Franchesco (Frank) Soto

Equity Partner, Chair of the Construction Law Group

fsoto@haber.law

Franchesco (Frank) Soto is an Equity Partner and has been with the firm since 2012. Mr. Soto is the Chair of the Construction Department and handles matters throughout the State of Florida in the areas of Construction Defect Litigation, Complex Construction Litigation and Commercial Litigation on behalf of community and condominium associations, developers, contractors, and subcontractors. Mr. Soto has been selected by his peers to the Florida Super Lawyers list (2016 – 2023) and was selected by his peers as the 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” in Construction Litigation – Construction in Miami. In addition to this honor, Mr. Soto was featured in the 29th edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for his work in Construction Law and Construction Litigation and is a Fellow of the Construction Lawyer’s Society of America.

Mr. Soto has successfully represented and collected sizeable awards on numerous construction defect cases on behalf of owners that include Home Owner Associations, Condominium Associations, single family residential projects, garden style communities, townhome communities and commercial properties. The claims often involve all components of a construction project from roof and unit owner balcony claims, to waterproofing systems, underground parking defects, fire sprinkler and life safety systems along with stucco, painting, post tensioning, and concrete placement defects.

As part of Mr. Soto’s practice, he has extensive experience in litigating multi-million dollars construction disputes and navigating the various hurdles with insurance carriers and complex insurance policies. He has also represented individuals and corporations in various contract, negligence and fraudulent conveyance claims and has defended residential mortgage lenders and other financial institutions in various claims involving, breach of contract, business torts, bankruptcy, claims involving alleged violations of the Truth-in-Lending Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, state consumer fraud and anti-predatory lending laws, and consumer privacy claims.

 

PRACTICE AREAS

  • Construction Law
  • Real Estate Law
 

Education

J.D., Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, 2002

  • Honors: Jessup Moot Court Association, 2001-2002 Law Review: Journal of International and Comparative Law, Associate Editor

B.A., Florida International University, Miami, Florida, 1998

 
 

ADMISSIONS

  • Florida
 
 

RECOGNITION

  • South Florida Legal Guide, Top Lawyer 2020
  • Best Lawyers in America for Litigation - Construction and Construction Law, 2018 - 2024
  • Best Lawyers: "Lawyer of the Year” in Litigation - Construction in Miami, 2023
  • Super Lawyers, 2014 – 2023
  • Rising Star Recognized by the Super Lawyers, 2010 – 2014
 
 

Professional & Bar Association Memberships

  • Cuban American Bar Association (CABA)
  • Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA)
  • Dade County Bar Association (DCBA)
  • Children’s Home Society of Miami (CHS)
    Board Member
  • Construction Lawyers Society of America (CLSA)
    Past Trustee Member
  • Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce
    Past Trustee Member
  • Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Past Trustee Member
  • Latin Builders Association
 
 

Languages

Spanish

 
 

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

  • Construction Defect Litigation. Represented homeowners’ association in Palm Beach with the most parties in Palm Beach County history, primarily involving stucco and glazing water intrusion issues, and achieved $22.5 million global settlement on the second day of jury selection.
  • Construction Defect Litigation. Represented high-rise condominium in Downtown Miami and the corresponding master association in construction defect case primarily involving post-tension cable and various MEP issues, and obtained a settlement totaling approximately $3.6 million.
  • Post-Turnover Owner Representation. Representing developer of luxury Miami Beach condominium in pre-suit Chapter 558 process and turnover dispute against condominium association, general contractor, subcontractors, and design professionals, which includes the negotiation of settlements with the various parties and negotiations with the client’s insurance carrier to obtain the highest level of coverage available under the applicable general liability policy.
  • Construction Law. Represented subcontractor in construction defect dispute where $3.9 million was claimed by plaintiff, and negotiated outstanding lien claims and alleged construction defects relating to the work performed by subcontractor.
  • Construction Law. Chair of Construction Department. Oversee entire firm’s construction litigation case load and direct case strategy in order achieve favorable resolutions for the firm’s clients.