About Me

As a Board Certified Construction Lawyer, Trent focuses his practice on all aspects of construction litigation and arbitration, including OSHA defense, lien law, bond law, and bid protests, as well as construction document review and drafting. He routinely represents general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, manufacturers, architects, engineers, developers, and others in the construction industry in a variety of matters. Trent is the General Counsel for the National Women in Roofing (NWIR), the Florida Roofing & Sheet Metal Association (FRSA), Florida Irrigation Society (FIS) and the Florida Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Association (FRACCA). He routinely advocates for contractors at the state Construction Industry Licensing Board and is active in molding contractor-friendly statutes, rules and regulations on the local and state levels.  Trent has been recognized as one of the leading attorneys in the field by his peers and the construction industry and has received numerous honors and distinctions as identified below. He is the editor and primary author of the Amazon best-selling book OSHA Defense for the Construction Industry.

Education:

• Vanderbilt University, J.D. (Dean’s List, Best Brief Award), 1999
• Vanderbilt University, B.S., summa cum laude, high honors (Phi Beta Kappa, Dean’s List, top 1%), Alexander Heard Award, 1996

Certification:

• Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Construction Law
• Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court Mediator
• Florida Supreme Court Certified Appellate Mediator
• American Arbitration Association (AAA) Construction Mediator
• Member of AAA Panel of Construction Arbitrators
• Qualified Florida Court-Appointed Arbitrator
• Department of Business & Professional Regulation Condominium Certified Mediator
• OSHA 10 Hour Safety Training Certification
• OSHA 30 Hour Safety Training Certification

Bar Admissions:

• The State of Florida
• The State of Illinois
• The State of Kansas
• The State of Tennessee
• The State of Texas
• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals Armed Forces
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
• U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida

Professional Recognition:

• Acquisition International Leading Adviser Awards - Leading Construction Litigation and Arbitration Lawyer of the Year, South East, 2019
• Tampa Magazine, Top Lawyers, 2019
• Florida Super Lawyers, Top 100 Lawyers (All Practice Areas), 2016 - 2019
• American Institute of Legal Advocates, Rising Star Immigration Law, 2018
• Tennessee Association of Roofing Contractors, Service to the Industry Award, 2018
• Finance Monthly Law Awards, OSHA Defense Lawyer of the Year, 2018
• Best Lawyers in America – Construction Litigation 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
• Chambers & Partners USA, Listed in Construction Law 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
• ALM 2016 Top Rated Lawyer
• OSHA Defense Law Firm of the Year, Corporate International Magazine Global Award (2016)
• Global Law Experts OSHA Defense Law Firm of the Year in Florida 2016
• Legal Awards 2015, Most Outstanding Construction Lawyer – Florida (Corporate Livewire)
• Lawyers World, Annual Award 2013
• LawyerIssue, Construction Law Firm of the Year 2017
• Corporate LiveWire, Excellence in Construction Dispute Resolution Law 2017
• U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®, Best Law Firms Construction Law 2010 (GRFH), 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
• AV Peer Review Rated,Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
• AVVO 10 out of 10, Superb Rating
• ICFM Global Awards Winner, 2014, 2015 (Leading US Construction Law Firm of the Year)
• Expert Guide, The World’s Leading Lawyers Chosen by Their Peers, Construction and Real Estate 2017
• FRSA Earl Blank “Heart” Award 2010
• FRSA President’s Award 2008
• WCRCA Byron Curry Award 2009
• Corporate International Magazine, Construction Litigation Law Firm of the Year in Florida 2017
• Acquisition International Magazine Construction Sector Focused Law Firm of the Year 2014, Best Florida Laywer – OSHA Defense
• Top Lawyers in Florida, The Legal Network 2014, 2015, 2016
• Florida Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, Construction Litigation (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
• Florida Super Lawyers, Construction Litigation (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016)
• Florida Trend Magazine’s Legal Elite, Up & Coming Construction (2007, 2008, 2009)
• Florida Trend Magazine’s Legal Elite, Construction Law (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016)
• ICFM Leading Lawyer 500 Award Winner 2013, 2015, 2016
• LegalComprehensive.com Law Awards 2014
• Lawyers World Global Awards 2014
• Top Attorneys in Florida 2014 (Miami Herald, Tampa Bay Magazine & Orlando Life)
• InterContinental Finance & Law Magazine’s OSHA Defense Law Firm of the Year, 2016
• Lawyers World Global Awards Winner, Leading US Construction Law Firm of the Year 2016
• Corporate International Magazine Legal Award, OSHA Defense Law Firm of the Year in Florida 2015
• Wall Street Journal, Best Lawyers in America 2016
• Florida Super Lawyers, Top 100 Lawyers (all practice areas – 2016)
• LegalComprehensive.com Top 100 Lawyers in the World 2016-2017
• Corporate LiveWire 2016 Construction Lawyer of the Year USA
• Expertise.com Best Litigation Attorneys in Orlando 2016
• Finance Monthly, Occupational Health and Safety – Law Firm of the Year – USA, 2017
• Lawyers Worldwide Awards Super Lawyers in Construction Law 2017
• Lawyers World, OSHA Defense Law Firm of the Year — USA (2015, 2016, 2017)
• NRCA Gold Circle Award for Service to the Roofing Industry, 2014
• Construction Lawyer of the Year USA, Finance Monthly, 2016
• 2015, 2017  DealMakers Global Awards, Leading U.S. Construction Law Firm of the Year
• 40 Under 40, Gulf Coast Business Review, 2007
• Tampa Bay Magazine’s Tampa Bay’s Top Lawyers 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
• ICFM Top 250 Leading Firms 2014
• Lawyers World Global Awards 2014
• Top Attorneys in Florida 2014 (Miami Herald, Tampa Bay Magazine & Orlando Life)
• Corporate INTL Magazine “Construction Law Firm of the Year in Florida ,” 2010 (GRFH), 2013
• Business Leaders Magazine, Top 50 Entrepreneurs 2012
• Tampa Bay Business Journal, Up & Comers, 2010
• Best Attorney’s Network, Construction Law
• 2015 Legal Elite, Construction Lawyer of the Year in Florida
• A.I.M.’s 2014 Business Excellence Award
• American Registry, America’s Most Honored Professionals 2011, 2014, 2016
• International Who’s Who of Construction Lawyers 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
• International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
• Tampa’s Top Rated Lawyers 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
• Acquisition International Magazine “Construction Law Firm of the Year — Florida” 2013
• InterContinental Finance Magazine 2013 Global Award
• Who’s Who Registry Association Edition for Best Lawyers World Rankings 2016-17
• Lawyer Monthly “Construction Law Firm of the Year — USA” 2013
• 2014 DealMakers Country Award
• A.I.M.’s 2014 Business Excellence Award
• Acquisition International Magazine  “Ones to Watch in 2014 — The Most Influential Practice in Construction Law”
• Legal Media Group, Construction and Real Estate Expert Guide Nominee, 2014
• Corporate LiveWire Global Awards 2016 Construction & Real Estate
• 2016 DealMakers Country Award, OSHA Defense Law Firm of the Year – USA

Publications:

Trent has published more than 200 articles in 30 different local, regional and national publications on such topics as construction mediation, arbitration, negligent design, delay damages, and defective workmanship and is a regular columnist for Roofing Contractor Magazine as well as FRSA and WCRCA trade publications.  He is the editor and primary author of the Amazon best-selling book OSHA Defense for the Construction Industry.

Seminars:
As a State Accredited Contractor Continuing Education Provider, he speaks on such topics as lien law, construction contracts, construction mediation, licensing regulations, and design defects. Trent lectures across Florida on construction law topics and has given more than 100 seminars for 25 different construction groups, associations and law schools.  He has spoken at the national Best of Success Conference in 2011, 2014 and 2016.  He also is a routine speaker at the International Roofing Expo, FRSA Expo and the FRACCA Education Conference.