Ralf R. Rodriguez

Member

Ralf focuses his practice on construction law. He has experience representing domestic and international general contractors, construction managers, sureties, and other construction professionals in the United States and abroad in negotiation, litigation, arbitration, and mediation of construction and design defect claims, insurance claims, surety bond claims, and related matters.

Ralf also handles a broad range of matters including commercial litigation, white-collar criminal defense, internal integrity reviews, risk assessment and management, regulatory compliance, business torts, employment litigation, insurance claims, environmental law, and transportation law. A large part of Ralf’s practice also involves representing corporate clients in completing internal investigations of sensitive matters and responding to governmental inquiries, defending regulatory actions and fraud claims, including advising on compliance with anti-corruption laws such as the False Claims Act, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and similar legislation. He has worked with numerous corporate clients in structuring and reassessing their corporate compliance and training programs. He has aided clients in completing numerous investigations of sensitive matters in foreign jurisdictions, including Latin America and the Caribbean. Ralf has also handled litigation of shareholder disputes, white-collar criminal defense, enforcement of non-compete agreements, trademark rights, zoning waivers, landlord/tenant disputes, environmental compliance, bankruptcy litigation, and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Additionally, Ralf has represented motor carriers, freight forwarders, and cargo insurers in litigation involving cargo claims, freight charges, and insurance coverage issues.

Prior to joining the firm, Ralf was of counsel for an international law firm and before becoming an attorney, he served as a law enforcement professional with the Department of the Treasury. During this time, he completed many investigations relating to public corruption and organized criminal activity while working closely with the U.S. Attorneys’ Office for the Southern District of Florida.

Ralf earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida. Ralf earned his law degree, cum laude, from the University of Miami, where he was a member of the University of Miami Law Review. Ralf has been ranked in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers in the practice area of Construction since 2020.

Experience

News

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its Best Lawyers in America 2025 Edition

August 15, 2024

Best Lawyers selected 242 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

Super Lawyers Names 15 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys to its 2024 Florida List

July 03, 2024

Eight Cozen O’Connor attorneys have been recognized as Super Lawyers, including Susan N. Eisenberg, James A. Gale, Howard S. Krooks, Samuel A. Lewis, Ellen S. Morris, Stuart R. Morris, Ralf R. Rodriguez, and Martin T. Schrier. The seven Cozen O’Connor attorneys recognized as Rising Stars are Heather Beale, Tiffany Bustamante, J. Kent Crocker, Arielle Eisenberg, Alexandra J. Schultz, Natasha Shaikh, and Paul Souferis.

Nearly 100 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 27 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2024 Guide

June 10, 2024

Chambers USA rankings are based on an “assessment of a firm’s work and opinions from external market sources, with an emphasis on client feedback.” In order to be ranked in the guide, lawyers and firms must demonstrate “sustained excellence.”

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys to its Best Lawyers in America 2024 Edition

August 17, 2023

Best Lawyers selected 232 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Eighty-eight Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 23 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2023 Guide

June 05, 2023

Of the 88 lawyers ranked, 17 lawyers have been recognized nationally, and eighteen were recognized in Band 1. Eight of the firm's practice areas have been recognized nationally, and nine were ranked Band 1.

Florida Supreme Court Ruling ‘Guts the Impact of Punitive Damages’ [Daily Business Review]

January 09, 2023

Ralf Rodriguez, a member of the firm’s Construction Law Group, was quoted in a Daily Business Review article.

Fla. Real Estate Attys See Lengthy Rebuild From Hurricane Ian

September 29, 2022

Ralf R. Rodriguez, a member of the firm’s Construction Law Group, was quoted in the Law360 article “Fla. Real Estate Attys See Lengthy Rebuild From Hurricane Ian.”

More Than 200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch

August 22, 2022

210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Echoes of a Tragedy: Surfside Condo Collapse Has Lasting Ramifications

June 30, 2022

Ralf R. Rodriguez, a construction attorney in the firm’s Miami office, was quoted in the article “Echoes of a Tragedy: Surfside Condo Collapse Has Lasting Ramifications” by the South Florida Business Journal.

Chambers Ranks 86 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 22 Practice Areas in Chambers USA 2022 Guide

June 02, 2022

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 86 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2022 edition.

Cozen O’Connor Continues Florida Expansion with Addition of Construction Litigator Ralf R. Rodriguez

October 13, 2021

Ralf R. Rodriguez joins our Miami office. He will be a member of the Construction Law Group.

Publications

New Amendments to Florida’s Construction Lien Law [Alert]

July 12, 2023

Florida House Bill 331 amends Florida’s Construction Lien Law. The changes will go into effect on October 1, 2023.

Structuring and Laying the Foundation for an Effective Complex Construction Arbitration

June 23, 2023

Wendy Venoit, Ralf Rodriguez, and Josephine Bahn contributed an article to the Jus Connect June 2023 Construction Arbitration Report.

Florida Shortens Time to File Construction Claims and Imposes Materiality Requirement for Building Code Violations [Alert]

May 19, 2023

The new amendments shorten the statute of limitations for general negligence claims and the statute of repose for construction claims.

Lessons Learned From Deadly Condo Collapse: Reshaping Industry to Prevent Future Tragedy [The Legal Intelligencer]

August 10, 2022

Ralf Rodriguez and Alexander Thompson published, “Lessons Learned From Deadly Condo Collapse: Reshaping Industry to Prevent Future Tragedy” for The Legal Intelligencer.

Protecting the Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product Doctrine in Internal Investigations

December 22, 2021

Ralf Rodriguez contributed an article to the ACC South Florida Winter Newsletter discussing the key points in-house counsel should consider when conducting an internal investigation to establish and maintain its privileged status.

Florida Legislature Proposes Significant Revisions to Construction Defect Statute [Alert]

December 06, 2021

Ralf Rodriguez discusses proposed revisions to Florida statutes § 95.11(3)(c), § 558.004, § 558.0045, § 558.0046, and §558.006.

Events & Seminars

Past Events

Construction Lending in Florida

March 22, 2024 - Orlando, FL

2023 Construction Super Conference

November 29, 2023 - Hollywood, FL

Construction Lending

March 17, 2023 - Orlando, Florida

2022 Construction Super Conference

December 06, 2022 - Las Vegas, Nevada

Introduction to Drafting Material Contract Provisions

August 05, 2022 - Chicago, Illinois

Provisions in Chapter 489 and 713, Fla. Stats. Training

August 03, 2022 - Pompano Beach, Florida

Constructing Industry Licensing Board and Lien Law Training

July 13, 2022 - Pompano Beach, Florida

Education

  • University of Miami School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1997
  • University of Florida, B.A., 1984

Awards & Honors

Best Lawyers in America for Construction Law and Construction Litigation, 2019-2025

Chambers USA for Construction Law, 2020-2024

Florida Super Lawyer, 2024 

  • Florida
  • U.S. Supreme Court

South Florida Association of General Contractors 

Latin Builders Association