Charbel Barakat is chief counsel, Florida region for D.R. Horton, the biggest homebuilder in Florida and the U.S. As counsel for its largest region, Barakat works with executives on business strategies. He reviews, drafts and negotiates contracts for acquisition and disposition of property. He offers guidance on regulatory issues. He took part in efforts that led to construction-defects litigation reform. Barakat supervises a team of 30-plus. He was appointed by Florida Governors Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis to the 2nd District Court of Appeals Judicial Nominating Commission. DeSantis named him to the board of the Florida Development Finance Corporation. In 2018 he distinguished himself as a champion on the game show “Jeopardy.”