Adam Handfinger

Practice Areas

Construction & Infrastructure

Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Construction Dispute Resolution

Employment Law and Practices

Power & Industrial Facilities/EPC

Public-Private Partnerships

Surety

COVID-19 Task Force

Residential and Multi-Family

Career

Adam Handfinger is a co-managing partner of the firm’s Miami office, chair of the Client Service Committee, and sits on Peckar and Abramson’s Executive Committee. He is certified by the Florida Bar as a Construction Law Specialist and focuses his practice on construction law and commercial litigation matters, representing construction professionals in issues relating to contract negotiation, project management, subcontractor performance issues and claims, payment, construction defects, bond and insurance claims, the project closeout process, and the litigation of related disputes.

Adam advises clients through all stages of construction projects, often helping clients resolve problems in real-time to avoid disputes and achieve successful project outcomes. Adam and his team have extensive litigation experience throughout the United States, in state and federal courts, as well as arbitration proceedings. This litigation experience involves all types of construction law issues, including payment disputes, delay claims, construction defect claims, and insurance coverage issues.

Adam also works with Peckar and Abramson’s Employment Law Group, defending employment practice liability claims, including discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation, and wage claims. He has successfully defended class action Fair Labor Standards Act Claims brought by construction laborers.

Adam has received several accolades. He has been ranked by Chambers for multiple years in a row and was named a “Next Generation Partner” by The Legal 500. Adam is also recognized by Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers and was named the 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” for Construction Law in Miami by Best Lawyers. He has also been named a Top Lawyer by the South Florida Legal Guide and has an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale.

Adam has published over 70 articles regarding construction law and is a frequent lecturer on construction-related topics. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the Terry W. Stiles School of Real Estate Development at the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship at Nova Southeastern University, teaching a course on construction management.

Professional Memberships

Construction Association of South Florida

American Bar Association (Construction Industry Forum)

Associated General Contractors of America

Publications

• “Taking Subs from Struggles to Success: How to Overcome Subcontractor Defaults in Today’s Market” Construction Super Conference, November 2023 (speaker)

• “Crisis Management Seminar,” P&A and American Global Seminar, April 2023 (panelist)

• “Managing Increasing Material Costs & Current Operational Pressures,” Marcum LLP Construction Summit, February 2022 (Moderator)

• “How Marital Strain & Divorce Impact Workplace Safety & Performance – 4 Steps to Implement an Employee Support System,” Construction Business Owner, December 2022 (co-author)

• “Tariffs, a Pandemic and War: Construction Contracts Must Withstand the Unforeseeable,” Construction Executive, May 2022 (co-author)

• “Top 10 Killer Contract Clauses,” Levelset Webinar, May 2021 (speaker)

• "Reduce Construction Risk With Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning,” Construction Executive, June 2020 (co-author)

• "Is My Lawyer a Robot? Technology’s Impact on Professional Services," Daily Business Review, May 2020 (co-author)

• "Decision Further Erodes Florida’s Statute of Repose for Latent Construction Defects," Daily Business Review, January 2019 (co-author)

• "Statute of Repose for Latent Construction Defects Extension Creates Increased Risk," Daily Business Review, September 2018 (co-author)

• "Chapter 558 Ruled a "Suit" Under Standard Commercial General Liability Insurance Policies", Daily Business Review, January 2018 (co-author)

• "Document Control on a Construction Project", in-house training for large national contractor, February 2018 (lecturer)

• "Risk Management and Project Administration", in-house training for large national contractor, March 2018 (lecturer)

• "Open Mic – Discussion on Current, Pending and Potential Changes to Chapter 558 Florida Statutes". The Florida Bar, Construction Law Institute, March 2018 (lecturer)

• "Florida’s Highest Court to Decide if Insurance Carriers Have a Duty to Defend during the Pre-Suit Notice and Repair Process in Construction Defect Matters", Peckar and Abramson Newsletter, Winter 2017 (author)

• "Risk Management and Contracting After Hurricane Irma: Suggestions to Avoid a Second Disaster", Peckar & Abramson Client Alert, September 2017 (co-author)

• "Additional Insured Endorsements: Not All Forms Are Created Equal", Engineering News Record, September 2017 (co-author)

• "Risk Management and Contracting After Hurricane Irma: Suggestions to Avoid a Second Disaster", Daily Business Review, October 2017 (author)

Work Highlights

Adam and his team have obtained several favorable and important published appellate construction law decisions:

• Altman Contractors, Inc. v. Crum & Forster Specialty Insurance Company, 232 So. 3d 273 (Fla. 2017) (The Florida Supreme Court overturned the lower federal court decision and confirmed that contractors are entitled to be defended by their insurance carriers from construction defect claims asserted pursuant to Ch. 558, Florida Statutes);

• James B. Pirtle Construction Co., Inc. v. Warren Henry Automobiles, Inc., 329 So. 3d 205 (Fla. 3d DCA 2021) (Florida’s Third District Court of Appeals overturned the trial court decision and confirmed that contractors can record a lien on a tenant’s leasehold interest even when the landlord is a public entity); and

• MHB Const. Services, LLC v. RM-NA HB Waterway Shoppes, LLC, 74 So. 3d 587 (Fla 4th DCA 2011) (Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeals upheld the lower trial court decision and clarified the scope of a contractor’s lien rights when performing tenant improvement work.)

Awards

Education