Jose B. Rodriguez, AIA, was born in Coral Gables, Florida. In 1988 he received a Bachelor of Design in Architecture from the University of Florida. After completing his undergraduate studies, he attended the University of Oklahoma. Mr. Rodriguez was awarded a Bachelor of Architecture in 1992 with honors at the University of Oklahoma and a Juris Doctor in 1995.
Aside from the legal license, Mr. Rodriguez is also a registered architect in Texas (18095). Additionally, in 1990, he obtained a State of Florida Certified Building Contractor license (inactive). He is a member in good standing of the Florida Bar (1995), the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida (1996), the United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit (1998), and the Supreme Court of the United States of America (2017).
At the inception of his legal career, Mr. Rodriguez owned and operated a small firm dedicated to criminal defense in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Today, Mr. Rodriguez manages the firm’s Fort Lauderdale and Tampa offices but services clients throughout Florida. His practice concentrates on professional liability matters and operates a robust general commercial liability division. Based on his experience, he routinely counsels design professionals and insurance companies to navigate and resolve complex claims.
Mr. Rodriguez works closely with local and national architectural and engineering firms to develop and implement risk management strategies to build their practice and navigate significant projects. He lectures on professional liability issues related to design professionals and contractors, including the impact of standards of care and critical contract provisions. In addition, Mr. Rodriguez served as an adjunct professor of building construction law.
As a result of these accomplishments, Mr. Rodriguez is recognized by Best Lawyers, South Florida's Top Lawyers, and is an “AV” Preeminent Rated Attorney by Martindale-Hubbell.
Practice Areas
Design Professional Liability Defense
Construction Litigation
Insurance Defense
Insurance & Real Estate Agents Defense
Legal Malpractice
Environmental law
Reported Cases
Verzura Const., Inc. v. Wallace Corp., 890 So.2d 1226 (Fla. App. 3d Dist., 2005)
Lebolo Construction Management, Inc. v. Hustad Structural Eng, LLC., and Architectural
Consulting & Design, Inc., No. 4D20-0378 (Fla. App. 4th Dist., 2021).
Professional Licenses & Awards
Best Lawyers in America: Construction Law (2014-25) Construction Litigation (2016-25)
AVVO Rated Top Lawyer—The American Registry (2024)
South Florida’s Top Lawyer (2024)
AV Preeminent by Martindale Hubbell—Peer Review Rated (2010-24)
2003 Registered Architect, State of Texas (18095)
Building Contractor, State of Florida (049998, inactive)
Academic
2007 adjunct professor Miami-Dade College, Building Construction Law
Speaking Appearances
2023 AIA Palm Beach Chapter Annual Mtg.—Featured Speaker on Architectural Issues
2015 AIA Florida – What Every Architect Needs to Know, bu Did Not Learn in School.
2013 AIA Tampa Chapter – The Architect’s Contract on Professional Liability Coverage
2013 AIA Ft. Lauderdale Chapter– Architect’s Limited Immunity for Contract Decisions
2012 CPCU Miami Chapter – LEED®, Follow, or Get Out of the Way
2011 Presented Florida Legal and Insurance Issues to Independent Insurance Agents on LEED Potential Minefield.
2011 AIA Tampa Chapter – Construction Defects Claims, Fla. Stat. Chapter 558
2010 AIA Tampa Chapter – Caps on Liability/Creative Legal Theories to Avoid Them.
2009 AIA Florida – Managing Risk in a Down Economy.
2008 AGC Tampa – Panelist discussing AIA Form Agreements vs. AGC’s ConsensusDOCS.
2007 Ownership Transitions- Professional Liability Issues Associated with Sales, Mergers, Acquisitions, Retirement, and Other Ownership Changes Within Architectural Design Firms
Court admissions
The Florida Bar, 1995
United States District Court, Southern District of Florida, 1996
United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, 1998
Supreme Court of the United States of America, 2017
Memberships
American Institute of Architects
Council on Litigation Management (CLM)
Developers & Builders Alliance
Executive Committee of the Young Architect’s Forum for the American Institute of Architects
The Cuban American Bar Association
The Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS)
Urban Land Institute (ULI)
The Jefferson Society—membership for the advancement of architects and lawyers
Jose B. Rodriguez
Shareholder
Bar Admission
Florida
Languages
English and Spanish
Education
University of Florida, B.A.
University of Oklahoma, B.Arch., J.D.
Offices
490 Sawgrass Corporate Parkway suite 320, Sunrise, FL, USA