Wm Cary Wright

Practice Areas

Construction

Construction Litigation

Career

Cary Wright has extensive experience representing clients in construction disputes, including construction claims, construction liens, insurance coverage matters, risk management, bond claims, and other contract disputes. His engagements have involved bridges, convention centers, stadium projects, high-rise condominiums, highways, hospitals, and hotels.

Cary also has substantial experience in contract drafting and contract review including the preparation of owner-contractor agreements and contractor-subcontractor agreements. He also advised an aviation authority on its insurance program for a multibillion-dollar project. Cary is the recipient of the Florida Bar Construction Law Committee’s 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award. He is also one of the few who is a fellow in both the American College of Construction Lawyers and the American College of Real Estate Lawyers. He serves as chair of the Public Private Partnership Committee in ACREL. He is also immediate past chair of the ABA Forum on Construction Law and chair-elect of the Florida Bar's Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section. Cary serves as chair of the Carlton Fields Construction Practice.

One commenter remarked in Chambers USA, a leading guide to the legal profession, that he is "a great lawyer and highly respected by anyone in construction. He's worked very, very hard, having published, written and spoken on it. I can't say enough good things about him. He's a great and highly skilled lawyer."

Cary maintains an active role in pro bono work, including working with professional engineers to assist those in other countries in need through Building for Good and Engineers Without Borders.

Professional Memberships

American Bar Association

Forum on Construction Law

Immediate Past Chair (2023–2024)

Chair (2022–2023)

Chair-Elect (2020–2022)

Chair, Finance Committee (2017–2020)

Chair, Technology Committee (2015–2017)

Governing Committee (2011–2014)

Chair, Bonds, Liens, and Insurance Division (2008–2010)

Steering Committee of the Bonds, Liens, and Insurance Division (2004–2008)

Past Member and Young Lawyer Representative, Owners and Project Finance Division

American Bar Foundation

Fellow (2015–present)

American College of Construction Lawyers

Fellow (2019–present)

American College of Real Estate Lawyers

Fellow (2017–present)

Chair, Public Private Partnership Committee (2022–present)

The Florida Bar

Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section

Chair-Elect (2024–present)

Director, Real Property Division (2022–2024)

Executive Committee (2017–present)

Secretary (2021–present)

Co-Chair, Legislative Committee (2017–2018, 2020–2021)

Treasurer (2018–2019)

Construction Law Committee

Chair (2007–2009)

Co-Vice Chair (2005–2007)

Insurance and Surety Committee

Co-Chair (2011–2017)

Co-Vice Chair (2009–2011)

Co-Founder and Chair, The Florida Bar Construction Law Institute (2010–2012)

Co-Editor-in-Chief of ActionLine, circulation of more than 11,000 (2016–2017)

Hillsborough County Bar Association

Co-Chair, Construction Law Section (2005–2007)

Articles Editor, Construction Law Section (2003–2005)

Associated General Contractors of South Florida

Legislative Committee (2020–present)

Museum of Science and Industry

Advisory Board (2013–2014)

Associated General Contractors of Greater Florida Inc.

Advisory Committee (2005–2016)

Construction Financial Management Association

Tampa Bay Chapter, Board of Directors (1992–present)

National Conference Planning Task Force (2001–2010)

The Federalist Society, Tampa Bay Lawyers Chapter

Vice President (1998–2004)

Cary has served, or serves, in various capacities at Bell Shoals Baptist Church, as chairman of Deacons, nominating committee member, chairman of the finance committee, treasurer, and trustee.

Experience

Lead counsel in the defense of a $400 million P3 infrastructure project.

Lead trial counsel in the defense of a $110 million claim by a subcontractor against general contractor on a stadium project.

Lead trial counsel in the defense of an $85 million defective construction and environmental claim against a subcontractor on a phosphate reservoir project.

Lead trial counsel for joint venture on multiple lawsuits by trade contractors arising from the construction of an over $500 million convention center in which total claims exceeded $70 million.

Defense and settlement of $27.8 million claim by mechanical contractor and subcontractor against general contractor, and prosecution against owner and design professional regarding the claim.

Defense and settlement of $8.1 million claim by drywall subcontractor against general contractor.

Defense and settlement of $5.7 million claim by control systems trade contractor against general contractor, and prosecution against owner and design professional regarding the claim.

Defense of general contractor from $3.2 million claim by fire protection contractor, and prosecution against owner and design professional regarding the claim.

Defended and settled multimillion-dollar suit by general contractor against developer.

Represented general contractor in multimillion-dollar claim against owner/developer.

Represented general contractor in multimillion-dollar claim against subcontractor.

Represented condominium association in claims against developer and general contractor for defective construction and breach of statutory warranties.

Obtained approximately $2 million settlement on behalf of residential homeowner against developer and property insurer.

Education