Independent lawyer rankingsEvery fact traceable to a sourcePayment never changes a ranking
LexRanked
Menu

Construction

Top-Ranked Construction Lawyers in Sarasota, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.211 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked construction lawyers in Sarasota, Florida are Thomas F Icard Jr. (LexRank 88.00), George Joseph Dramis III (84.00) and David Eric Gurley (84.00).

This ranking lists 11 construction lawyers in Sarasota, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. All 11 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in Construction Law by The Florida Bar, a credential held by 4.9% of Florida lawyers in any field. Their experience ranges from 9 to 52 years in practice.

Lawyers ranked
11
Fully verified
11 of 11

The ranking

Ordered by organic LexRank score; paid placements are labelled and never affect a position. How we rank

  1. No change

    Thomas F Icard Jr.

    Independent practice · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 52 years experience
    • Construction
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #1?

    Ranks #1 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 4.4)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.0)
  2. No change

    George Joseph Dramis III

    Independent practice · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 34 years experience
    • Construction
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #2?

    Ranks #2 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20). 4.00 points behind #1, mostly reputation.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.9)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)

    4.00 points behind #1 (Thomas F Icard Jr.): Reputation −4.

  3. No change

    David Eric Gurley

    Independent practice · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 42 years experience
    • Construction
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #3?

    Ranks #3 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.9)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)
  4. No change

    Paul Edward Olah Jr.

    Independent practice · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 26 years experience
    • Construction
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.9)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)
  5. No change

    Salvatore Gerard Scro “Salvatore”

    Independent practice · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 37 years experience
    • Construction
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.9)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)
  6. No change

    Christopher Allen Staine “Chris”

    Independent practice · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 24 years experience
    • Construction
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #6?

    Ranks #6 with 82.80: strongest in Experience (28.8/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.20 points behind #5, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 28.8/30 (ranking avg 25.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.9)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)

    1.20 points behind #5 (Salvatore Gerard Scro “Salvatore”): Experience −1.2.

  7. No change

    Douglas Edward Walker “Doug”

    Williams Parker · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 22 years experience
    • Construction
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #7?

    Ranks #7 with 80.40: strongest in Experience (26.4/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20). 2.40 points behind #6, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 26.4/30 (ranking avg 25.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.9)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)

    2.40 points behind #6 (Christopher Allen Staine “Chris”): Experience −2.4.

  8. No change

    Ryan William Owen

    Independent practice · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 20 years experience
    • Construction
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #8?

    Ranks #8 with 78.00: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20). 2.40 points behind #7, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.9)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)

    2.40 points behind #7 (Douglas Edward Walker “Doug”): Experience −2.4.

  9. No change

    Joseph Herbert “Joe”

    Independent practice · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 16 years experience
    • Construction
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #9?

    Ranks #9 with 73.20: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (19.2/30). 4.80 points behind #8, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.9)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)
    • Experience 19.2/30 (ranking avg 25.0)

    4.80 points behind #8 (Ryan William Owen): Experience −4.8.

  10. No change

    Michael Allen Fant Jr. “Mike”

    Gurley Fant, P.A. · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 13 years experience
    • Construction
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #10?

    Ranks #10 with 69.60: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (15.6/30). 3.60 points behind #9, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.9)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)
    • Experience 15.6/30 (ranking avg 25.0)

    3.60 points behind #9 (Joseph Herbert “Joe”): Experience −3.6.

  11. No change

    Alex Lee Gurley

    Gurley Fant, P.A. · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 9 years experience
    • Construction
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #11?

    Ranks #11 with 63.40: strongest in Local relevance (5/5) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (10.8/30). 6.20 points behind #10, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 20)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)
    • Experience 10.8/30 (ranking avg 25.0)

    6.20 points behind #10 (Michael Allen Fant Jr. “Mike”): Experience −4.8, Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

Data sources behind the scores

Every score on this page is calculated from facts backed by these sources. Each profile shows which source supports which fact and when it was last checked.

  • floridabar.org · Official / regulatory · 11 profile pages120 facts for 11 lawyers

Construction market in Sarasota

LexRanked tracks 11 lawyers and 2 law firms in construction law in Sarasota, Florida. 11 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 10, 2026.

Lawyers
11
Law firms
2
Verified professional data
11 of 11
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
24 years11 lawyers

Calculated by LexRanked from its own records on ; data verified . Ratings and review counts count only when backed by a source; figures from fewer than three profiles are withheld. All lawyers in Sarasota

What sets these Sarasota lawyers apart

All 11 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in Construction Law by The Florida Bar, which only about one in twenty Florida lawyers achieves in any field. Florida Bar board certification requires at least five years of practice, substantial involvement in the field, peer review by other lawyers and judges, continuing legal education and a written exam, and it must be renewed every five years. The figures below come from each lawyer's Florida Bar profile.

Fact about the 11 ranked lawyers Figure
Board Certified in Construction Law 11 of 11
Years in practice 9 to 52 (median 24)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school University of Florida, Fredric G. Levin College of Law (4 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Sarasota office address and construction as a practice area on record. It compares 11 construction lawyers, using only facts with a cited source. How we rank.

Florida rules to know

Florida's Construction Lien Law sets strict deadlines for notices and liens, and a construction defect claim needs written notice to the contractor before any lawsuit.

Rule What it means
Notice to owner Subcontractors and suppliers without a contract with the owner must serve it within 45 days of starting work (Fla. Stat. § 713.06(2)(a))
Claim of lien Recorded no later than 90 days after the final furnishing of labor, services or materials (§ 713.08(5))
Enforcing a lien A lawsuit must be filed within 1 year after the claim of lien is recorded, or the lien expires (§ 713.22(1))
Defect claims: presuit notice Written notice of claim at least 60 days before suing, or 120 days for an association of more than 20 parcels (§ 558.004)
Defect claims: deadlines 4 years, generally from the certificate of occupancy or completion, and never more than 7 years for latent defects (§ 95.11(3)(b))
Court Where cases are heard
State court circuit Sarasota County is in Florida's Twelfth Judicial Circuit

How to choose among these lawyers

Confirm the license, ask who will handle your matter, and get the fee terms in writing before you sign.

  1. Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory and check the bar number shown on their LexRanked profile.
  2. Ask whether the lawyer you meet will handle your matter personally, and how many matters like yours they have handled recently.
  3. Ask how they charge and what costs are extra, and get the agreement in writing.

Further reading

Sources for the rules above

Frequently asked questions

How long does a contractor have to file a lien in Florida?

A claim of lien must be recorded no later than 90 days after the lienor's final furnishing of labor, services or materials, and a lawsuit to enforce it must follow within 1 year of recording.

Do I have to notify the contractor before suing over a construction defect?

Yes. Under chapter 558 you must serve a written notice of claim at least 60 days before filing suit, or 120 days for an association representing more than 20 parcels, giving the contractor a chance to inspect and offer to repair.

How long do I have to sue for a construction defect in Florida?

Generally 4 years, counted from the certificate of occupancy, certificate of completion or abandonment of construction. For latent defects the time runs from discovery, but no action may be brought more than 7 years after those dates.

Who certifies construction lawyers in Florida?

The Florida Bar certifies lawyers in Construction Law after at least five years of practice, peer review and a written exam.

What does Board Certified in Construction Law mean?

It is a credential from The Florida Bar for lawyers with substantial experience in the field who have passed peer review and a written exam. 11 of the 11 lawyers in this ranking hold it; 4.9% of Florida lawyers hold a board certification in any field.

Which court handles cases in Sarasota?

State court cases in Sarasota County are heard in Florida's Twelfth Judicial Circuit.

How is this ranking ordered?

By the LexRank score, calculated only from facts with a cited source: experience, practice-area relevance, awards on record such as board certification, professional credentials, data quality and location. Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Payment never changes a position.

Do client reviews affect the LexRank score?

Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Reviews are shown on profiles for information only, and Reputation counts only awards on record, such as board certification. How we rank

Which lawyers are verified?

11 of the 11 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Thomas F Icard Jr., George Joseph Dramis III, David Eric Gurley, Paul Edward Olah Jr. and Salvatore Gerard Scro “Salvatore” and others.

What is the difference between the top two lawyers?

Thomas F Icard Jr. scores 88.00 and George Joseph Dramis III 84.00, a gap of 4.00 points, mostly in reputation. Compare them side by side

About this ranking

Last updated
Methodology
LexRank v1.2 - deterministic, reproducible scoring
Editorial review
LexRanked editorial team,
Independence
Positions are never sold. Paid placements, if any, are labelled and do not affect scores.

Explore