Pardo Jackson Gainsburg & Shelowitz, PL

Pardo Jackson Gainsburg & Shelowitz, PL (PJGS) is a boutique, Miami-based law firm recognized for delivering exceptional legal services across a wide range of industries. With decades of collective experience, the firm’s attorneys are trusted advisers to clients facing complex and high-stakes matters. PJGS’s strength lies in its ability to understand each client’s business and objectives, providing tailored, pragmatic solutions that balance legal precision with commercial insight.

The firm is a go-to resource for clients seeking counsel in real estate law, corporate and transactional law, bankruptcy and restructuring, hotels and hospitality, condominium law, commercial litigation, construction law, and labour and employment.

Key Practice Areas

Construction Law

PJGS represents a diverse client base within the construction industry, including owners, developers, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, engineers, and architects. The firm provides comprehensive representation in all aspects of construction law and is deeply engaged at every stage of a project’s life cycle.

Construction Litigation

Led by co-chairs Stevan Pardo and Elissa, the construction litigation team handles disputes arising from delays, defects, and performance issues. The firm’s attorneys recognise that the timely resolution of disputes is critical to the success of any construction project and approach each matter with both urgency and strategy.

Corporate and Finance

PJGS’s corporate and finance group advises clients on evaluating business opportunities, structuring transactions, and identifying risks. The firm acts as a trusted adviser in all corporate and financial matters, combining legal knowledge with commercial understanding.

Real Estate Law

Chaired by Michael Pardo, the firm’s real estate team is highly respected for its command of the market and ability to manage complex, high-value transactions. PJGS provides a full suite of real estate services designed to produce positive, forward-thinking outcomes in a rapidly evolving marketplace.

Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights

Under the leadership of Linda, the bankruptcy group assists clients in navigating restructuring, insolvency, and corporate disputes. The team helps businesses revitalise operations and find practical solutions to financial challenges amid shifting legal frameworks.

Commercial Litigation

Co-chaired by Paul and Stevan Pardo, the commercial litigation group handles both routine and sophisticated business disputes. The firm’s litigators pursue each case with determination and creativity to maximize outcomes for clients.

Condominium Law

The firm maintains an active presence in the condominium and mixed-use development market, staying ahead of legislative changes and advising clients on governance, development, and dispute resolution in this dynamic area of law.

Firm Leadership and Department Heads

Stevan J. Pardo

Chair, Construction, Hotel, and Litigation Groups

Stevan J. Pardo is a leading authority on Florida construction, hospitality, and commercial litigation law. As Chair of the Construction, Hotel, and Litigation Groups at Pardo Jackson Gainsburg & Shelowitz, he has spent nearly four decades representing developers, owners, contractors, design professionals, and insurers in complex commercial and real estate matters.

Stevan is nationally recognized for his work in construction defect litigation, condominium turnover disputes, and hotel condominium law—particularly representing associations and owners post-developer turnover. His practice also extends to real estate transactions, joint ventures, and public/private partnerships, where his unique perspective as a former hotel owner and developer informs the practical, business-oriented advice he provides clients.

A former partner at Greenberg Traurig, Stevan is AV-Preeminent rated and consistently recognized by Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and the Daily Business Review for excellence in construction and real estate litigation. He is a frequent lecturer on advanced construction law topics and an active member of professional and civic boards, including the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), Duke University’s Law and Entrepreneurship Advisory Board, and the Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board (former Chair).

Linda Worton Jackson

Chair, Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Corporate Transactions Group

Linda Worton Jackson leads the firm’s Bankruptcy, Restructuring, and Corporate Transactions Group, representing debtors, creditors, committees, and purchasers in complex financial restructurings and distressed acquisitions nationwide. With more than 25 years of experience, she is widely recognized for her ability to close high-stakes transactions, guide companies through Chapter 11 proceedings, and creatively structure workouts that preserve value.

Linda also counsels emerging and established companies on mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, venture financing, and corporate governance. Her clients include major lenders, private equity firms, and institutional investors. Known by many as “Action Jackson” for her decisive, results-driven approach, Linda has been recognized by Chambers USA for Bankruptcy and Restructuring since 2015 and is consistently listed in Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and South Florida Business Journal’s “Influential Business Women.”

Before joining PJGS, Linda co-founded and managed her own boutique firm and previously practiced at Ballard Spahr and Greenberg Traurig. She is a frequent speaker and media commentator on bankruptcy, finance, and fraud litigation, and has appeared on CNBC’s American Greed and multiple national news outlets as an expert source.

Elissa Gainsburg

Chair, Condominium Law; Co-Chair, Construction Law Group

Elissa Gainsburg is Chair of the firm’s Condominium Law Group and Co-Chair of the Construction Law Group, representing developers, contractors, and condominium associations in all phases of development, construction, and property management. With more than 25 years of experience, Elissa’s practice spans contract drafting and negotiation, construction defect and lien litigation, and turnover disputes under Florida Statute §558.

Elissa serves as outside general counsel to numerous developers and contractors, offering real-time counsel on construction administration, licensing, leasing, and vendor matters. She is known for her meticulous attention to detail, pragmatic problem-solving, and deep understanding of both development strategy and litigation risk.

Rated AV-Preeminent, Elissa is frequently invited to speak at industry programs on construction and condominium law and has played a key role in high-profile projects across Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.

Paul A. Shelowitz

Co-Chair, Commercial Litigation Group

Paul A. Shelowitz co-chairs the Commercial Litigation Group and is a seasoned trial attorney with more than 30 years of experience litigating complex business, construction, and real estate disputes. His practice encompasses cases involving corporate dissolutions, breach of fiduciary duty, joint venture disputes, fraud, and multimillion-dollar construction claims.

Recognized by Best Lawyers in America for Real Estate Litigation since 2018 and named “Most Effective Lawyer” by the Daily Business Review, Paul is known for his ability to distill intricate issues into compelling trial narratives. His recent victories include multimillion-dollar jury verdicts and arbitration awards in cases spanning Hawaii, Miami Beach, and North Carolina.

Beyond his legal practice, Paul serves on the boards of the Overtown Youth Center and Friends of the Florida Trail, and mentors youth through Miami-Dade’s foster care system.

Michael Pardo

Chair, Real Estate Group

As Chair of the Real Estate Group, Michael Pardo represents developers, investors, lenders, and business owners in the acquisition, financing, and development of commercial, residential, and mixed-use properties throughout Florida. His practice covers all aspects of real estate law, from multimillion-dollar closings and complex joint ventures to leasing and land use strategy.

Michael also serves as outside general counsel to several major companies, advising on governance, contracts, and risk management. In addition to his transactional practice, he litigates real estate, construction, and business disputes, successfully representing clients in both trial and appellate courts.

Recognized by Best Lawyers for Real Estate and Construction Law, Michael is fluent in Spanish and Hebrew and active in community leadership through Temple Beth Sholom, where he serves on the Board of Directors and Building Committee.