Gary M. Stein Co-Managing Partner of Peckar & Abramson. Courtesy photo

Gary Stein's path to a law career traces to a trip he took as a teenager to the world's best known soapbox — Speakers' Corner in London's Hyde Park.

Strangers air out issues in civil debates, and it appealed to the young Stein, who was having political discussions with his father at home. He wasn't afraid to engage someone older.

"I found this one gentleman who was talking about an issue that was of interest, and I stopped and listened for a while, and I disagreed with his point and sort of raised my hand and started to have a discussion about it," Stein said. "As a young kid I engaged in discussion with this young adult with all these people standing around."

Stein's knack for debate and grasp of technical issues helped him hold his own during the public debate. That extends to his construction practice, largely representing general contractors and construction managers.

The co-managing partner of the Miami office of Peckar & Abramson also has represented real estate owner-developers, project contractors and subcontractors, and condominium associations.

He started with the firm, then Rosenberg, Reisman & Glass, in 1985 after graduating from the University of Miami School of Law. He became a name partner and was part of the Peckar & Abramson merger in 1999.

When he was hired, he had no plans to specialize in construction law but was happy to have the work in a tight job market. He only knew he didn't want to practice such as criminal or corporate law.

"After a short period of time being exposed to construction law, I really enjoyed the issues," Stein said. "Not only the legal issues but also the technical construction issues. I enjoyed the interaction with the construction clients we represented, and it turned into a passion of mine. That's what I have been doing ever since."

The intricacies of construction contracts and law could be burdensome to understand for most people, but not Stein. He likes getting into the weeds, whether it's materials, business or project organization.

"My understanding of the construction law, my enjoyment of diving into and understanding the technical aspects of construction and understanding how their business operates I think makes me effective and efficient," he said.

Take for example his work representing a California developer of a Sarasota project accused of $45 million in construction defects in an arbitration claim. The outcome of the 2017 final hearing was that his client was on the hook for much less.

Stein declined to disclose the settlement amount, developer's name and type of project, citing a confidentiality agreement.

"The good news for my client was that not only did he avoid these $45 million claims, but we were able to get his insurance companies to pay" the settlement, Stein said.

Hankering for Helping

Perhaps Stein's path to becoming an attorney could be traced to before that fateful day in London. He always loved helping people, something instilled in him by his parents. Stein's father, an accountant, sat on the board of the nonprofit Hope Center, which supports developmentally disabled people.

"For my dad it wasn't just about going to board meetings and providing accounting and bookkeeping-type advice. One of the things he did was spend time with the children and young adults," Stein said. "They would allow him to take the children out for the afternoon. He would take them to lunch. That was my father's example. You give back."

Stein in his first year at the University of Florida pursued pre-medical studies but was attracted to politics and debate more than science. He switched to political science and history and graduated with a political science degree.

Now he helps his construction clients at work and helps children in difficult circumstances outside of work. Stein has volunteered as a guardian ad litem since he became an attorney and works with the nonprofit legal advocacy group Voices for Children.

As a guardian, he spends one-on-one time with foster children removed from abusive or otherwise traumatic homes. Stein ensures the children get the medical, financial and legal support they need.

A 10-year-old case of a Miami-Dade County elementary school student still is fresh in his mind.

"There is one that is still painful to even think about. The father was not married to the mother, but the father got into a very violent exchange with the mother and ended up killing the mother while the child was in the apartment. The father goes off to jail, and the mother is now dead. The issue, 'How do we help the child under these awful, traumatic circumstances?' " Stein said.

One of the girl's teachers agreed to adopt her.

" It's one of those relatively happy endings, the best you can hope for for this child who obviously experienced a horribly traumatic experience."

He works for Voices for Children as an attorney representing the legal interests of guardians and children.

Coronavirus Work

Attorneys across the U.S. switched focus after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, and Stein is no exception.

Among the issues he has dealt with are project inspectors who tested positive for the virus and crew members who declined to show up at job sites for fear of getting sick. Stein expects more cases to trickle down from developers against construction contractors for failing to finish projects on time and on budget.

Social-distancing guidelines imposed at job sites slowed work along with the follow-up procedures after a project inspector tested positive. An industrial hygienist had to be hired.

"We had to help the client deal with what the impact would be under the contract" because they have contractual obligations to finish within a budget and within a certain time frame, he said. "If they don't, then there are consequences to the client. I was helping them deal with the issues with the owner."

The good news is that Peckar & Abramson created guidelines on assisting clients on virus-related issues, meaning Stein could turn to colleagues and bounce ideas off them on the unique cases he handles.

"I wasn't starting from scratch."

Born: Miami, 1958

Children: Adam, Jake, Alex and Justin

Spouse: Helen Stein

Education: University of Miami, J.D., 1985; University of Florida, B.A., 1982

Experience:  Peckar & Abramson, 1999-present; Rosenberg, Reisman & Glass, 1985-1999