Stevan Pardo is a leading authority on Florida construction and corporate hospitality law. During the past 39 years as a construction and business litigator, Stevan has represented companies involved in virtually all aspects of the construction and business industry including owners, contractors, design professionals, subcontractors, sureties, and insurers.
One of his construction specialties is representing condominium associations after developer turnover, including construction defect claims and accounting claims, arising out of the turnover of condominium property to unit owners.
His legal representations have also included delay and defect claims arising out of commercial and residential, high-rise residential, hospitality and resorts, multifamily, retail, and office construction projects.
Stevan’s clients rely on him to advise them on all aspects of the delivery of construction and engineering projects, from procurement and the drafting and negotiation of contracts, to contract administration, the avoidance and resolution of disputes, and insurance matters.
Stevan has developed an impressive track record representing developers and investors in multimillion-dollar real property transactions, including purchases and sales, joint ventures, and residential and commercial development.
He has also been at the forefront of Florida Condominium Association lawsuits against Hotel Condominium structures involving several branded and independently operated hotel condominium properties.
Stevan brings a unique perspective to the real estate side of his practice because of his 25 years of personal experience as a real estate developer and a hotel owner, builder, and operator. His own experience handling complex construction, buying and selling properties, and negotiating with lenders, has given him deep insight into the world of construction and renovation and has served to enhance the legal advice and business strategies he provides to his hotel clients.
As a result of his practical knowledge, Stevan is well-versed in both the business impacts and legal aspects of his clients’ real estate and construction endeavors. His real-world experience has helped Stevan to become a go-to attorney when negotiating and implementing real estate deals in Florida and across the country. Stevan’s distinctive business background also has given him a unique ability to troubleshoot difficult projects for clients before they devolve into full-blown disputes, and to craft business solutions to his clients’ business problems. When necessary, however, Stevan brings extensive trial experience in representing clients before the Florida courts, federal courts, mediators, arbitration panels, and appellate courts.
Other key areas of Stevan’s expertise include working with franchisors and franchisees, management companies, vendors, and insurers. Drawing from his real-life experience in hotel ownership, Stevan provides his clients with insight into the business aspects of a legal decision and the legal effects of a business decision.
Stevan has developed relationships with various hotel franchisors, including Ritz Carlton, St. Regis, Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and other well recognized industry flags. This holistic combination of legal experience and hospitality industry knowledge brings a critical and essential benefit to Stevan’s hotel and resort clients.
Stevan’s membership in the Hotel Trade Organizations and Young Presidents Organization (YPO) Hospitality, Real Estate and Construction Networks allows him to remain current on issues relating to the business and legal challenges in today’s construction, real estate, and hospitality community. His role as a member of the Executive Committee of the local YPO Chapter enables Stevan to keep his pulse on the trends, changes, and challenges facing the construction, real estate, and hospitality community in South Florida, the United States, and internationally.
A strong believer in pro bono work, Stevan has committed his legal and construction skills to bettering his local community. Stevan formerly served as the Chair of the City of Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board. In that role, Stevan combined his experience as a real estate developer, a lawyer, and a resident to balance the importance of historic preservation with development. Stevan also served as both construction and legal consultant to a large new community center in his neighborhood. He was the President of the Venetian Island Homeowners Association for several years and spear headed the historic preservation of the Venetian Causeway, a historic link between Miami and Miami Beach, was President of Temple Beth Sholom and is a long standing member of the Duke University South Florida Regional Board.
Prior to launching his law firm, Stevan, an AV-Preeminent rated lawyer for several years, was a partner and leader of the construction litigation department of Greenberg Traurig, where he practiced law for more than a decade.
