Seven construction attorneys have left Stearns Weaver Miller to join Bilzin Sumberg, a big get for the South Florida land use and real estate powerhouse.

The group of four partners and three associates includes Joy Spillis Lundeen and Felix Rodriguez, two longtime Stearns Weaver partners who represent developers from initial drafting through disputes and litigation.

The team has shared several clients with Bilzin over the years including the Related Cos., the Miami Dolphins and Grass River Property—a South Florida developer that Lundeen represented as investors in CocoWalk.

"What Joy brings to Bilzin will allow us to expand our representation of developers and owners throughout the entire development life cycle," Bilzin managing partner Al Dotson said.

Lundeen spent more than three decades with Stearns Weaver and joins Bilzin as head of its construction group. Lundeen and her team represent, in addition to the aforementioned shared clients, The Comras Co., Florida Crystals Corp., Bayview Financial, Newgard Development Group, Mast Capital, Bank of America Community Development Group and the Tampa Housing Authority.

Rodriguez joined Stearns Weaver nearly eight years ago, and with Lundeen, secured a $1.1 million verdict in a 2016 breach-of-contract lawsuit involving a Sunny Isles Beach condo tower. He also defended Virgin Trains USA against a $25 million delayed construction suit.

In addition to Lundeen and Rodriguez, the group also includes partners Kelly Ruane Melchiondo and Johnathan Ayers, as well as associates Michael Larmoyeux, Jr., Alexander Leon and Katrina Flores.

Lundeen said she and Dotson had been in talks since February, when she wrapped up a major case for a shared client, the Miami Dolphins. The two have known each other for decades, as they went to the same high school, and Lundeen said Bilzin's reputation in construction and complementary practices such as land use enticed the group to jump over.

"We considered how it would be to our clients' advantage to bring to them the bench that Bilzin brings. The land use groups are phenomenal. We've, of course, known for some time of Bilzin's prominence in construction," Lundeen said.

Dotson said despite the ongoing global pandemic that is threatening law firm revenues globally, the opportunity to bring on Lundeen's team was too good an opportunity for Bilzin's clients for the firm to pass it up.

"We're not focused on simply surviving COVID-19," Dotson said. "We're focused on pushing through this and coming through stronger. If there is a chance to add to our offerings, we will make that investment."

And while Lundeen said the pandemic has certainly altered her team's workflow, she doesn't seem too worried. Construction sites in South Florida have, for the most part, stayed open. Her clients are fielding numerous questions about the pandemic and aid, and litigation activity has stayed strong throughout. In fact, according to Lundeen, developers are now beginning to lift suspensions on projects that were mothballed a month ago.

"Things are back on track and they will continue to get back to the new normal," she said.

Stearns Weaver did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.