Practice Areas: Construction Litigation, Business Litigation, Real Estate; view more
Licensed in Florida since: 2007
Education: Stetson University College of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2013 - 2019, 2022 - 2024 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2011 - 2012 Details
J. Derek Kantaskas is a construction law attorney at Kantaskas Law PA in Tampa, Florida. Mr. Kantaskas has over a decade of experience handling construction litigation claims, as well as real estate matters involving buyer and seller disputes, contracts and property issues. He serves clients, including homeowners, construction companies, contractors, developers, property managers and realtors throughout the Tampa area.
Mr. Kantaskas focuses on obtaining the best possible outcome for his clients and gives them accurate and helpful advice. Over the course of his career, he has successfully negotiated and resolved many complex construction and real estate disputes.
Recognizing his accomplishments, Florida Trend magazine included Mr. Kantaskas on its “Up-and-Comer” list in 2011. That same year, he was awarded pro bono awards from the Hillsborough County Bar Association and the Florida Bar Foundation. He is the author of articles on various construction and real estate topics for legal publications and former speaker at the American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law.
Active in his legal community, Mr. Kantaskas is a former co-chair of the Hillsborough County Bar Association Construction Law Section and has served as a member of the American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law Division 9 Steering Committee. A graduate of Leadership Tampa Bay, he served in leadership positions with the City of Pinellas Park, Florida, and the American Heart Association.
Born and raised in Florida, Mr. Kantaskas earned his law degree from Stetson University College of Law. He is licensed to practice law before all Florida state courts, the U.S. district courts for the middle and southern districts of Florida and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Practice areas
Construction Litigation: Business, Business Litigation, Real Estate: ConsumerFocus areas
Construction Defects
- 70% Construction Litigation: Business
- 20% Business Litigation
- 10% Real Estate: Consumer
First Admitted: 2007, Florida
Professional Webpage: https://kantaskaslaw.com/derek-kantaskas/
- Florida Bar Member in Good Standing
- American Bar Association, Forum on Construction Law, Division 9 Steering Committee (2012-2019)
- Hillsborough County Bar Association Construction Law Section, Co-Chair (2018-2019)
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
- All state courts of Florida
- Defeated Class Certification related to Hillsborough County Sales Tax dispute; obtained favorable dismissal of lawsuit., 2021
- Represented homeowner in non-jury trial awarding homeowner full damages against contractor for construction defects., 2022
- Represented contractor in non-jury trial awarding full damages and construction lien foreclosure., 2022
- Successfully defended Contractor regarding numerous licensure complaints pending before the Department of Business and Professional Regulation., 2019
- Successfully defended Professional Engineer in licensure complaint pending before the Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design Division of Regulation., 2019
- Leadership Tampa (Class of 2017), 2017
- Created non-profit organization for the purpose of rendering adoption services to children in foster care., 2021
- Successfully overturned Life Sentence for improper sentence in the Middle District of Florida., 2016
- U.S. Soccer Federation Professional Referee (1994-2005)
- American Heart Association, Team Captain, Heart Walk (2010-2011)
- Board of Adjustment, City of Pinellas Park Vice Chairman (2010-2011) and Board Member (2008-2010)
- Awarded Most Pro Bono Hours Pledged, 15th Annual Judicial Pig Roast/Food Festival, Hillsborough County Bar Association
- Ferguson-White American Inn of Court Best Program Award, 2010-2011
- Recipient of 2011 “One” Pro-Bono Award, Florida Bar Foundation and the Hillsborough County Bar Association
- Up-and-Comer, Florida Trend’s 2011 Legal Elite
- Florida Super Lawyers – Rising Stars, 2011-2012
- Selected for inclusion in Florida Super Lawyers, 2013-2018
- University of South Florida Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude, 2003
- Stetson University College of Law Stetson Law Review, Articles & Symposia Editor, 2007
- Stetson University College of Law Juris Doctor, Summa Cum Laude, 2007
- Lecturer, “Getting to CGL Coverage for Rip and Tear Damages in Construction Defect Claims,” ABA Forum on Construction Law, Division 7 Luncheon, Annual Meeting, Washington D.C. (April 2017)
- Co-Author, “Rights and Liabilities of the Owner, Architect and General Contractor,” Chapter 2 & 3 in Florida Construction Law and Practice, The Florida Bar Journal, 5th Edition (2006)
- Author, “Retroactive Change to Construction Licensing Requirements,” Lawyer Magazine, Hillsborough County Bar Association (September 2009)
- Co-Author, “A Snapshot of Chinese Drywall Litigation,” Lawyer Magazine, Hillsborough County Bar Association (July 2010)
- Co-Author, “Successfully Serving Two Masters: The Ethics of Joint Representation of Bond Sureties and Principals,” The Florida Bar Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section, Construction Law Seminar (2012)
- Co-Author, “The High Hurdle to a Spoliation Claim: Is the Evidence Crucial?,” Lawyer Magazine, Hillsborough County Bar Association (October 2012)
- Contributing Author, “Special Considerations for Federal Construction Contracts,” Florida Construction Law and Practice, 7th Ed. (2013)
- Co-Author, “Relation Back … is Back,” Lawyer Magazine, Hillsborough County Bar Association (May 2014)
- Author, “Arbitration Jurisdiction and Unlicensed Contractors,” Lawyer Magazine, Hillsborough County Bar Association (September 2014)
- Co-Author, “The Rippin’ and the Tearin,’” Lawyer Magazine, Hillsborough County Bar Association (February 2016)
- Co-Author, “Injury is Nearly a Fact, While Rip and Tear is No Longer a Wild Card” Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section – ActionLine Vol. XXXVII, No. 3 (Spring 2016)
- Co-Author, “Triggering Rip and Tear Coverage” Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section Insurance Matters! Vol. 4, Issue 3 (Winter 2016)
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2013 - 2019, 2022 - 2024
- Rising Stars: 2011 - 2012
