As someone who grew up in and around both the construction industry and the legal profession, I naturally became a construction lawyer and advocate for the construction industry. While the days of digging foundations or managing projects are a thing of the past, my 20 years of experience in the industry allows me to identify the key issues and facts quickly and help my clients avoid or navigate what are often complex legal disputes.
Roscoe Green holds the unique distinction of being Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Construction Law and licensed as a Florida Certified General Contractor, laying the foundation to assist him in representing corporate clients in all areas of his construction practice.
Roscoe’s construction practice has garnered national attention. He has been recognized as one of the “Top 20 under 40 Construction Professionals” in the United States and as one of the “Southeast’s Top Young Construction Professionals” by the highly regarded Engineering News-Record, highlighting leaders within the construction industry for their professional and civic contributions to the industry.
Roscoe has also been recognized by his peers as being among Florida Super Lawyers’ “Rising Stars” in Construction Litigation and among Tampa Magazine’s “Top Lawyers in Construction Law, Corporate Law, and Governmental Affairs.”
Construction Practice
Roscoe’s construction practice primarily includes, but is not limited to, construction litigation, contract disputes, construction defects, bid protests, payment disputes, delay claims and lien and bond claims. His clients include public agencies, developers, design professionals, prime contractors, energy performance contractors, roofing contractors, subcontractors and property owners.
Roscoe’s practice also includes governmental affairs and lobbying for his clients, recently working with the U.S. Congressional Delegation and the Office of the Whitehouse to rename the United States Courthouse and Federal Building in Tallahassee, Florida, after his late grandfather, Joseph W. Hatchett, a former chief justice of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and former justice of the Florida Supreme Court.
Roscoe serves as general counsel for the National Association of Minority Contractors, Central Florida Chapter, and he is Quality Control Management Certified by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and certified in the State Requirements for Educational Facilities (SERF) by the Florida Department of Education.
He is also a member of one of the largest legal construction practices in the country with Adams and Reese’s roster of more than 75 attorneys serving the construction industry. Adams and Reese construction attorneys are licensed in more than 30 states and are strategically positioned in 20 cities, across 10 states and Washington, DC. Roscoe is one of eight Florida Bar board-certified construction attorneys, as well as one of Adams and Reese’s two Florida-certified general contractors.
Construction Background and Industry Experience
Prior to attending law school, Roscoe worked with a construction management firm in commercial and institutional construction. He served in a variety of roles including project engineer, estimator, superintendent, and project manager for multi-million-dollar projects.
Roscoe holds a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. He is also Quality Control Management Certified by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and SREF (State Requirements for Educational Facilities) Certified by the Florida Department of Education.
As someone who grew up in and around both the construction industry and the legal profession, Roscoe has always been interested in construction law, and as a service-oriented person, he has found great satisfaction in helping others.
Professional Association Leadership and Community Service
Licensed to practice in both Florida and Georgia, Roscoe is an active member of both bar associations. He is a member of The Florida Bar’s Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section, and for the State Bar of Georgia, he is a member of the Real Property Law Section.
In 2023, Roscoe was selected by Adams and Reese’s executive management to represent the firm as a Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellow. LCLD is a professional development program that connects high-potential attorneys with leading general counsel and managing partners across the nation.
Roscoe is also a board member of the Justice Joseph W. Hatchett Vaults of Opportunity Scholarship and an active member of Radiant Church.
Published Author and Construction Industry Source
Roscoe is a published author by ENR, Construction Dive, Roofing Magazine, and is frequently interviewed by the publications about construction industry trends including risk sharing, risk management, collaborative delivery methods, integrated design-build, and additional emerging industry trends that are helping construction projects move forward.
Roscoe regularly delivers presentations to public entities, trade associations, and clients about emerging issues in construction law, including topics such as joint-venture agreements, public procurement, construction lien law, insurance and bonds, claim preservation and collection strategies, disaster preparedness, and public and private construction contracts.
Certifications
- Florida Bar Board Certified in Construction Law
- Florida Certified General Contractor (CGC#1518230)
- State Requirements for Educational Facilities Certified, Florida Department of Education
- Construction Quality Control Management Certified, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Advanced Research, Writing and Drafting Certificate, Florida Coastal School of Law
Education
Bar Admissions
Court Admissions
Community Involvement
- Justice Joseph W. Hatchett Vaults of Opportunity Scholarship, Board Member
- Radiant Church, South Tampa
Areas of Practice
Acknowledgements
- Best Lawyers® - Litigation - Construction
- Engineering News-Record, National 20 Under 40
- Engineering News-Record, Top Young Professionals
- Florida Super Lawyers® Rising Stars
- Florida Trend, Legal Elite Up & Comer
- Tampa Magazine, Top Lawyers, Construction Law
- Chambers & Partners Diversity & Inclusion Awards (USA), Shortlisted for Minority Lawyer of the Year
Professional Affiliations & Memberships
- The Florida Bar, Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section
- National Association of Minority Contractors, Central Florida Chapter, General Counsel
- Associated Builders and Contractors, Florida First Coast Chapter
- State Bar of Georgia, Real Property Law Section
- Federal Bar Association, Tampa Chapter
- Hillsborough County Bar Association
- The J. Clifford Cheatwood American Inn of Court
- Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando, Supplier Diversity Council
- Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, Fellow
News
- Representation of a contractor in defense of claims brought by a subcontractor concerning work the subcontractor alleged that it performed during the construction of a $153 million dollar minor league baseball stadium and complex. The Court disposed of over 90% of the subcontractor’s claim, and further negotiation resulted in a nominal settlement and a complete dismissal of the action.
- Representation of a national real estate investment and property management company, concerning defects and the collapse of the concrete floor slab of a newly constructed, one million square foot, $30 million dollar, distribution center.
- Representation of a publicly traded, multinational energy company, with headquarters in Germany, concerning an alleged breach of a $21 million-dollar energy performance contract with a public institution, specifically pertaining to complexities such as the scope of energy conservation measures, a complex building automation system, and the prompt payment act.
- Representation of a public agency in one of the largest construction disputes in Florida at the time concerning defective pavement design and widespread, construction defects in the asphalt pavement at a shipping terminal.
- Representation of a concrete subcontractor in a multi-million-dollar dispute with the prime contractor and the City concerning significant damage to concrete diversion and perimeter ditches during construction of the project caused by a tropical storm.
- Representation of a prime contractor in a multi-million-dollar dispute against a public agency, subcontractors, and the manufacturer concerning alleged defects in the design and construction of a roof system across multiple college campuses.
- Representation of a prime contractor in a high-profile action against a public agency for causing a public project that exceeded a year in duration to reach the stage of substantial completion without paying the contractor at all during the course of the project.
- “Beware the Higher Risks that Align with 2023 Opportunities,” ENR, ABA Forum on Construction Law
- “The Top 100 Project Delivery Firms: Risk Sharing is a Necessity,” ENR
- “After A Coronavirus-Related Project Suspension, Take These Steps To Protect Your Rights,” Construction Dive
- “The Right Contract Provisions Can Protect Construction Firms From Coronavirus-Related Shutdown Costs,” Construction Dive
- “Paying Employees during a Coronavirus-Related Project Suspension: What Do Federal Laws Say?”Construction Dive
- “Considerations Before You Bid or Submit a Proposal for a Government Project,” Roofing Magazine
- “Navigating Teaming and Joint Venture Agreements,” Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council
- “Florida Construction Lien Law,” National Association of Minority Contractors
- “Preparing for Procurement,” Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Metro Orlando
- “Assessing Risk and Avoiding Pitfalls in Construction Contracts”, Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council
- “Assessing FDOT Contracts and Avoiding Pitfalls,” Florida Department of Transportation – Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council
- “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and Bond Claims,” RWE Clean Energy Solutions, Inc.