Overview

Monte S. Starr is a litigation attorney in Holland & Knight's Orlando office and member of the firm's Construction Industry Practice Group. He handles a variety of complex construction litigation matters covering a wide range of industrial, commercial and infrastructure projects across the United States.

Mr. Starr has significant experience with engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) projects; public-private partnerships (P3s); road and bridge construction; power-generation facilities and desalination facilities. He is well versed in representing general contractors, owners and manufacturers in both private and government contract matters, including claims for construction defects, inefficiency/delay damages, construction-related product defects, water intrusion, lien/bond foreclosures and contract disputes. Mr. Starr also handles the drafting and negotiation of construction contracts and related documents for a variety of projects, as well as assists clients with contract management strategies in an effort to avoid disputes.

Mr. Starr is Board Certified in Construction Law by The Florida Bar. He also has received an AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating in Martindale-Hubbell®.

Work Highlights

Infrastructure and Public-Private Partnerships

  • Serving as lead project counsel to the design-build contractor responsible for the $2.3 billion P3 reconstruction of a major highway corridor

Energy and Industrial Projects

  • Successfully defended against claims totaling more than $20 million arising from the construction of a 1,000 megawatt (MW) gas-fired combined cycle power generation facility
  • Successfully defended against claims totaling $50 million arising from the construction of a 1,300 MW gas-fired combined cycle power generation facility
  • Successfully defended against claims totaling $500 million arising from a turbine purchase agreement
  • Successfully prosecuted a claim in excess of $40 million arising from the construction of a cement processing plant
  • Successfully defended against claims totaling $51 million arising from the construction of a 50 million-gallons-per-day seawater desalination facility

Condominium, Hotel and Mixed-Use Projects

  • Represented a general contractor against claims totaling $40 million related to Chinese drywall
  • Represented a general contractor against claims totaling $10 million and prosecution of claims in excess of $6 million related to construction of a luxury condominium
  • Represented a general contractor against claims totaling more than $5 million related to the construction of a hotel

Credentials

Education
  • University of Florida Levin College of Law, J.D., with honors
  • The Ohio State University, B.A., Criminal Justice
Bar Admissions/Licenses
  • District of Columbia
  • Florida
  • Maryland
Court Admissions
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida
Memberships
  • Orange County Bar Association. Construction Law Committee, Chair, 2010-2012
  • The Florida Bar, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
  • Leadership Orlando, Class 72
  • The Associated General Contractors of Greater Florida
  • Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida, President; Board of Directors
Honors & Awards
  • The Legal 500 USA, Real Estate and Construction: Construction, 2014, 2019, 2022, 2024
  • The Best Lawyers in America guide, Construction Law, 2023-2025
  • Chambers USA – America's Leading Business Lawyers guide, Construction, 2021-2024
  • Florida Bar Board Certified in Construction Law
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated

Publications

News