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Robert Alfert, Jr.

Robert Alfert, Jr.

Partner

390 North Orange Avenue
Suite 1400
Orlando, FL 32801
T 407.669.4235
F 407.425.8377
robert.alfert@nelsonmullins.com
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Robert Alfert is a 30-year infrastructure and construction professional, with deep experience in all facets of project delivery on large-scale projects of all types. He is in the unique position of having represented all sides of project transactions and litigation matters. Whether representing owners (public or private sector), contractors, concessionaires, or financing entities, on projects...

Robert Alfert is a 30-year infrastructure and construction professional, with deep experience in all facets of project delivery on large-scale projects of all types. He is in the unique position of having represented all sides of project transactions and litigation matters. Whether representing owners (public or private sector), contractors, concessionaires, or financing entities, on projects ranging from heavy infrastructure to social architecture, space infrastructure and technology projects, industrial development projects, and commercial and multifamily housing projects, Robert possesses the skillset to see that project through from inception to conclusion. In 2022 alone, Robert and his team were involved in more than $12 billion in projects on a national level. Many of these projects deployed using advanced delivery methodologies, including public-private partnerships (P3s).

Robert has particular expertise on the transactional side of projects, including navigating the complex procurement laws in state and federally funded infrastructure projects, and preparing and negotiating all project contract instruments using custom forms or industry templates. He commonly integrates with the firm’s real estate, finance, and economic incentive teams on larger matters, to provide a fully integrated project delivery and coordinated contracts.

Robert is a Florida Board Certified Construction Attorney and an experienced construction arbitrator and dispute resolution neutral. His experience derives in part from his education and prior work experience in architecture. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in architecture from the University of Florida, and has worked with three separate architecture firms.

Robert Alfert, Jr.

ranging from heavy infrastructure to social architecture, space infrastructure and technology projects, industrial development projects, and commercial and multifamily housing projects, Robert possesses the skillset to see that project through from inception to conclusion. In 2022 alone, Robert and his team were involved in more than $12 billion in projects on a national level. Many of these projects deployed using advanced delivery methodologies, including public-private partnerships (P3s).

Robert has particular expertise on the transactional side of projects, including navigating the complex procurement laws in state and federally funded infrastructure projects, and preparing and negotiating all project contract instruments using custom forms or industry templates. He commonly integrates with the firm’s real estate, finance, and economic incentive teams on larger matters, to provide a fully integrated project delivery and coordinated contracts.

Robert is a Florida Board Certified Construction Attorney and an experienced construction arbitrator and dispute resolution neutral. His experience derives in part from his education and prior work experience in architecture. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in architecture from the University of Florida, and has worked with three separate architecture firms.

Experience

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Experience

Infrastructure and Construction

  • Counsel to the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) on its 2016-2021 Capital Improvement Program involving $4.2 billion in infrastructure development, including a new international airport terminal, All Aboard Florida high-speed rail and terminal, related improvements and transportation infrastructure, providing strategic project planning, development of procurement plans and project delivery methods, contract documents, risk and claims management and insurance/bonding plans, and preparing and negotiating GMP Agreements
  • Teaming with the firm's Economic Development Group to lead the infrastructure delivery of a $2.8 billion electric vehicle battery plant project for a foreign manufacturer, handling the procurement, negotiation and drafting of all professional services and multiple construction contracts; successfully managed over $100 million in claims and change requests following the COVID-19 pandemic and all ensuing force majeure issues, including shipping irregularities and material availability
  • Served as lead infrastructure counsel to private developer on a multi-phase, commercial space launch facility and rocket manufacturing plant involving $750 million in infrastructure development with hybrid, public, and private funding sources and a rocket launch platform valued around $250 million
  • Lead Counsel to St. Lucie County, Florida, on a New York Mets baseball stadium complex, on a public-private partnering relationship, negotiating and drafting all agreements and handling all competitive procurement of trades; currently involved in related stadium expansion projects
  • Lead Counsel to Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) on its public-private partnership project for a compressed natural gas facility, from conceptual planning to procurement and contracting, preparing all policies, procurement documents and contracts; currently involved on JTA's urban connector autonomous vehicle system project on a P3 delivery
  • Served as a peer review consultant on an approximately $5 billion P3 automated people mover system project for a U.S. airport, which is to be delivered on a DBFOM basis
  • Lead Counsel on over $200 million in infrastructure development for one of the largest Senior Living campuses in Florida, handling all procurement, contracting and claims management on residential tower projects, health center and associated facilities, including its current master plan development
  • Eminent Domain and Trial Counsel to the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority on the Western Beltway expansion project, a $500 million-plus highway system
  • Lead Counsel to bidding team on Florida’s proposed, $2.5 billion-plus high-speed rail project, providing advice and guidance on procurement and contract issues (local, state and federal)
  • Counsel to bidding team on the $2 billion-plus Port of Miami Tunnel project, a public–private partnership project with a design-build-finance-operate-maintain delivery method, providing advice and guidance on procurement and contract issues
  • Lead Counsel on a deep-bay mega-yacht commercial port facility for the procurement and contracting on a public-private partnership basis, value of approximately $500 million in revenue 
  • Counsel to Developer of Orlando’s “Medical City,” an approximate $2 billion dollar, 650-acre medical corridor with over $1 billion in ongoing construction, involved in legal aspects related to development and construction of infrastructure, procurement and contracting, including the multi-party, public-private partnership transaction for the Burnham Institute ($100-plus million project)
  • Served as P3 Advisory Counselors to the Osceola County Expressway Authority on its evaluation of implementing P3 on its 2040 Master Plan, a structured series of expressways circumnavigating the County; handled policy development, procurement, contracting and bid protest on the $75 million Osceola Parkway design-build project
  • Served as lead counsel to a top 10 international airport on a $345 million Automated People Mover system project, involved in all aspects of planning, finance (including grants), procurement and award, design-build and O&M contract drafting and negotiation, and project implementation, including managing potential procurement challenges; also managed all risk and coordination activities to incorporate project into an existing, operational facility

Robert’s experience as Counsel to the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) since 2001 is invaluable to public and private sector clients. As counsel to GOAA, Robert is actively involved in the day-to-day handling of many of the following issues:

  • Strategic planning and project management;
  • Development of procurement processes and project delivery methods;
  • Preparation, review and approval of construction and professional services contracts and addenda;
  • Preparation, review and approval of change orders;
  • Contractor and professional services selection;
  • Development of alternative dispute resolution procedures and assisting GOAA staff in preparation for dispute review boards;
  • Warranty coverage and construction defects;
  • Insurance and bond coverage;
  • Public bid statute compliance (state and federal law) and bid protests, including developing procurement processes for selection of contractors and consultants;
  • Handling all claims, litigation and DRB proceedings; and
  • General advice and counseling to GOAA construction management.

Construction Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Robert has significant experience in litigation and dispute resolution on large-scale construction and infrastructure disputes, including:

  • Currently representing a State Department of Transportation on an approximate $500 million design-build project with claims ranging up to $200 million raised by an ENR Top Ten contractor
  • Currently representing an industrial developer on a $2.8 billion project with approximately $100 million in delay, COVID-19, and material cost escalation claims
  • Currently serving as a Dispute Review Board member on a multibillion, multi-year public-private partnership light rail project
  • Handled all claims and termination proceedings involving an ENR Top Ten contractor on a more than $600 million CM@Risk contract, and successfully negotiated a successor contractor to take over with no impact on schedule or ensuing claims
  • Two-week jury trial and favorable jury award on an elevated highway system project bisecting a luxury residential development project
  • Successful defense of an ENR Top Five construction manager on over $125 million in impact and delay claims on a multibillion dollar airport terminal project
  • Successful defense and favorable ruling of a federal court bid protest suit on a $220 million dollar automated people mover system project
  • Successful defense and favorable ruling of a  federal court bid protest suit on a $75 million award of a design-build bridge and highway project
  • Successful defense and resolution of multi-party delay and impact claims on new airport runway project exceeding $200 million, with favorable federal court rulings 
  • Favorable federal court summary judgment ruling during jury trial, resulting in total resolution of complex structural defect case on a multistory, completed project that needed to be demolished
  • Robert has also handled hundreds of millions in claims on multi-family projects, including high-rise towers, ranging from defect claims, schedule and impact claims, scope disputes, and a wide range of contract breach and performance issues
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Experience

Infrastructure and Construction

  • Counsel to the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) on its 2016-2021 Capital Improvement Program involving $4.2 billion in infrastructure development, including a new international airport terminal, All Aboard Florida high-speed rail and terminal, related improvements and transportation infrastructure, providing strategic project planning, development of procurement plans and project delivery methods, contract documents, risk and claims management and insurance/bonding plans, and preparing and negotiating GMP Agreements
  • Teaming with the firm's Economic Development Group to lead the infrastructure delivery of a $2.8 billion electric vehicle battery plant project for a foreign manufacturer, handling the procurement, negotiation and drafting of all professional services and multiple construction contracts; successfully managed over $100 million in claims and change requests following the COVID-19 pandemic and all ensuing force majeure issues, including shipping irregularities and material availability
  • Served as lead infrastructure counsel to private developer on a multi-phase, commercial space launch facility and rocket manufacturing plant involving $750 million in infrastructure development with hybrid, public, and private funding sources and a rocket launch platform valued around $250 million
  • Lead Counsel to St. Lucie County, Florida, on a New York Mets baseball stadium complex, on a public-private partnering relationship, negotiating and drafting all agreements and handling all competitive procurement of trades; currently involved in related stadium expansion projects
  • Lead Counsel to Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) on its public-private partnership project for a compressed natural gas facility, from conceptual planning to procurement and contracting, preparing all policies, procurement documents and contracts; currently involved on JTA's urban connector autonomous vehicle system project on a P3 delivery
  • Served as a peer review consultant on an approximately $5 billion P3 automated people mover system project for a U.S. airport, which is to be delivered on a DBFOM basis
  • Lead Counsel on over $200 million in infrastructure development for one of the largest Senior Living campuses in Florida, handling all procurement, contracting and claims management on residential tower projects, health center and associated facilities, including its current master plan development
  • Eminent Domain and Trial Counsel to the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority on the Western Beltway expansion project, a $500 million-plus highway system
  • Lead Counsel to bidding team on Florida’s proposed, $2.5 billion-plus high-speed rail project, providing advice and guidance on procurement and contract issues (local, state and federal)
  • Counsel to bidding team on the $2 billion-plus Port of Miami Tunnel project, a public–private partnership project with a design-build-finance-operate-maintain delivery method, providing advice and guidance on procurement and contract issues
  • Lead Counsel on a deep-bay mega-yacht commercial port facility for the procurement and contracting on a public-private partnership basis, value of approximately $500 million in revenue 
  • Counsel to Developer of Orlando’s “Medical City,” an approximate $2 billion dollar, 650-acre medical corridor with over $1 billion in ongoing construction, involved in legal aspects related to development and construction of infrastructure, procurement and contracting, including the multi-party, public-private partnership transaction for the Burnham Institute ($100-plus million project)
  • Served as P3 Advisory Counselors to the Osceola County Expressway Authority on its evaluation of implementing P3 on its 2040 Master Plan, a structured series of expressways circumnavigating the County; handled policy development, procurement, contracting and bid protest on the $75 million Osceola Parkway design-build project
  • Served as lead counsel to a top 10 international airport on a $345 million Automated People Mover system project, involved in all aspects of planning, finance (including grants), procurement and award, design-build and O&M contract drafting and negotiation, and project implementation, including managing potential procurement challenges; also managed all risk and coordination activities to incorporate project into an existing, operational facility

Robert’s experience as Counsel to the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) since 2001 is invaluable to public and private sector clients. As counsel to GOAA, Robert is actively involved in the day-to-day handling of many of the following issues:

  • Strategic planning and project management;
  • Development of procurement processes and project delivery methods;
  • Preparation, review and approval of construction and professional services contracts and addenda;
  • Preparation, review and approval of change orders;
  • Contractor and professional services selection;
  • Development of alternative dispute resolution procedures and assisting GOAA staff in preparation for dispute review boards;
  • Warranty coverage and construction defects;
  • Insurance and bond coverage;
  • Public bid statute compliance (state and federal law) and bid protests, including developing procurement processes for selection of contractors and consultants;
  • Handling all claims, litigation and DRB proceedings; and
  • General advice and counseling to GOAA construction management.

Construction Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Robert has significant experience in litigation and dispute resolution on large-scale construction and infrastructure disputes, including:

  • Currently representing a State Department of Transportation on an approximate $500 million design-build project with claims ranging up to $200 million raised by an ENR Top Ten contractor
  • Currently representing an industrial developer on a $2.8 billion project with approximately $100 million in delay, COVID-19, and material cost escalation claims
  • Currently serving as a Dispute Review Board member on a multibillion, multi-year public-private partnership light rail project
  • Handled all claims and termination proceedings involving an ENR Top Ten contractor on a more than $600 million CM@Risk contract, and successfully negotiated a successor contractor to take over with no impact on schedule or ensuing claims
  • Two-week jury trial and favorable jury award on an elevated highway system project bisecting a luxury residential development project
  • Successful defense of an ENR Top Five construction manager on over $125 million in impact and delay claims on a multibillion dollar airport terminal project
  • Successful defense and favorable ruling of a federal court bid protest suit on a $220 million dollar automated people mover system project
  • Successful defense and favorable ruling of a  federal court bid protest suit on a $75 million award of a design-build bridge and highway project
  • Successful defense and resolution of multi-party delay and impact claims on new airport runway project exceeding $200 million, with favorable federal court rulings 
  • Favorable federal court summary judgment ruling during jury trial, resulting in total resolution of complex structural defect case on a multistory, completed project that needed to be demolished
  • Robert has also handled hundreds of millions in claims on multi-family projects, including high-rise towers, ranging from defect claims, schedule and impact claims, scope disputes, and a wide range of contract breach and performance issues

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Recognitions

The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.

Professional Activities

  • Construction Arbitrator
  • Member, Cuban American Bar Association (CABA)
  • Member, The Florida Bar

Community

  • Chairman, Tour de Cure Lake Nona (2016–2018)
  • Law and Architecture Member, The Jefferson Society 
  • Mentor, Boone High School Law Magnet Students
  • Mentor, University of Alabama Honors College of Business Students
  • Active cyclist and Ironman triathlete 

Robert Alfert is a 30-year infrastructure and construction professional, with deep experience in all facets of project delivery on large-scale projects of all types. He is in the unique position of having represented all sides of project transactions and litigation matters. Whether representing owners (public or private sector), contractors, concessionaires, or financing entities, on projects... ranging from heavy infrastructure to social architecture, space infrastructure and technology projects, industrial development projects, and commercial and multifamily housing projects, Robert possesses the skillset to see that project through from inception to conclusion. In 2022 alone, Robert and his team were involved in more than $12 billion in projects on a national level. Many of these projects deployed using advanced delivery methodologies, including public-private partnerships (P3s).

Robert has particular expertise on the transactional side of projects, including navigating the complex procurement laws in state and federally funded infrastructure projects, and preparing and negotiating all project contract instruments using custom forms or industry templates. He commonly integrates with the firm’s real estate, finance, and economic incentive teams on larger matters, to provide a fully integrated project delivery and coordinated contracts.

Robert is a Florida Board Certified Construction Attorney and an experienced construction arbitrator and dispute resolution neutral. His experience derives in part from his education and prior work experience in architecture. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in architecture from the University of Florida, and has worked with three separate architecture firms.

Experience

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Experience

Infrastructure and Construction

  • Counsel to the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) on its 2016-2021 Capital Improvement Program involving $4.2 billion in infrastructure development, including a new international airport terminal, All Aboard Florida high-speed rail and terminal, related improvements and transportation infrastructure, providing strategic project planning, development of procurement plans and project delivery methods, contract documents, risk and claims management and insurance/bonding plans, and preparing and negotiating GMP Agreements
  • Teaming with the firm's Economic Development Group to lead the infrastructure delivery of a $2.8 billion electric vehicle battery plant project for a foreign manufacturer, handling the procurement, negotiation and drafting of all professional services and multiple construction contracts; successfully managed over $100 million in claims and change requests following the COVID-19 pandemic and all ensuing force majeure issues, including shipping irregularities and material availability
  • Served as lead infrastructure counsel to private developer on a multi-phase, commercial space launch facility and rocket manufacturing plant involving $750 million in infrastructure development with hybrid, public, and private funding sources and a rocket launch platform valued around $250 million
  • Lead Counsel to St. Lucie County, Florida, on a New York Mets baseball stadium complex, on a public-private partnering relationship, negotiating and drafting all agreements and handling all competitive procurement of trades; currently involved in related stadium expansion projects
  • Lead Counsel to Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) on its public-private partnership project for a compressed natural gas facility, from conceptual planning to procurement and contracting, preparing all policies, procurement documents and contracts; currently involved on JTA's urban connector autonomous vehicle system project on a P3 delivery
  • Served as a peer review consultant on an approximately $5 billion P3 automated people mover system project for a U.S. airport, which is to be delivered on a DBFOM basis
  • Lead Counsel on over $200 million in infrastructure development for one of the largest Senior Living campuses in Florida, handling all procurement, contracting and claims management on residential tower projects, health center and associated facilities, including its current master plan development
  • Eminent Domain and Trial Counsel to the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority on the Western Beltway expansion project, a $500 million-plus highway system
  • Lead Counsel to bidding team on Florida’s proposed, $2.5 billion-plus high-speed rail project, providing advice and guidance on procurement and contract issues (local, state and federal)
  • Counsel to bidding team on the $2 billion-plus Port of Miami Tunnel project, a public–private partnership project with a design-build-finance-operate-maintain delivery method, providing advice and guidance on procurement and contract issues
  • Lead Counsel on a deep-bay mega-yacht commercial port facility for the procurement and contracting on a public-private partnership basis, value of approximately $500 million in revenue 
  • Counsel to Developer of Orlando’s “Medical City,” an approximate $2 billion dollar, 650-acre medical corridor with over $1 billion in ongoing construction, involved in legal aspects related to development and construction of infrastructure, procurement and contracting, including the multi-party, public-private partnership transaction for the Burnham Institute ($100-plus million project)
  • Served as P3 Advisory Counselors to the Osceola County Expressway Authority on its evaluation of implementing P3 on its 2040 Master Plan, a structured series of expressways circumnavigating the County; handled policy development, procurement, contracting and bid protest on the $75 million Osceola Parkway design-build project
  • Served as lead counsel to a top 10 international airport on a $345 million Automated People Mover system project, involved in all aspects of planning, finance (including grants), procurement and award, design-build and O&M contract drafting and negotiation, and project implementation, including managing potential procurement challenges; also managed all risk and coordination activities to incorporate project into an existing, operational facility

Robert’s experience as Counsel to the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) since 2001 is invaluable to public and private sector clients. As counsel to GOAA, Robert is actively involved in the day-to-day handling of many of the following issues:

  • Strategic planning and project management;
  • Development of procurement processes and project delivery methods;
  • Preparation, review and approval of construction and professional services contracts and addenda;
  • Preparation, review and approval of change orders;
  • Contractor and professional services selection;
  • Development of alternative dispute resolution procedures and assisting GOAA staff in preparation for dispute review boards;
  • Warranty coverage and construction defects;
  • Insurance and bond coverage;
  • Public bid statute compliance (state and federal law) and bid protests, including developing procurement processes for selection of contractors and consultants;
  • Handling all claims, litigation and DRB proceedings; and
  • General advice and counseling to GOAA construction management.

Construction Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Robert has significant experience in litigation and dispute resolution on large-scale construction and infrastructure disputes, including:

  • Currently representing a State Department of Transportation on an approximate $500 million design-build project with claims ranging up to $200 million raised by an ENR Top Ten contractor
  • Currently representing an industrial developer on a $2.8 billion project with approximately $100 million in delay, COVID-19, and material cost escalation claims
  • Currently serving as a Dispute Review Board member on a multibillion, multi-year public-private partnership light rail project
  • Handled all claims and termination proceedings involving an ENR Top Ten contractor on a more than $600 million CM@Risk contract, and successfully negotiated a successor contractor to take over with no impact on schedule or ensuing claims
  • Two-week jury trial and favorable jury award on an elevated highway system project bisecting a luxury residential development project
  • Successful defense of an ENR Top Five construction manager on over $125 million in impact and delay claims on a multibillion dollar airport terminal project
  • Successful defense and favorable ruling of a federal court bid protest suit on a $220 million dollar automated people mover system project
  • Successful defense and favorable ruling of a  federal court bid protest suit on a $75 million award of a design-build bridge and highway project
  • Successful defense and resolution of multi-party delay and impact claims on new airport runway project exceeding $200 million, with favorable federal court rulings 
  • Favorable federal court summary judgment ruling during jury trial, resulting in total resolution of complex structural defect case on a multistory, completed project that needed to be demolished
  • Robert has also handled hundreds of millions in claims on multi-family projects, including high-rise towers, ranging from defect claims, schedule and impact claims, scope disputes, and a wide range of contract breach and performance issues

Education

  • Emory University School of Law, JD (1992)
  • University of Florida, BA, Architecture (1988)

Admissions

  • Florida
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Practice Areas

Industries

The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.

  • Construction Arbitrator
  • Member, Cuban American Bar Association (CABA)
  • Member, The Florida Bar
  • Chairman, Tour de Cure Lake Nona (2016–2018)
  • Law and Architecture Member, The Jefferson Society 
  • Mentor, Boone High School Law Magnet Students
  • Mentor, University of Alabama Honors College of Business Students
  • Active cyclist and Ironman triathlete