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Adams and Reese Partner and Construction Team Co-Leader Trent Cotney was sourced by The Real Deal: Real Estate News in the May 14 article, “Florida Immigration Law Could Impact State’s Construction Industry.” The Real Deal covers residential and commercial real estate news in South Florida, New York City, and Los Angeles.

Governor Ron DeSantis signed Florida’s Senate Bill 1718, the Immigration Bill, into law, which goes into effect July 1, and requires private employers with 25 or more employees to confirm workers’ immigration status through the E-Verify system.

“I anticipate this law will result in further segmentation of the industry with smaller subcontractor labor groups falling under the 25-employee limit to avoid compliance with E-Verify,” said Cotney in an interview with Construction Dive. “Construction, in particular, faces a shortfall of workers as evidenced by the dramatic rise in the use of sub-labor.”

Cotney is a board-certified construction lawyer licensed in eight states and Washington, D.C. In construction litigation and arbitration, he represents construction and infrastructure clients, including general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, manufacturers, architects, engineers, roofers, developers, and other professionals. He is an EU arbitrator for construction-related disputes. 

Cotney focuses his practice on all aspects of construction litigation and arbitration, including OSHA defense, lien law, bond law, bid protests, and construction document review and drafting.