Manuel Farach

Summary

Manny is a partner in Taft’s West Palm Beach office, where he brings four decades of experience representing businesses, financial institutions, developers, and individuals in high-stakes trial litigation and complex real estate transactions. Highlighting his versatility in these complex matters, Manny is one of only 12 Florida lawyers who are triple board-certified by The Florida Bar.

Manny has successfully argued before the Florida Supreme Court and appellate courts statewide, shaping Florida law on critical issues such as covenants running with the land, summary judgment standards, mortgage litigation, and statutory interpretation. His representative matters include precedent-setting victories for industry groups and clients in trial and appellate courts, the successful defense of multimillion-dollar claims, and guidance through intricate real estate transactions and corporate restructurings.

In addition to litigation, Manny has advised on significant real estate acquisitions, development projects, leasing, and financing transactions. His extensive transactional work is complemented by his experience as outside general counsel to a financial institution, which he guided through regulatory challenges and an eventual merger. Manny is also a Florida Supreme Court-certified mediator and an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association, offering clients practical dispute resolution skills as an alternative to litigation.

A respected leader in the legal community, Manny is the past chair of the Florida Bar’s Business Law Section and the Standard Committee on Standard Jury Instructions for Business Cases, the Fourth District, and Nineteenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commissions. He is an elected member of the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar, the American College of Real Estate Attorneys, and the American Law Institute. He has also held significant roles in several Sections of The Florida Bar, the Florida Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions for Contract Cases, and the Real Property Litigation Group of the American Bar Association. He has received numerous accolades, including being named the Justice Anstead Board Certified Lawyer of the Year, as well as listings in Chambers and Partners, LawDragon 500 Leading Global Real Estate Lawyers, Florida Trend’s Legal Elite “Hall of Fame,” and the Top 100 Florida Super Lawyers, alongside an “AV Pre-Eminent” rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

Manny’s thought leadership is evident in his prolific writing and teaching. He is the author of the treatise “Florida Real Estate Law,” in the real estate component of West’s Florida Practice Series, and publishes a widely read case law update. He frequently contributes to the Florida Bar Journal and other leading publications. As an adjunct professor at the Florida State University College of Law and Palm Beach Atlantic University, he has educated the next generation in real estate and business law.

Clients turn to Manny for his strategic insight, deep industry knowledge, and proven record of results — whether navigating complex transactions, resolving high-stakes disputes, or seeking guidance on emerging legal issues.

Awards

  • Honoree, Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Real Estate

  • Honoree, Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Real Estate Lawyers

  • Honoree, Best Lawyers in America (2010 – present)

  • Honoree, Florida Super Lawyers, Real Estate (2006 – present)

  • Honoree, Top 100 Florida Super Lawyers (2011, 2015 – present)

  • Honoree, Florida Trend “Legal Elite” and “Hall of Fame”

  • Honoree, Florida’s 50 Most Influential Hispanic Business Leaders, Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (2019)

  • AV Peer Review Rated, LexisNexis/Martindale-Hubbell

  • Recipient, Judge Edward Rodgers Diversity Award (2020)

  • “Certified Lawyer of the Year” Award Recipient, Florida Bar Association (2019)

  • “Distinguished Alumnus” Award Recipient, Florida State University College of Law (2017)

  • “Member of the Year” Award Recipient, Business Law Section, The Florida Bar (2016)

  • Leadership Award Recipient, Palm Beach Hispanic Bar Association (2014)

  • Pro Bono Award Recipient, Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach (2007)

All Service Areas

All Practices

All Industries

Education

  • Florida State University College of Law (1985)

    cum laude
    Law Review

  • Stetson University (1981)

    B.A. – English and Business

Admissions

  • State - Florida
  • Federal - Supreme Court of the United States
  • Federal - U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
  • Federal - Florida Northern District Court
  • Federal - Florida Middle District Court
  • Federal - Florida Southern District Court

Notable Matters

Representative Litigation Engagements

  • Represented amicus the Florida Land Title Association before the Florida Supreme Court in case concerning the standard for covenants running with the land. Hayslip v. U.S. Home Corp., 336 So. 3d 207 (Fla. 2022).
  • Represented amicus The Business Law Section of the Florida Bar before the Florida Supreme Court in successful challenge to adopt the Celotex standard for summary judgment proceedings. In re Amendments to Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.510, 309 So. 3d 192 (Mem) (Fla. 2020).
  • Represented amicus The International Council of Shopping Centers in case involving the proper interpretation of easements in gross, including discretionary review in Florida Supreme Court. Janoura Partners, LLC v. Palm Beach Imports, Inc., 264 So. 3d 942 (Fla. 4th DCA 2018).
  • Successful reversal of trial court judgment and established new law for the defense at trial under Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.140(h)(2) of failure to state a cause of action. Beltway v. Lucombe, 211 So. 3d 328 (Fla. 2d DCA 2017).
  • Successful reversal of panel decision clarifying the effect of Florida’s lis pendens statute. Ober v. Town of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, 218 So. 3d 952 (Fla. 4th DCA 2016).
  • Successful reversal of adverse trial court judgment deciding the proper application of Florida Statute section 701.02 regarding the need to record assignments of mortgage to maintain lien priority. Barton v. Metrojax Property Holdings, LLC, 207 So. 3d 304 (Fla. 3d DCA 2016).
  • Represented amicus The Business Law Section of the Florida Bar in case of first impression in Florida on statutes of limitations applied to mortgages. Deutsche Bank v. Beauvais, 188 So. 3d 938 (Fla. 3d DCA 2016) (en banc).
  • Successful appeals on long running commercial foreclosure. Terant v. Beltway Capital, LLC, 147 So. 3d 1103 (Fla. 3d DCA 2014); Terant v. Beltway Capital, LLC, 2015 WL 7293329 (Fla. 3d DCA 2015); Terant v. Beltway Capital, LLC, 179 So. 3d 334 (Fla. 3d DCA 2015).
  • Establishment of new law regarding ability of assignees to employ Florida’s “safe harbor provisions” in response to community association demands for assessments. Beltway Capital, LLC v. Greens COA, Inc., 153 So. 3d 330 (Fla. 5th DCA 2014).
  • Successful appellate representation of developer contesting attempted imposition of referenda on development orders. Archstone v. Palmetto Park, LLC, 132 So. 3d 347 (Fla. 4th DCA 2014).
  • Represented seller of real estate in case deciding the applicability of arbitration provisions in real estate disputes. Keyes Co. v. Spencer, 16 So. 2d 213 (Fla. 4th DCA 2009).
  • Represented seller of real estate dispute arising out a breach of contract that involved two appeals to the district court of appeal and the Florida Supreme Court, including making new law regarding Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.525. Swift v. Wilcox, 924 So. 2d 885 (Fla. 4th DCA 2006).
  • Established new law regarding waiver of the right of equity of redemption in settlement agreements. Rothschild Reserve Intern., Inc. v. Silver, 830 So. 2d 224 (Fla. 4th DCA 2002).
  • Represented landowners in establishing that abandonment of a non-conforming use requires intent to abandon and not merely the passage of time. City of Lake Worth v. Cook, 1 Florida L. Weekly Supp. 383 (Fla. 15th Cir.), aff’d, 626 So. 2d 1115 (Fla. 4th DCA 1993).
  • Represented former bankruptcy trustee against charges of defalcation across two dozen cases, in and outside of bankruptcy court, with claimed damages totaling $25,000,000.00.
  • Successful defense of corporation at jury trial in breach of contract claims over $20,000,000.

Representative Transactional Engagements

  • Represented out-of-state developer in the purchase of several large parcels of real estate consisting of hundreds of acres and assemblage into project for resale into housing developments, including therein CCD, DRI, reservations of mineral rights, construction, zoning, environmental and financing, acquisition, and stop/start construction financing issues together with negotiation of ultimate end-purchaser contract approaching eight figures in value.
  • Represented client regarding interpretation and enforcement of long-term commercial ground lease.
  • Represented regional shopping centers regarding mall leasing issues.
  • Represented all levels of parent and subsidiary client in the merger and collapse of multiple operating companies into Delaware holding company.
  • Appointed Outside General Counsel for a lender under an O.T.S. consent order, and as part of new management team, turned the lender around so that the consent order was removed, then acted as counsel when the lender sold to another lender in a multimillion-dollar transaction.
  • Represented a client in purchasing waterfront parcels and consolidating the parcels into operating businesses, including waterfront permitting and zoning issues.
  • Represented airplane leasing company in the sale of its assets and transfer of its F.A.A. licenses to the purchaser.
  • Acted as land trustee and counsel in representing purchaser of significant real property that stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the Intracoastal Waterway and conducted closing in fashion in which the privacy of the purchaser was protected.
  • Represented purchaser of real property for the construction of a very large residential estates, including issues surrounding the purchase of the properties, assemblage of the parcels into one unified parcel, negotiation of the construction contract, and environmental and lien issues.
  • Represented seller of commercial real property in development restricted agricultural preserve.
  • Represented occupier of a condominium unit under a disputed life estate as remainderman and successfully terminated the co-tenancy of the condominium, all without litigation.
  • Represented community associations in operation and during turnover from developer.

Speeches and Publications

Books

  • Florida Real Estate Law, Thomson West, 2008 – present.

Articles and Chapters

  • Jury Instructions for Business Litigation, The Florida Bar, 2001 – present.
  • Reformation, Rescission, and Cancellation Of Instruments and Agreements in Florida Real Property Litigation, The Florida Bar, July 2016 – present.
  • Here We Go Again: Distressed Commercial Real Estate In A Pandemic Part I – Commercial Loan Workouts, RPPTL ActionLine, Winter 2020.
  • “Is There a ‘New Retail’ Coming?” Commercial Construction & Renovation, June 2019.
  • “A Critical Examination of Glass v. Nationstar Under Contract Principles, Florida Bar Journal, May/June 2019.
  • “The Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act: A Solution in Search of a Problem,” Florida Bar Journal, November/December 2018.
  • Co-author, “Navigating the Changing Landscape of Attorney’s Fees Litigation in Florida, Florida Bar Journal, November/December 2018.
  • “Are Condominium Assessments Dischargeable in Chapter 13 Proceedings?” American Bar Association eReport, September 2018.
  • “An Eloquent Argument For Enforcing Non-Reliance Clauses, Florida Bar Journal, April 2017.
  • “What to Look Out for in 2017’s Real Estate Market,” Law360, January 2017.
  • “Case Law Update,” Business Law Section of the Florida Bar, 2007 – present; Martin County Bar Association Sidebar, 2011 – present; and Palm Beach County Bar Association Bulletin, 2012 – present.
  • “Is The Fraud Disclaimer Clause In Your Contract Enforceable? Billington Gives Us the Answer,” RPPTL ActionLine, Fall 2016.
  • “The Calloway Conundrum: Exploring the Business Records Exception and Florida’s Evidence Code,” Florida Bar Journal, February 2016.
  • “Tiara: A Sea of Change or Barely a Ripple?” RPPTL ActionLine, Fall 2013.
  • “Real Property & Business Law Report,” The Florida Bar Business Law Journal, November 2012.
  • “Annual Review of Corporate and Business Litigation: Business Courts,” American Bar Association, 2010 – 2014.
  • “Mortgage Foreclosures,” The Florida Bar Business Law Journal, March 2008.

Law School and Collegiate Courses Taught

  • Florida State University College of Law:
    • Real Estate Law Foundations
    • Life Cycle of a Real Estate Deal
    • Advanced Real Estate Law
  • Palm Beach Atlantic University:
    • Business Law, Internet Law, Legal Environment of Business (M.B.A. program)
    • Cyberlaw – Rinker School of Business

Seminars Presented

  • “RJ’s and Real Covenants,” The Florida Bar – RPPTL, May 2025.
  • “Overview of Florida Homestead Act,” Florida Legislature, May 2025.
  • “Supreme Court Roundup,” American College of Real Estate Attorneys, March 2025.
  • “Navigating U.S.-Canada: Trade, Tariffs, and Legal Landscape,” The Florida Bar, March 2025.
  • “Case Law Update,” Broward Attorneys Real Estate Council, March 2025.
  • “AI’s Influence on Corporate Legal Practice,” F.I.U. College of Law, March 2025.
  • “Recipes for Success: Successful Mediations,” Palm Beach County Bar Association, March 2025.
  • “Real Property Certification Review Course,” The Florida Bar, February 2025.
  • “Business Litigation for Civil Trial Lawyers,” The Florida Bar, February 2025.
  • “Changes to the Rules of Civil Procedure,” Nineteenth Circuit Bench, October 2024.
  • “Proportionality Under the New Rules of Civil Procedure,” Florida Bar Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section, July 2024.
  • “Section 363 – Sales Free and Clear,” American College of Real Estate Attorneys, (moderator) June 2024.
  • “Florida Law Update,” The Florida Bar, June 2024.
  • “Evidence from a Business Litigator’s Perspective,” 15th Circuit State Attorney, June 2024
  • “Case Law Update,” Broward Attorneys Real Estate Council, June 2024.
  • “Conducting a Preliminary Hearing,” American Arbitration Association, May 2024.
  • “How AI Affects Your Practice,” P.B. County Hispanic Bar, April 2024.
  • “Corporate Transparency Act,” The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division, April 2024
  • “AI and the Law: View from the Bench,” Federal Bar Association, March 2024
  • “Real Estate Update 2023,” Palm Beach Attorneys Real Estate Council, March 2024.
  • “AI for the Business and Trial Lawyer,” F.I.U. College of Law, March 2024.
  • “Real Estate Update 2023,” Miami-Dade Attorneys Real Estate Council, February 2024.
  • “Real Property Certification Review Course,” The Florida Bar, February 2024.
  • “Business Litigation for Civil Trial Lawyers,” The Florida Bar, February 2024.
  • “New Attorney – Practicing with Professionalism,” Palm Beach Co Bar Association, November 2023.
  • “Mastering the Practice of Law,” The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division, November 2023.
  • “Making the Law: Top 25 Decisions,” The Florida Bar Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section, October 2023.
  • “The FDIC and the Systemic Risk Exception,” American College of Real Estate Attorneys, October 2023.
  • “Anatomy of a Loan Workout,” American College of Real Estate Attorneys, October 2023.
  • “The Standing Doctrine: Origins and General Requirements,” (Moderator) Florida Bar, August 2023.
  • “Business Courts Update,” The Florida Bar, August 2023.
  • “The End of Sovereign Immunity?” American College of Real Estate Attorneys, July 2023.
  • “Why You Should Care About Corporate Transparency Act, The Florida Bar, July 2023.
  • “Bank Failures & FDIC Receiverships – Impact on CRE Financing,” American Case Management Association, May 2023.
  • “Best Practices for Digital Advocacy,” The Florida Bar, May 2023.
  • “Real Estate Update 2022,” Polk Attorneys Real Estate Council, May 2023.
  • “Real Property Certification Review Course” The Florida Bar, April 2023.
  • “SVB & Signature Bank: What Just Happened?” American College of Real Estate Attorneys, March 2023.
  • “Real Estate Law Update 2022,” Miami-Dade Attorneys Real Estate Council, February 2023.
  • “Real Estate Law Impacting Condominiums,” The Florida Bar, February 2023.
  • “Arbitration and the Supremes: A Roundup of Recent Cases,” Federalist Society, February 2023.
  • “Real Property Update,” Broward County Bar Association, December 2022.
  • “Real Property Litigation,” The Florida Bar, November 2022.
  • “Leasing Default and Remedies,” The Florida Bar, October 2022.
  • “Evictions and other Landlord-Tenant Litigation,” American Bar Association, August 2022.
  • “Case Law Update 2021,” Broward County Attorneys Real Estate Council, June 2022.
  • “Path to the Bench,” Palm Beach Company Hispanic Bar, June 2022.
  • “Business Litigation and Bankruptcy Update,” The Florida Bar, May 2022.
  • “Case Law Update 2022,” Palm Beach Company Bar Association, May 2022.
  • “New Changes for Condo Litigators,” The Florida Bar, May 2022.
  • “Real Estate Update 2021,” Polk Attorneys Real Estate Council, May 2022.
  • “Case Law Update 2021,” Collier County Bar Association, April 2022.
  • “Real Property Certification Review Course,” The Florida Bar, April 2022.
  • “Real Estate Impacting Planned Communities,” The Florida Bar, February 2022.
  • “Real Estate Litigation on Offense: UCRERA,” Old Republic Title Company, October 2021.
  • “Diversity Pathway to the Bench,” Martin County Bar Association, October 2021.
  • “Florida Real Estate Law,” Florida State University College of Law, September 2021.
  • “Force Majeure in Post-Pandemic Landscape,” Advanced Judicial Studies, July 2021.
  • “Nuts and Bolts of the Legislative Process,” The Florida Bar, June 2021.
  • “Diversity and Inclusion: One Lawyer’s Perspective,” Association of Corporate Financial Counsel, May 2021.
  • “Quarterly Real Property and Case Law Update,” Thomson West, May 2021.
  • “The Ethics of RON,” American Bar Association, April 2021.
  • “Critical Real Estate Issues and COVID19-Foreclosures,” (PLI), March 2021.
  • “Real Estate Certification Review Course,” The Florida Bar, March 2021 (Chair).
  • “Real Estate Update 2020,” Central Florida Attorneys Real Estate Council, February 2021.
  • “2020 Bankruptcy Changes in L-t Cases,” American College of Real Estate Attorneys, February 2021.
  • “Condominium Certification Review Course,” The Florida Bar, January 2021.
  • “Real Estate Update 2020,” Miami-Dade Attorneys Real Estate Council, January 2021.
  • “Critical Real Estate Issues and COVID-19-Workouts,” Practising Law Institute (PLI), January 2021.
  • “Anatomy of a Real Estate Deal – Construction,” Advanced Judicial Studies, December 2020.
  • “Understanding the New Receivership Act,” Miami Association of Realtors, December 2020.
  • “Operating Behind the Eight Ball: Workouts in the Age of COVID,” American College of Real Estate Lawyers, November 2020.
  • “Anatomy of a Real Estate Deal – Force Majeure,” Advanced Judicial Studies, October 2020.
  • “Critical Real Estate Issues and COVID-19 – Bankruptcy,” PLI, October 2020.
  • “Business Litigation Certification Case Law Update,” The Florida Bar, October 2020.
  • “Critical Real Estate Issues and COVID-19 – Force Majeure,” PLI, September 2020.
  • “What Bankruptcy Judges Really Think,” American College of Real Estate Lawyers, September 2020.
  • “Real Estate Certification Review Course,” The Florida Bar, August 2020 (Chair).
  • “SB 838 – Corporations “Glitch Bill,” The Florida Bar, August 2020.
  • “Florida’s Commercial Receivership Law,” The Florida Bar, July 2020.
  • “Force Majeure,” Florida Association of Realtors, July 2020.
  • “Florida Supreme Court Roundup,” The Federalist Society, July 2020.
  • “Impossibility, Impracticability and Frustration of Purpose, The Fund, June 2020.
  • “Florida Traditional Notarizations,” The Florida Bar, June 2020.
  • “Case Law Update 2019,” Broward County Attorneys Real Estate Council, June 2020.
  • “Impossibility, Frustration of Purpose & Force Majeure,” The Florida Bar, May 2020.
  • “Get the File Ready for Closing,” Fund Assembly, May 2020.
  • “Lease or Cell: 21st Technology Issues,” American Bar Association, May 2020.
  • “What Do We Do Now?” American College of Real Estate Lawyers, April 2020.
  • “Quarterly Real Property and Case Law Update,” Thomson West, March 2020.
  • “Condominium Certification Review Course,” The Florida Bar, February 2020.
  • “Hot Topics and Technology in Bankruptcy,” Palm Beach County Bar Association, February 2020.
  • “Unusual Topics in Real Estate,” Palm Beach County Bar Association, February 2020.
  • “Calloway Updated,” The Florida Bar, January 2020.
  • “Real Estate Update 2019,” Miami-Dade Attorneys Real Estate Council, January 2020.

News

Professional Affiliations

  • American Arbitration Association

    Master Mediator Panel (2018 – present)
    Panel Arbitrator (1990 – present)

  • American Bankruptcy Institute

    Member (2020 – present)

  • American Bar Association

    Member (1994 – present)
    Former Chair, Real Property Litigation Group (2019)
    Committee Chair (2017 – 2019)

  • American College of Real Estate Lawyers

    Fellow (2017 – present)
    Member, Board of Governors and Executive Committee (2023 – present)
    Chair, Bankruptcy and Real Estate Litigation Committee (2017 – 2020)
    Chair, Communications Committee (2022)
    Member, Programs Committee (2017 – 2022)

  • American Inns of Court

    Past President, Craig S. Barnard Chapter
    Charter Member, Justice Major B. Harding Chapter (2003 – present)
    Member, Craig S. Barnard Chapter (1995 – present)

  • American Law Institute

    Member (2020 – present)
    Member, Advisory Group for Restatement of Property (Fourth)

  • BIZPAC

    Member, Board of Trustees (2001 – present)

  • Cuban American Bar Association

    Member (2009 – present)

  • Federal Bar Association

    Member (2024 – present)

  • The Federalist Society

    Member (2013 – present)
    President, Palm Beach County Chapter (2020 – 2022)

  • FINRA

    Arbitrator
    Panel Arbitrator (1997 – 2014)

  • Florida Association of Women Lawyers

    Member (2001 – present)

  • The Florida Bar

    Member, Board of Governors for Fifteenth Circuit
    Judicial Qualifications Commission Chair, Communications, Professional Ethics, and Discipline Committees (2023 – present)
    Charter Member and Executive Council Member, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section (2010 – present)
    Chair, Business Law Section (2025)
    Co-Chair, Corporate Counsel Committee (2025)
    Executive Council Member, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
    Member, Appellate Practice Certification Examination Committee (2019 – 2022)

  • Florida Supreme Court

    Chair, Committee of Standard Jury Instructions: Contract and Business Cases (2013 – 2017)
    Vice-Chair, Committee of Standard Jury Instructions: Contract and Business Cases (2010 – 2013)
    Reporter, Committee of Standard Jury Instructions: Contract and Business Cases (2008 – 2010)
    Certified Circuit Civil Mediator (2009 – present)

  • Florida State University College of Law

    Member, Board of Visitors (2021 – present)
    Adjunct Professor (2009, 2016 – present)
    Member, Board of Directors (2010 – 2014)

  • Fourth District Court of Appeals and Nineteenth Judicial Circuit

    Judicial Nominating Commissions Chair, Nineteenth Judicial Circuit (2019)
    Judicial Nominating Commissions Chair, Fourth Circuit (2006 – 2007)

  • The Guild of Catholic Lawyers of the Diocese of Palm Beach, Inc.

    President (2011)
    Member, Board of Directors (2008 – 2010)

  • Hispanic Bar Association of Palm Beach County, Inc.

    Member (1991 – present)
    Past President
    Past Director

  • Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County, Inc.

    Member (1993 – present)
    Past President
    General Counsel
    Past Director

  • Leadership Florida

    Member, Executive Class 11 (2020)

  • Leadership Palm Beach County

    Member (1995)

  • Palm Beach County Bar Association

    President (2006 – 2007)
    Member (1987 – present)
    Chair, Diversity (2010 – 2016)
    Chair, Appellate Practice (2011 – 2013)
    Member, Board of Directors (2001 – 2005)

  • 15th Judicial Circuit Court

    Member, Judicial Campaign Practices Committee (2002)
    Member, Judicial Professionalism Standards Committee (2001)
    Member, Professionalism Committee (1998)

  • Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics

    Chair (2010 – 2013)

  • Urban Land Institute

    Member (2018 – 2022)

Community Involvement

  • 100 Club of Martin County

    Member (2020 – present)

  • The Forum Club of Palm Beaches, Inc.

    Member (1995 – present)
    President (2014)
    Member, Executive Committee and Board of Directors (2007 – 2015)

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