Law, a boutique firm focused on construction law in Miami, picked up two new attorneys in recent weeks, including a veteran partner the firm lured away from Boies Schiller Flexner LLP.

Steven Davis departed Boies Schiller Flexner this week for the Wynwood-based Haber Law. Construction defect litigator Justin Miller also joined the firm.    

Imagine checking into a hotel tomorrow. You are greeted at the front desk and, after a night’s stay, at checkout, you are presented with a bill that is $100,000 more than the standard room charge of $100 per night you were advised of prior to check-in. When you dispute the bill, the hotel manager explains […]

“If the Miami-Dade market continues to be expensive and increasing at a rapid rate, I think you might see within the macro-trend of a South Florida migration,” said a Haber Law attorney.    

In the aftermath of the Surfside tragedy, all assumptions regarding the utility and sufficiency of the legal rights, processes and safeguards for condominium unit owners have been upended. Florida is entering uncharted territory in which high-rise coastal condominium buildings continue to age under the watch of volunteer board members.  

The deadly Surfside collapse is casting a spotlight on how Florida’s condominiums are built and regulated.  

David B. Haber, Franchesco Soto, and Christopher Utrera were named Best Lawyers in America® for another consecutive year.   MIAMI, Fla. — (August 19, 2021) — Haber Law is pleased to announce the fifth year with multiple attorneys at the firm named as Best Lawyers in America® in recognition of their exceptional work. The 2022 […]

Miami-based business litigation firm Haber Law announced the elevation of a commercial litigator to partner, as well as the addition of three new attorneys with experience in real estate, contract law and partnership disputes.  

Haber Law is pleased to announce Rebecca Newman Casamayor, Esq. as a partner with the Firm. Previously a Senior Associate, Ms. Casamayor started her career at Haber Law and has excelled in the areas of complex business and commercial litigation, appeals, and community association law.

Engineers are still trying to figure out what caused the catastrophic collapse of Champlain Towers in Surfside, Florida, but there’s evidence that condo owners in the building knew serious repairs needed to be made and struggled to come up with the cash to make them. Condo associations will always be tempted to put off repairs. […]

David Haber provided an opinion piece for the New York Times.    

Engineers say it can take just 30 years for condominium buildings to reach a point when owners can no longer delay making critical repairs.