Hugo V. Alvarez is a Partner in the firm's Miami office. He has successfully worked on a large volume of cases with significant financial exposure. Fortune 500 companies, prominent real estate developers, municipalities, insurance companies, hotels, financial institutions, condominium/homeowner’s associations, CD brokers, freight forwarders, and general contractors have all sought his legal advice and deep local community ties to help get issues resolved. Hugo has been published in the Daily Business Review, Law360, appeared on CNN, Spanish TV, and is often quoted in leading business periodicals such as the South Florida Business Journal on important legal topics.
Mr. Alvarez works closely with his clients to understand their legal needs and business. He does this by focusing on his clients’ objectives. By being involved in every aspect of their business, he can help navigate directives and attempt to prevent brewing disputes while also preparing for litigation.
Having founded and run his own business prior to joining Cole, Scott & Kissane, Mr. Alvarez has a unique perspective into the challenges and opportunities businesses encounter daily. Given that experience, Mr. Alvarez is uniquely positioned to assist his clients in addressing their needs.
Mr. Alvarez began his legal career in Palm Beach County working for, among other Circuit Court Judges in the 15th Judicial Circuit, current Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge Labarga.
In 2017, the Miami-Dade Bar Association awarded Mr. Alvarez with its Legal Luminary Award, the top honor given to attorneys in Miami who handle insurance related litigation. In 2021, Mr. Alvarez was part of a team of attorneys that were awarded the South Florida Business Journal’s Structure Awards for Best Speculative Project.
Mr. Alvarez has lectured at the annual statewide Windstorm Conference on first party insurance-related issues to an audience of claims professionals. He has also lectured at the CLM Management & Professional Liability Conference on employment related issues.
Mr. Alvarez is a former Vice-Chair of the Florida Bar 11th Circuit Grievance Committee 11 “C” and is presently a Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator.
Committed to his community, Mr. Alvarez currently serves on the Miami-Dade County Community Council, which addresses issues impacting the community including zoning and land use related issues. Mr. Alvarez has also coached numerous little league teams with varying degrees of success over the years.
Mr. Alvarez is fluent in Spanish and has extensive experience representing domestic and foreign companies involved in civil, commercial, real estate, and insurance disputes throughout Florida.
Mr. Alvarez received his law degree from the Tulane University School of Law. While attending law school, he was a member of the Tulane Journal of International and Comparative Law and served as the Student Body Vice President. He was also a member of Tulane’s National Hispanic Bar Association Appellate Moot Court Team and was named to 'Who's Who: American Law Students.' Mr. Alvarez was the recipient of the CALI Excellence for the Future Award for academic achievement in Financial Institutions, and a prize recipient from the Louisiana State Bar Association for an essay he wrote. Mr. Alvarez was also a law clerk of the Hon. William H. Byrnes of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals of Louisiana.
Mr. Alvarez received his B.A., with distinction, with a double major in Political Science and Public Management from the University of Maine. Mr. Alvarez attended the University of Maine on an athletic scholarship, was a two-time recipient of the Scholar Athlete Award, recipient of the Frederick C. Mosher Award, elected to serve as a Student Senator by the student body, and a member of the University’s football team. He was also a member of the Pi Alpha Alpha National Honor Society.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
•Member, Columbus Alumni Association
•Board of Governors, Churchill Society of South Florida
•YMCA and Palmer Park Youth Football and Baseball Coach
Awards & Recognitions
•The Best Lawyers in America , Commercial Litigation, Community Association Law, Litigation - Real Estate, recognized since 2018
•Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year, Community Association Law, 2025
•Super Lawyers 2011 - Present
•South Florida Business Journal, Structures Award for Best Speculative Project, 2021
•The Best Lawyers in America (Litigation - Real Estate) 2018 - Present
•Miami-Dade Bar Legal Luminary Award Winner, 2017
•10 out of 10 AVOO Rating
•LBA Rookie Director of the Year Nominee, 2017
•Florida Trend's Legal Elite, 2010-2013, 2015, 2018
•Florida Trend's Legal Elite “Up and Comer”, 2005-2009
•South Florida Business Journal Key Partner Award Finalist, 2006 - 2007
•South Florida Business Journal Up and Comer, 2007
•Business Leader Media Movers and Shakers Award, 2009
•Christopher Columbus High School, Athletic Hall of Fame, 2017
Newsroom
News
•Directed Verdict for a Negligent Misrepresentation Case in Miami-Dade County
Recent Successful Trial, 8.6.2025
•Motion for Summary Judgment - Injury - Miami-Dade County
Publication, 4.1.2024
•Final Judgment - Defamation
Recent Successful Trial, 3.22.2024
•Final Summary Judgment - Gym Contract - Miami-Dade County
Recent Successful Trial, 3.5.2024
