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Top-Ranked Construction Lawyers in St. Petersburg, Florida

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

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked construction lawyers in St. Petersburg, Florida are Brian Paul Deeb (LexRank 84.00), Natalie P Thomas (84.00) and Sean Matthew Dillon (82.60).

This ranking lists 11 construction lawyers in St. Petersburg, 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 40 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

    Brian Paul Deeb

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

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

    Ranks #1 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 22.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

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

    Natalie P Thomas

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

    Verified
    • 28 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).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

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

    Sean Matthew Dillon

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

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

    Ranks #3 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.40 points behind #2, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.0)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    1.40 points behind #2 (Natalie P Thomas): Data quality −1.4.

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

  4. No change

    Paul J. Kelly

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

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

    Ranks #4 with 80.20: strongest in Experience (27.6/30) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20). 2.40 points behind #3, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 27.6/30 (ranking avg 22.0)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    2.40 points behind #3 (Sean Matthew Dillon): Experience −2.4.

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

  5. No change

    Jason R. Moyer

    Moyer Law Group · St. Petersburg, FL

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

    Ranks #5 with 79.20: strongest in Experience (25.2/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.00 points behind #4, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 25.2/30 (ranking avg 22.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    1.00 points behind #4 (Paul J. Kelly): Experience −2.4.

  6. No change

    Hugh David Edison Higgins “Hugh”

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

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

    Ranks #6 with 76.80: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Experience (22.8/30); held back by Reputation (4/20). 2.40 points behind #5, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
    • Experience 22.8/30 (ranking avg 22.0)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    2.40 points behind #5 (Jason R. Moyer): Experience −2.4.

  7. No change

    David Haynes Redden

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

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

    Ranks #7 with 76.60: strongest in Experience (24/30) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20). 0.20 points behind #6, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 24/30 (ranking avg 22.0)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    0.20 points behind #6 (Hugh David Edison Higgins “Hugh”): Data quality −1.4.

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

  8. No change

    Laura Jo Lieffers

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

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

    Ranks #8 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). 7.00 points behind #7, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
    • Experience 15.6/30 (ranking avg 22.0)

    7.00 points behind #7 (David Haynes Redden): Experience −8.4.

  9. No change

    Angelika Maria VandenBerg “Angie”

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

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

    Ranks #9 with 68.40: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (14.4/30). 1.20 points behind #8, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
    • Experience 14.4/30 (ranking avg 22.0)

    1.20 points behind #8 (Laura Jo Lieffers): Experience −1.2.

  10. No change

    Benjamin Taylor Lute “Ben”

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

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

    Ranks #10 with 66.00: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (12/30). 2.40 points behind #9, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
    • Experience 12/30 (ranking avg 22.0)

    2.40 points behind #9 (Angelika Maria VandenBerg “Angie”): Experience −2.4.

  11. No change

    Matthew Bryan Greetham

    Moyer Law Group · St. Petersburg, FL

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

    Ranks #11 with 64.80: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (10.8/30). 1.20 points behind #10, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
    • Experience 10.8/30 (ranking avg 22.0)

    1.20 points behind #10 (Benjamin Taylor Lute “Ben”): Experience −1.2.

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 pages119 facts for 11 lawyers

Construction market in St. Petersburg

LexRanked tracks 11 lawyers and 1 law firm in construction law in St. Petersburg, Florida. 11 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 10, 2026.

Lawyers
11
Law firms
1
Verified professional data
11 of 11
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
20 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 St. Petersburg

What sets these St. Petersburg 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 40 (median 20)
Languages besides English German (1)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school Stetson University College of Law (8 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a St. Petersburg 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 Pinellas County is in Florida's Sixth 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.
  4. If you prefer to work in another language, check the languages listed on each profile.

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 St. Petersburg?

State court cases in Pinellas County are heard in Florida's Sixth 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: Brian Paul Deeb, Natalie P Thomas, Sean Matthew Dillon, Paul J. Kelly and Jason R. Moyer and others.

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.

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