Elmes R. Bolufe is a seasoned attorney licensed in Florida and Texas with more than a decade of experience representing property owners, homeowners, businesses, contractors, developers, title companies, lenders, and insureds in complex litigation and real estate matters. His practice focuses on first-party property insurance disputes, construction defect litigation, real estate and property-related litigation, landlord-tenant matters, foreclosure actions, title and escrow disputes, probate-related real estate issues, private lending, and commercial litigation.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Mr. Bolufe worked as a licensed Florida Public Adjuster, where he managed hundreds of insurance claims from inception through resolution. During that time, he obtained Xactimate Certification and developed an extensive understanding of construction methods, damage assessment, estimating, and insurance claim evaluation. He also served as an appraiser in numerous insurance disputes, further refining his expertise in damage assessment and claim resolution.
While completing law school, Mr. Bolufe joined Duboff Law Firm, where he worked alongside experienced litigators handling first-party property insurance, construction defect, and real estate-related matters. Upon graduating Cum Laude from St. Thomas University School of Law and being admitted to The Florida Bar in 2015, he accepted a full-time attorney position with the firm. Since then, he has recovered more than $100 million in insurance proceeds on behalf of policyholders and expanded his practice to include construction defect litigation, real estate litigation, foreclosure actions, landlord-tenant disputes, title disputes, probate-related real estate matters, private lender representation, commercial litigation, and the representation of contractors and developers in a wide variety of property and construction-related matters.
In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Bolufe has represented title companies and stakeholders in complex interpleader actions involving disputed real estate sale proceeds, probate-related title issues, and competing ownership claims. He also has extensive experience assisting with residential and commercial real estate transactions, including reviewing and preparing closing documents, resolving title issues, coordinating closings, and advising buyers, sellers, lenders, developers, contractors, and title companies throughout the closing process. His combined litigation, title, insurance, construction, and transactional experience enables him to anticipate potential legal issues before they arise while effectively protecting his clients’ interests when litigation becomes necessary.
Mr. Bolufe earned his Juris Doctor, Cum Laude, from St. Thomas University School of Law in 2014. During law school, he received multiple CALI Excellence for the Future Awards, earned Dean’s List honors for five semesters, completed judicial internships with both state and federal judges, and served as a research assistant focusing on marine insurance and admiralty law. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business from Florida International University.
Committed to continually expanding his knowledge of the construction and real estate industries, Mr. Bolufe is pursuing licensure as a Florida Certified General Contractor to further strengthen his ability to advise clients on matters involving construction, property damage, and real estate development.
Mr. Bolufe is admitted to practice before all Florida state courts, the courts of the State of Texas, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Fluent in both English and Spanish, he is dedicated to providing practical, results-driven legal representation with professionalism, integrity, and a client-centered approach.
Outside of the office, Mr. Bolufe enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. He is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys fishing, hunting, pickleball, cooking, and automotive pursuits.