Joseph W. Downs III was born in Winchester, Massachusetts. He received his A.B. from Harvard College in 1967 and his J.D. degree from Boston College Law School in 1974. He served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1970. Mr. Downs was admitted to the New Hampshire Bar in 1974 and the Florida Bar in 1975. He was admitted to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, in 1975 and to the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Eleventh Circuits, in 1981.

Mr. Downs has practiced construction law in Miami, Florida, since 1974. He has served as a lawyer, a special master, an arbitrator, and a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator. Mr. Downs has represented designers, contractors, owners, and developers. He has been the chairman and vice-chairman of the Florida Bar Grievance Committees and has co-authored two volumes about construction law. He has been certified as a Circuit Court Mediator since 2011.

Mr. Downs’ construction experience has been recognized by Best Lawyers of America, Chambers Partners, and Florida Super Lawyers. In 2010 and subsequent years, he was named “Best Lawyers’ 2010 Miami Area Construction Lawyer of the Year." Mr. Downs is "AV" rated by Martindale-Hubbell.