Attorney Profiles

Larry R. Leiby 
Ft Lauderdale, Florida
Of counsel
phone (954) 382-9199
fax (954) 382-9063
email Email Me

Mediation Availability Calendar

Mr. Leiby began his practice in construction law in 1973 and was the founder and first chairman of the Construction Law Committee in the Real Property Section of the Florida Bar.  Mr. Leiby was appointed to the inaugural Florida Bar Construction Law Certification Committee in 2004 and chaired that committee in 2006-7.  Mr. Leiby was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Florida Bar Construction Law Committee in 2008.  

Mr. Leiby is Board Certified in Construction Law by the Florida Bar. For over 30 years as an advocate Mr. Leiby has handled construction disputes in state and federal courts and in arbitration. Mr. Leiby has been selected for the following distinctions by peer review: Martindale Hubble AV rating; Martindale-Hubble Register of Preeminent Attorneys (in Construction Law); Woodard/White's Best Lawyers in America; Chambers USA American's Leading Business Lawyers; List of Top Lawyers in South Florida by South Florida Legal Guide; Florida's Top Lawyers listed in Florida Monthly; Florida Super Lawyers by Law & Politics, and American Research Corporation "Leading Florida Attorney."

Mr. Leiby now devotes most of his time as a Master Arbitrator on the AAA Large Complex Case Panel, a certified Circuit Court Civil mediator (limited to construction disputes), private trial resolution judge, and insurance umpire in addition to counseling, teaching, writing and appeals.

Areas of Practice:
Arbitration & Mediation
Construction Law
Government Contracts
Fidelity, Guarantee & Surety
Litigation Percentage:
5% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Certification/Specialties:
Board Certified in Construction Law


Civil Mediator (Limited to Construction Disputes), Circuit Court


Bar Admissions:
Florida, 1973
U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida, 1974
U.S. Supreme Court, 1980
U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, 1981
U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1981
U.S. Court of Federal Claims, 1981
Education:
University of Miami School of Law, Coral Gables, Florida, 1973
J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence


University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, 1969
B.M., Bachelor of Music


Published Works:
"Florida Construction Law Manual" (first published in 1981 by Shepard's/McGraw-Hill), currently published annually by Thomson West as Volume 8 of the Florida Practice Series


"Florida Construction Lien and Payment Bond Primer" (approved text for Florida State Construction Licensing examination), part of The Contractor's Manual, published by ABC East Coast Chapter, 1999, 2004, 2007


"Contractual Indemnity in Construction for Your Negligence - What Year is it?", The Florida Bar Journal, July/August, 2003


"1998 Changes to the Florida Construction Lien Law", The Florida Bar Journal, September, 1999


"Survey of Construction Law", Nova Law Review 1992 and 1994


"The Role and Liability of the Qualifying Agent in a Corporate Structure", Co-authors with David J. Valdini and Wilson Barnes, Florida International University, 1993


Contributing Author "Licensing for Construction: A Legal Mechanism of Control", Comparative Studies in Construction Law: The Sweet Lectures, Construction Law Press, 1994


"Florida Construction Liens and Payment Bonds", The Credit Manager's Survival Kit, LGL Publications, Inc., Madison, WI, 2000


"Subcontractor's guide to the Mechanics' Lien Law", ASA So. Fla., 1976


Representative Cases:
Rossmoor Corp. v. Tri-County Concrete Products, Inc., 375 So.2d 896 (Fla. 4th DCA 1979)
Coordinated Constructors, Inc. v. Florida Fill, Inc., 387 So.2d 1006 (Fla. 3d DCA 1980)
Acadia Development Corp. v. Rinker Materials Corp., 419 So. 2d 1142 (Fla. 3d DCA 1982)
Vincent J. Fasano, Inc. v. School Board of Palm Beach County, 436 So. 2d 201 (Fla. 4th DCA 1983)
Coral 97 Associaties, Ltd.v. Chino Electric, Inc., 501 So. 2d 69 (Fla. 3d DCA 1987  )
Builders Glass & Metal, Inc. v. M.E.T. Construction, Inc., 528 So. 2d 988 (Fla. 3d DCA 1988)
Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland v. Delta Painting Corp., 529 So.2d 781 (Fla. 4th DCA 1988)
Levitz Electric, Inc. v. George Hyman Construction Co., et al (In re Levitz Electric, Inc.), 100 B.R. 602 (S.D. Fla. 1989)
Mursten Construction Co. v. C.E.S. Industries, Inc., 588 So. 2d 1061 (Fla. 3d DCA 1991)
In re: Simco Mechanical, Inc., 151 B.R. 978 (S.D. Fla. 1993)
Alexdex Corp. v. Nachon Enterprises, Inc., 641 So. 2d 858 (Fla. 1994)
Hollub Construction Company v. Narula, 704 So. 2d 689 (Fla. 3d. DCA 1997)
Fischer-McGann, Inc. v. Gene B. Glick Co., Inc., 715 So 2d 994 (Fla. 4th DCA 1998 1998)
Hewitt-Kier Construction, Inc. v. Lemuel Ramos and Assoc., Inc., 775 So. 2d 373 (Fla. 4th DCA 2000)
Bill Stroop Roofing, Inc. v. Metropolitan Dade County, 788 So. 2d 365 (Fla. 3rd DCA 2001)
H.W. Gay Enterprises, Inc. v. John Hall Electrical Contracting, Inc., 792 So. 2d 580 (Fla. 4th DCA 2001)
Rewards Hotel Mgmt. Co., LLC v. Elite Gen. Contractors, Inc., 860 S. 2d 1011 (Fla. 3d DCA 2003)
Representative Clients:
Associated Builders and Contractors Florida East Coast Chapter
Bostic Steel, Inc.
Builders Notice Corp.
Coastal Masonry, Inc.
Crompton Construction Corp.
Elite Restorations, Inc.
G.T. Construction and Development, Inc.
Hollub Construction Group
Kast Construction Company
Kolter Property Company
Seminole Tribe of Florida
Sumitomo Corp.
Classes/Seminars Taught:
Construction Law, Florida International University School of Law, 2008 - Present


Construction Law Continuing Legal Education Seminars, Florida Bar Real Property Section, 1977 - Present


Construction Law, Construction Law Case Studies and Construction Claims, Florida International University Department of Construction Management, 1994 - 1996


Construction Liens, Builders Notice Corp., 1976 - Present


Construction Liens, Payment Bonds, Construction Contract Drafting, Construction Contract Administration and Alternate Dispute Resolution, Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board, 1995 - Present


Basic Construction Arbitrator Training, American Arbitration Association, 1996 - 1997


Arbitrator II, Construction Arbitrator Training, American Arbitration Association, 1999 - Present


Arbitration Behind the Scenes, Florida Bar Construction Law Masters Institute, 2008 - Present


Honors and Awards:
Lifetime Achievement Award from Florida Bar Construction Law Committee, 2008


American Subcontractors Association Leonard A. Weiss Legislative Achievement Award, 1998


Excellence in Construction Education Award from Florida Institute of Technology Construction Industry Advisory Board, 2004


Professional Associations and Memberships:
Construction Law Committee of the Real Property Section of the Florida Bar
Founder, Chair (1976-1992), member (1993-present)


Construction Law Certification Committee
(2004-present), Chair (2006-7)


American Bar Association Forum Committee on the Construction Industry, 1976 - Present


American Bar Association Public Contract Law Section
Chairman for State of Florida, 1992 - 1995; Member 1989 - Present


American Arbitration Association, 1992 - Present


Associated Builders and Contractors, 1999 - 2008
Director of East Florida Chapter


Associated General Contractors, 2000 - Present


Past Employment Positions:
Kavanaugh & Leiby, Partner, 1974 - 1981


Leiby & Elder, Partner, 1981 - 1987


Leiby, Elder, Ferencik & Libanoff, P.A., Partner, 1987 - 1991


Leiby, Ferencik, Libanoff & Brandt, P.A., Partner, 1991 - 1996


Leiby Construction Law Firm, P.A., Managing Partner, 1997 - 2005


Leiby Stearns & Roberts, P.A., Of Counsel, 2005 - Present


Pro Bono Activities:
Counseling
Teaching
Writing and Appeals