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Overview
With more than 25 years of experience, Aaron Haak is a Florida Bar Board Certified expert in Construction Law. His construction law practice spans the full lifecycle of construction projects. He advises clients on contract drafting and negotiation, lien and collection matters, construction defect claims, and disputes arising from delays, scope changes, and performance issues. Aaron regularly represents owners, developers, and construction professionals in both litigation and dispute resolution proceedings.
In addition, and as a seasoned practitioner in Business Litigation, Aaron represents clients in shareholder and partnership disputes, accounting and financial conflicts, employment-related claims, restrictive covenants, real estate disputes, and internal governance issues. Clients rely on his ability to assess risk early, simplify complex issues, and guide matters efficiently toward resolution.
Aaron brings a valuable perspective from both private practice and in-house leadership. He most recently served as in-house counsel to a multi-entity development and operating company involved in luxury residential development, hospitality operations, and corporate management. Earlier in his career, he was an equity partner of a Fort Myers law firm, where he built and managed a broad civil litigation practice for more than two decades, handling matters in state and federal courts from pre-suit evaluation through trial and settlement.
Originally born in Hawaii, Aaron moved to Fort Myers at a young age and has deep ties to the Southwest Florida community. Outside the office, he enjoys golfing, attending concerts and live shows, and traveling. Aaron is admitted to practice in all Florida state courts as well as in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
Professional and Civic Affiliations
In addition to his legal practice, Aaron has served the profession and community in respected leadership roles, including as a Commissioner and Past Chair of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission and as a member of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee, reflecting his long-standing commitment to professionalism and the legal system.
Representative Matters
Prior to joining Henderson Franklin
- Lead trial counsel for luxury home-owner in multi-party design and construction defect claims. Successfully developed litigation strategy which led to the favorable verdict following multi-day jury trial.
- Lead counsel to contract in payment dispute with local government entity. Represented contactor through claim and multi-day arbitration resulting in successful arbitration award.
- Represented local government entity in complex construction dispute. Identified the paramount cause of dispute during discovery process leading to favorable resolution of all claims.
- Retained as specialty construction counsel to local-government to assist in contract preparation and claim evaluation on utility expansion project.
- Lead trial counsel for design-build contactor in dispute with owner regarding multi-story boat storage facility. Successfully developed litigation strategy and prosecuted case through multi-day trial to successful verdict.
- Represented construction company in defense of wrongful misappropriation use of trade secrets claim by competitor. Successfully established defense to claim resulting in favorable settlement.