Manuel L. Crespo

Overview

Manuel L. Crespo is a partner in the Real Estate practice group at Greenspoon Marder. He was born in Miami and educated at Duquesne University, where he graduated with honors. He received his J.D. at Boston College Law School. He began to practice law with his late father, Honorable Manuel A. Crespo, at Crespo & Crespo, until the latter was elected to the bench. After that, Mr. Crespo built a sole-practice and later a firm practice in real estate and litigation.

Mr. Crespo feels passionately about the law and about obtaining justice for his clients in a manner that is ethical, thorough, and efficient. For many years, he has concentrated his practice in real estate and commercial transactions, including title insurance, condominium development and the conversion from existing rental unit buildings to condominium ownership. He has litigated real property disputes, contract and title disputes, construction, landlord-tenant, foreclosures, and other real estate matters. His institutional clients have included national banks and real estate developers.

Notable client work includes the representation of local real estate developers in all aspects of their ventures, counsel on ownership structure and the creation of related entities, land acquisition and assembly, supervision of rezoning and platting, the drafting and recording of declarations of condominiums and seller escrow services. Mr. Crespo has also represented builders and contractors, and private equity lenders. He has substantial experience in trial to verdict representing corporations and persons.

In addition to the practice of law, Mr. Crespo has made a significant and continuing contribution to the community. He is past president of the Cuban-American Bar Association (CABA), one of the largest minority voluntary bar associations in Florida. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Dade County Bar Association, Legal Services of Greater Miami, and as Chairman of the Grievance Committee of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit for the Florida Bar. He was previously appointed by Florida Bar President, Ramon Abadín, to co-chair the Florida Bar Committee for Diversity and Inclusion. In addition, Mr. Crespo has been honored by the CABA and Legal Services of Greater Miami for his indefatigable efforts in providing legal services to the poor and needy. He was also previously appointed to the Chief Justice’s Advisory Committee for the Pro Bono Service Awards by Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge LaBarga. The Broward County Hispanic Bar Association recognized Mr. Crespo for outstanding leadership. He is also a “Top Producer” for The Fund (Old Republic National Title Insurance Company) for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, a recognition reserved for the top 3% of title agents in a circuit for premiums generated.

He has given many talks on the practice of law and community service and is also a native speaker of Spanish.

Bar Admissions

Florida

Education

J.D., Boston College, 1991
B.A., Duquesne University, cum laude, 1988

Other Languages

Spanish

Experience

Professional and Community Involvement

Agent, Attorney’s Title Insurance Fund, Inc., Member, 1993-Present
Coral Gables Bar Association, Member, 2008- Present
Cuban American Bar Association, Inc., Board of Directors, 2007-Present
- Past President, 2015
- Advisory Committee, Past President
- 45th Anniversary GALA Committee, Member
Cuban American Pro Bono Project, Inc., a Florida not-for-profit
- Board of Directors, 2024-Present
- Past President, 2010-2011
- CABA Pro Bono Project Committee, Chairman, 2008-2010
Dade County Bar Association, Member, 2008-Present
- Director, Board of Directors, 2009-2011
The Florida Bar, Member 1991-Present
- Journal/News Editorial Board Committee, 2025
- Pro Bono Legal Services Committee, 2025
- Committee on Diversity & Inclusion, Vice-Chair, 2015-2023
- Grievance Committee 11C, Chairman, 2017
- Board of Governors, VBA Delegate, 2015
- Grievance Committee 11K, Chairman, 2010-2013
- Foundation, Fellow, 2010-Present
Gay and Lesbian Lawyers’ Association, Member, 2015-Present
Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc., Director, 2008-2012
Miami Dade Beacon Council, Member
Supreme Court Committee Pro Bono Awards, Committee Member, 2015
The Fund President’s Circle, Member, 2016

Speaking Engagements

Speaker, “Nuts & Bolts CLE- Asset Purchase and Sale Transactions which Include Real Property,” Greenspoon Marder Attorney Development Program, October 31, 2024
Moderator, “Building the Miami of the Future: Balancing Challenges with Infrastructure, Rising Costs, Continued Demand and Current Trends,” South Florida Development & Capital Leadership Forum – Commercial Observer, Miami Beach, FL, October 23, 2024
Moderator, “Live, Work & Play: Finding the Right Blend for Mixed-Use Development,” Commercial Observer South Florida Multifamily & Mixed-Use Forum, March 7, 2024
Speaker, “2021 FR/BAR Real Estate Sales Contract: Residential and As Is Updates” First American Title, October 8, 2021
Moderator, “Miami Real Estate,” Invest Miami: June 19, 2018

Awards

Recognitions

Best Lawyers®, “The Best Lawyers in America,” Litigation – Real Estate, 2024-2025
U.S. News & World Report, “The Best Lawyers in America,” Litigation, Real Estate, 2018-2024
Latino Leaders magazine, “Top Latino Lawyer,” 2022
The American Lawyer, “Inaugural List of South Trailblazers” 2021
Martindale-Hubbell, Rated AV® Preeminent ™
Super Lawyers magazine, “Florida Super Lawyer,” Real Estate, 2016-2022
South Florida Legal Guide, “Top Lawyer,” 2020
FNTG, “Bronze Agent Award,” 2017
The Fund, “President’s Circle,” 2015
The Fund, “Top Contributors,” 2014