Steven P. Befera

Steven P. Befera is the Managing Partner of the Befera Law Firm, and handles complex civil litigation matters.  Mr. Befera's areas of expertise include insurance coverage; professional liability, including architects and engineers liability; wrongful death; and sexual harassment matters.

Mr. Befera has strong ties to Miami, having lived in the area for more than 20 years and receiving a majority of his 25 years of practice experience in South Florida.  He received a Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from the University of Miami, School of Law in 1983 and Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Minnesota, Duluth, in 1980.  Mr. Befera was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps in 1978.

Mr. Befera was admitted to practice law in Florida in 1983.  He is also admitted to practice in the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida including the Trial Bar, the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida including the Trial Bar, the United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, and the Minnesota Court of Appeals.  

Mr. Befera has attained the highest possible rating of "AV" from Martindale Hubbell, the national directory of attorneys, indicating preeminent legal ability and the highest ethical standards.  He is also a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a distinction awarded to counsel who have obtained verdicts and settlements in excess of $1,000,000.

As an active member of the legal community, Mr. Befera currently serves as an Adjunct Professor, teaching Litigation Skills, at the University of Miami School of Law.  He is active in the Dade County Bar Association (DCBA), serving as a member of the DCBA Civil Litigation Committee since 1983.  Mr. Befera also served as the DCBA Elected Director in 1998 and 2002, the Elected Treasurer in 2005, the Secretary in 2006, and as Vice President in 2007.  He previously served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Dade County Bar Association Bulletin, between 1994 and 1997.  Mr. Befera was named Outstanding Committee Chair (1995-1996) and was a recipient of the Pro Bono Award in Insurance Law in 2001.

Mr. Befera also maintains membership in many other legal organizations, including the Florida Bar, the American Association for Justice, the Minnesota State and Federal Bar Associations, the District of Columbia Bar (member of the Litigation Section), the American Bar Association (member of the Litigation Section).

Mr. Befera has extensive trial and litigation experience, serving as counsel in the following reported cases:

• Golden Yachts, Inc. V. Hall, 920 So. 2d 777 (Fla. App. 4th Dist. 2006)
• Total Rehabilitation & Medical Centers, Inc. v. E.B.O., 915 So. 2d 694 (Fla. App. 3rd Dist. 2005)
• Florida Department of Transportation v. Capeletti Bros. Inc., 743 So. 2nd 150 (Fla. App. 3rd Dist. 1999)
• Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. v. Capeletti Bros. Inc., 699 So. 2nd 736 (Fla. App. 3rd Dist. 1997)
• Wheeler v. Hajianpour, 688 So. 2nd 423 9Fla. App. 4th Dist. 1997)
• Carabello v. Riverhouse Apt. Co. 545 So. 2nd 516 (Fla. App. 3rd Dist. 1989)