Manuel L. Crespo

Partner

Manuel L. Crespo is a partner in the Real Estate practice group at Greenspoon Marder LLP. With a career spanning over three decades, Mr. Crespo focuses his practice on real estate and commercial transactions, including title insurance, condominium development, business sales and acquisitions, commercial leasing and complex litigation involving real property disputes. His client portfolio includes national banks, real estate developers, private equity lenders, and local builders, for whom he has been instrumental in navigating issues related to land acquisition, ownership structuring, and syndication. Additionally, he works with Latin American clients on inbound real estate investments, advantageous multi-jurisdictional corporate structuring, phased acquisitions, and other complex real estate matters.

Notable client work during Mr. Crespo’s tenure at Greenspoon has included developer representation in the land assembly, construction and sales of residential and office condominium buildings along the Miami-Brickell corridor and Coral Gables; significant land assembly, restructuring and syndication of upcoming development projects and joint ventures for residential and commercial redevelopment in Miami’s urban hospital district; representation of a national hotel brand for its acquisition and leasing of existing hotels for the purpose of modernization and introduction of upscale European style hostel accommodations; representation of purchaser in a complex multi-million dollar acquisition of a commercial office building as part of a crypto-currency investment portfolio and representation of a residential spec-home developer in the sale of a redeveloped ultra-exclusive luxury waterfront home include in the top ten highest value residential closings in South Florida history in its year of closing.

Mr. Crespo is also a trusted litigator, representing corporations and individuals through disposition on disputes involving contracts, construction, landlord-tenant issues, foreclosures, and more. He is regularly sought after as a speaker on real estate issues and has been quoted in notable outlets such as Law360 and The Real Deal and moderated panel discussions for the Commercial Observer.
Mr. Crespo has earned multiple accolades for his work in real estate, including recognition in top-tier industry reviews such as SuperLawyers, The Best Lawyers in America, Latino Leaders Magazine’s “Top Latino Lawyers,” and the American Lawyer’s inaugural South Trailblazers list. A native Spanish speaker proficient in review and drafting of complex legal and business documentation in Spanish, he routinely provides exceptional counsel to his international clientele.

Beyond his legal practice, Mr. Crespo has been deeply committed to community service. He is a past president of the Cuban American Bar Association (CABA), one of Florida’s largest minority voluntary bar associations, and now serves on the Board of Directors for CABA’s Pro Bono Project.

Born and raised in Miami, Mr. Crespo graduated with honors from Duquesne University and earned his J.D. from Boston College Law School. He began his career practicing alongside his late father, Honorable Manuel A. Crespo, before establishing his own thriving legal practice.

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
Speaker, “The Growth Mindset: Cultivating Leadership Through Professional Development,” Cuban American Bar Association’s L.E.A.D. Program, October 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, 2018-2026
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