J. Derek Kantaskas

J. Derek Kantaskas is a commercial litigator who represents a diverse clientele in complex business litigation and franchise law. He has wide-ranging experience counseling and representing clients during contract negotiation and formation, throughout a project, and, if necessary, in all aspects of litigation proceedings.

Derek’s experience includes resolving complex contract disputes, construction defects, project delay claims, site work and labor disputes, lien and bond prosecution and defense, regulatory investigations, and both commercial and residential real estate disputes. Additionally, he frequently drafts and updates contract documents, operating agreements, employment agreements, real estate contracts, and other business-related documents.

His clients include globally engineered producers and servicers that support infrastructure development and agricultural productivity, nationwide homebuilders, general contractors, condominium associations, developers, large project owners, subcontractors, equipment lessors, property managers, disaster remediation contractors, realtors, brokers, homeowners, ethanol fabricators, steel erectors, and heavy construction companies.

Derek graduated third in his class from Stetson University College of Law. He has been selected by his peers to Florida Super Lawyers ten times and is a graduate of Leadership Tampa Class of 2017. He is a past co-chair for the Construction Law Section of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, and has authored over a dozen articles and journals covering a variety of topics. Nationally, Derek is an active member of the Forum on Construction Law for the American Bar Association, where he served on the Steering Committee for the Division 9 Section relating to Subcontractors and Suppliers.