Reese J. Henderson, Jr. Attorney At Law

Experienced construction lawyer guiding clients through operational, licensing, and liability concerns. Board certified by The Florida Bar in Construction Law.  

Reese Henderson has been building meaningful relationships with real estate and construction clients for more than 30 years. He represents a variety of thriving residential and commercial stakeholders across the Southeast, helping clients advance projects and manage the unprecedented operational concerns and disruption challenges facing the sector today. Reese understands the unique industry frameworks, business practices, and inherent risks that define complex development projects. His clients include owners, developers, contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, sureties, manufacturers, and condominium associations.

Reese works closely with clients to identify cost-conscious and innovative solutions to project concerns and disputes. His construction advisory services include project risk management, defect matters, collections and liens, licensing issues, contract negotiations, and litigation. His substantial litigation experience includes matters involving construction lien and payment bond claims, construction defect claims, insurance coverage for construction defect claims, breach of contract and termination claims, liquidated damages, and acceleration damages claims. Reese also advises clients on construction licensing and defense of licensing board enforcement actions.

As a complement to his client service offerings, Reese is a certified mediator and arbitrator, and has managed scores of construction mediation and arbitration matters in state and federal court and before the American Arbitration Association in both Florida and Georgia. He also regularly collaborates with colleagues in the real estate and litigation practices to round out his portfolio of resources and services for construction clients.

• Notable Work
  • Drafted and negotiated prime contract for a $22 million power plant expansion project in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  • Drafted and negotiated $9 million major tenant build out for a prominent downtown Jacksonville office building.
• Recognition
  • Best Lawyers In America, 2017-2025
    • Construction Law
    • Litigation - Construction
    • Lawyer of the Year, Litigation - Construction, 2022
  • Florida Super Lawyers
    • Construction Litigation, 2011-2024
• Insights
  • “Seven Secrets to Success at Early Mediation,” Florida Bar Construction Law Committee Seminar, April 10, 2023
  • “Construction Industry Update,” GrayRobinson Seminar, September 14, 2021
  • “Contract Traps To Avoid and Get Paid,” Levelset Webinar, January 21, 2021
  • “Ethical Considerations,” 9th Annual Construction Law in Florida, October 14, 2020
  • “How to Overcome Coronavirus Florida Lien Rights Challenges,” Levelset Webinar, April 24, 2020
  • “Criminal Traps in Civil Litigation,” Jacksonville Bar Association Annual Bench and Bar Conference, February 26, 2020
  • “Altman Contractors, Inc. v. Crum and Forster Specialty Insurance Company: Balancing the Interests Surrounding Potential Insurance Coverage for Chapter 558 Notices of Claim,” Joint Meeting of the Construction Law Committee and Insurance and Surety Committee of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of The Florida Bar, St. Augustine, Florida, February 23, 2018
• Affiliations
  • American Bar Association, Forum on the Construction Industry
  • Associated Builders and Contractors, Florida’s First Coast Chapter
  • The Florida Bar
    • Construction Law Committee
      • Chair
      • Vice Chair, 2016-2019
    • Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section
  • The Georgia Bar
  • Jacksonville Bar Association
  • Building for Good, Volunteer Lawyer, Jacksonville
• Credentials
  • J.D., Vanderbilt University, 1992
    • Vanderbilt Law Review, Managing Editor, 1991-1992
  • B.A., Berea College, 1989, cum laude
  • Board certified by The Florida Bar in Construction Law
  • Certified Arbitrator, American Arbitration Association
  • Florida Supreme Court, Certified Circuit Civil Mediator
• Admissions
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida