Best Lawyers in Florida, United States for Real Estate Law
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Jeffrey Bercow is a founding force behind one of South Florida’s most influential land use and zoning law firms and a central figure in shaping the modern development landscape of Miami-Dade County. With more than 40 years of experience, his work has helped define how and where the region grows—guiding transformative projects, public policy, and the legal frameworks that underpin them. As co-founder of the firm in 1996, Jeff built a practice that has become synonymous with complex...
Jim McNeil serves as chair of Akerman’s Residential Development Practice, a highly experienced team representing national builders and developers of master planned and mixed-use residential communities throughout the real estate development process. Known for his ability to provide pragmatic, strategic, and forward-thinking planning advice, Jim represents developers, homebuilders, and private equity funds in all phases of the acquisition, entitlement, development, and sale of property. ...
Serving as of-counsel, Joseph W. Gaynor, joined the firm Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns, LLP in January 2008. Joseph W. Gaynor, P.A. (1995 – present), was the successor to Jacobs, Robbins and Gaynor, P.A. and its successors by merger (1971-1995) specializing in real estate; acquisition, financing and conversion of manufactured home communities and apartments; development of shopping centers, office buildings, apartment complexes, condominiums and planned unit developments, inc...
Thomas J. Matkov is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Thomas J., who practices law in Coral Gables, Florida, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thomas J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
William R. Bloom has practiced in the areas of commercial real estate, banking, loan recovery, construction and construction contracts, commercial lending, title insurance and public-private joint ventures, public-private partnerships and condominiums for more than 25 years. He has represented public corporations, institutional investors, global and regional financial institutions, privately held and governmental entities involving a variety of business issues. Examples of Mr. Bloom's experie...
Christopher K. Caswell is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law and Trusts and Estates. Christopher K., who practices law in Sarasota, Florida, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christopher K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Kristofer Machado represents clients in all aspects of real estate development, with an emphasis on providing strategic land use advice and advancing complex projects through the process of obtaining site control and securing zoning, planning, historic, environmental, and other local, state, and federal regulatory approvals. As part of his practice, Kristofer routinely appears before municipal zoning and planning boards and other quasi-judicial bodies, negotiates agreements with stakeholders ...
Michael Pardo is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law, Litigation - Construction, Litigation - Real Estate and Real Estate Law. Michael, who practices law in Miami, Florida, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Iris Escarrá is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law. Iris, who practices law in Miami, Florida, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Iris is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Laurie L. Gildan's wide-ranging experience in real estate includes representing home builders in land acquisition and project development; office building owners in leasing and building operations; developers and lenders in loans and loan restructuring; analysis of default situations and entitlement reviews of residential, golf course, commercial, office and warehouse properties. She is experienced in the representation of land bankers. Laurie also has the unique distinction of being a regist...
Nicholas Barshel practices in the area of land use and development, representing clients in all aspects of the development approval process including due diligence review, planning and zoning applications, submerged lands issues, dock and marina permits, historic preservation, code compliance, and other aspects of complex land use and zoning matters with federal, state, and local agencies. He has assisted clients in development of major projects across South Florida and beyond, including the ...
Stephen D. Rees, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law, Municipal Law and Real Estate Law. Stephen D., who practices law in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Stephen D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.