A former deputy general counsel of the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation (now DEP), Silvia Alderman is the chair of Akerman's Water Task Force, a team of multidisciplinary legal professionals and consultants advising on the regulatory and environmental challenges facing our clients.…

Matthew Allee focuses his practice on land use and zoning matters, including land use entitlements, development incentives, and zoning and concurrency issues. Matthew has experience representing property owners, developers, and business owners in obtaining land use approvals, including…

Marissa Amuial focuses her practice on land use and development, representing clients in all aspects of the development approval process including zoning applications, special area plans (SAPs), historic preservation matters, and other administrative and quasi-judicial hearings. Additionally,…

Joni Armstrong Coffey has extensive experience in a full range of local government law issues, with particular legal expertise in land use law. She focuses her practice on helping clients achieve optimal results from governmental approval processes and, where appropriate, litigation. Most recently,…

With a practice focused on the laws governing alcoholic beverages, tobacco, cannabis, and other regulated products, Ian Bacheikov assists clients across multiple sectors, including entertainment, hospitality, and retail. He serves as chair of Akerman's Alcohol Beverage Sector Team, a…

Michael Bailkin focuses in two value creation areas of real estate:  (i) development incentives; and (ii) structuring and helping implement real estate development projects.  Development incentives includes a broad range of programs that utilize public sector resources to add…

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…

A licensed professional planner and an American Institute Certified Planner (AICP), Richard Bass helps clients navigate the regulatory and political landscapes of New York and New Jersey to guide complex rezoning, special permit, variance applications, and redevelopment plans. His practice focuses…

Jarrett Bingemann represents residential homebuilders, master planned community developers, commercial property owners, and institutional investors on all aspects of the evaluation, acquisition, sale, and development of properties throughout the United States. In addition, Jarrett has experience…

As an urban planning professional with more than 20 years of experience in central Florida, Jamie Boerger has worked in both the public and private sectors. Her past experience includes working with public school systems, local municipalities, regional planning councils, and development companies.…

Robert Bowser represents developers, homebuilders, private equity groups, and investors in all phases of the acquisition, development, and sale of real property in Florida. From structuring the purchase of scattered finished lots for privately-held homebuilders to developing complex commercial,…

Ellen Castillo is a Senior Urban Planning Consultant in Akerman’s Real Estate Practice Group in Los Angeles. Her practice focuses on providing strategic real property development advice, land use diligence, planning analysis, and entitlement processing across all sectors of development. She offers…

Patrick Chistiansen is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. His practice focuses on working with public and private companies, financial institutions, and private equity funds in the middle market on mergers and acquisitions, financings, and other transactional matters. He has experience…

Alan Cohen serves as co-office managing partner of Akerman’s New York office. With more than 30 years of experience, Alan has handled virtually every type of commercial real estate transaction over the course of his career. He is a real estate strategist, providing clients with a comprehensive view…

Spencer Crowley's practice focuses on large scale land use and environmental permitting matters, including zoning, growth management, urban development, transportation, sovereignty submerged lands, coastal regulation, marina permitting, wetlands, and water resources. He has worked with the…

Michael Curley is a real estate and urban planning professional with a concentration in land use, zoning, and environmental impact review. His practice focuses on land use and zoning diligence, planning analysis, and applications for discretionary approvals with governmental agencies including the…

John Dicks has a robust and diverse practice, in litigation, land use, and bankruptcy. As a litigator, John has experience in a wide variety of cases, but focuses primarily on business litigation and legal malpractice defense. Other litigation experience includes fraudulent transfers, D&O…

Gabriel Fort is an associate in the Real Estate Practice Group. Gabriel focuses his practice on land use and development, assisting clients with a variety of land use and zoning-related matters. 

Having served as a former Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois and Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago, Jack George is a valued leader who possesses a deep knowledge of real estate law. Jack focuses his practice on real estate, land use, and zoning matters. He is…

Meg George has experience with real estate and municipal law matters, including the acquisition, and sale and development of real estate, land use and zoning, licensing, permitting, subdivision, and other real estate matters. In addition to her thriving practice, Meg is a member of Akerman’s…

Lauri Gerson focuses her practice on land use and development, representing clients in all stages of real estate development, land acquisition, land development, financing, and sales. She has extensive experience handling and managing the full cycle from property acquisition to end-sale closings.…

Jessica Goldstein focuses her practice on New York City land use and zoning matters, representing developers, non-profits, and owners. She has extensive experience with 421-a Tax Exemptions and the Affordable New York Housing Program. Jessica advises and assists with the processing of 421-a, 420-a,…

For more than 55 years, Kenneth Gordon has concentrated his practice in all facets of real estate development, leasing, sales and acquisitions, 1031 exchanges, condominium development, construction contracting, license agreements, and financing, including workouts for lenders and securitized lending…

Tara Gould focuses her practice on commercial real estate transactions involving acquisition and development on behalf of residential home builders, developers, commercial property owners, and institutional investors. She concentrates on homeowner association and master property owner association…

Amanda Gunter is an experienced commercial real estate attorney who focuses her practice on complex commercial real estate transactions. She represents master planned community developers and residential homebuilders in the acquisition, sale, and development of residential and commercial property.

Carolyn Haslam represents owners and developers in all facets of real estate developments, including entitlements and concurrency. Her primary focus is in land use, including office, retail, mixed-use, and residential, as well as large planned community projects. This includes counseling clients on…

Ben Hedrick practices in the area of land use and development, representing clients in all aspects of the development approval process in municipalities and unincorporated areas in both Miami-Dade County and Broward County, including in the cities of Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Additionally, Ben has…

Neisen Kasdin serves as co-office managing partner of Akerman's Miami office. A former mayor of Miami Beach and leader in the revitalization of South Beach, he brings extensive civic experience to his work on urban revitalization and the development of complex, large-scale, multi-use…

Dennis A. Kerbel is chair of Akerman's Florida Land Use and Entitlements Practice. Dennis has extensive experience in the full range of local government law issues, with a particular legal concentration in land use law. He focuses his practice on helping clients achieve optimal results from…

Lisa Kolieb focuses her practice on land use and real estate development matters, guiding clients through the land use entitlement process from initial site diligence to ultimate project approval, construction and operation, and advising clients on the government and regulatory aspects of real…

With more than two decades of experience in zoning and land use matters, Chris Leach represents property owners, developers, and business owners in obtaining approvals of planned developments, zoning changes, special uses, variations, subdivisions, vacations, and dedications. Chris also works with…

With a focus on land use, environmental law and litigation, Rick Leland has more than 45 years’ experience representing real estate developers, universities, non-profit organizations, and industrial companies on the environmental aspects of real estate transactions, development, and land use. Rick’s…

Kristofer Machado is a real estate development lawyer. He represents clients in all aspects of land development, with a focus on complex land use and regulatory matters. Builders, investors, lenders, and property owners turn to Kristofer for guidance with their most challenging and often high…

Nora Martins concentrates her practice on New York City zoning and land use, particularly applications for discretionary approvals from the City Planning Commission (such as zoning map amendments, City map changes, zoning text amendments, and special permits) and the Board of Standards and Appeals…

Gus Maxwell, chair of Akerman’s cutting edge Cuba practice, helps Fortune 500 and other U.S. companies develop viable business interests on the island. A Cuban-American, clients appreciate his first-hand knowledge and understanding of Cuba’s culture, government, and business climate. Ranked by both…

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.  Jim represents developers, homebuilders, and…

A licensed architect and urban planning professional with more than 25 years of experience, Christina Miller works to create vibrant and healthy, economically, environmentally and socially-resilient communities in Miami and throughout the United States. Her experience includes public-sector and…

Renee Oliyide is a real estate and urban planning professional with a concentration in land use and zoning in New York City. Renee regularly reviews land use applications for zoning actions to determine compliance, clarity, and completeness in adherence to the NYC Zoning Resolution, technical and…

Lisa Orrantia assists clients with real estate matters involving the New York City Zoning Resolution, New York City Construction Codes, and New York State Multiple Dwelling Law. Lisa helps clients obtain approvals from the City Planning Commission for zoning map and text amendments, special permits…

Christopher A. Penelas focuses his practice on land use, zoning, and government relations. He regularly represents clients before local governments and county boards. Christopher has experience representing clients in code enforcement proceedings, zoning applications, ordinance modifications, site…

Thu Pham is an partner in the Real Estate Practice Group. She has experience representing clients, both in the public and private sectors, in land use related matters such as comprehensive plan amendments, rezoning, code violations, right-of-way vacations, special assessments, impact fees, and…

Richard Pinsky has 35 years of government affairs experience in Florida and Washington, D.C. He has an extensive background representing clients before the legislature as well as local government from helping to navigate the budget and appropriation process to issue advocacy. Helping clients…

Steve Polivy serves as chair of Akerman's Economic Development and Incentives Practice. He represents developers, international investors, Fortune 500 companies, family-owned businesses, and other real estate end-users in securing crucial government incentives and tax benefits for major urban…

Jim Porter is board certified by the Florida Bar as an expert in City, County, and Local Government Law. He concentrates his practice on land use and zoning, as well as government relations, and also has experience with the wireless communications industry, including cellular tower zoning issues.…

Joshua Rinesmith focuses on real estate development, with a concentration in land use and zoning law and related transactional matters. He advises property owners, developers, architects and engineers on New York City zoning compliance and the development potential of property throughout the city.…

Chris Roper is a land use lawyer focused on real estate development, entitlements, and concurrency. He has experience throughout central Florida representing clients in due diligence, re-zonings, comprehensive plan amendments, vested rights, Developments of Regional Impact (DRIs), binding letters,…

Joseph Sbarro focuses his practice on land use and zoning real estate matters. In particular, he concentrates on land use and zoning diligence and applications for discretionary approvals with governmental agencies including the New York City Planning Commission, Department of City Planning,…

Jaclyn Scarinci focuses her practice on advising property owners, developers, lender, institutions and nonprofit organizations on a wide range of land use, zoning, regulatory, and transactional matters affecting the development and use of real estate in New York City. She works with architects,…

Steven Sinacori has broad experience in both land use and transactional real estate matters. He has represented numerous clients before the Board of Standards and Appeals, the City Planning Commission, the Landmarks Preservation Commission, the Department of Buildings, the Department of Housing…

Frank St. Jacques represents clients in real estate development matters with a focus on New York City land use and zoning. Frank has extensive experience seeking discretionary approvals for rezonings, zoning text amendments, special permits, variances, and authorizations. He works closely with…

Stephen Tilbrook has more than 25 years of experience practicing land use and environmental law, and he focuses his practice on complex land use, development, and environmental matters throughout the state of Florida. He represents property owners, expanding businesses, developers, financial…

Cecilia Torres-Toledo practices in the area of land use and development and is a member of our Alcohol Beverage Sector Team. She represents real estate developers, landowners, institutional clients, lenders and other property owners in all aspects of local and state real estate permitting and…

Jose A. Villalobos' legal career spans more than four decades and his practice includes state and local government affairs, representing cities before governmental entities. Jose focuses on legal issues involving land use and entitlements, representing Latin American clients in acquisitions and…

D'juro Villaran-Rokovich works with clients to secure economic development and tax incentives in their relocation efforts. With a background in real estate development and architecture, D’juro specializes in analyzing projects for potential incentive packages and forecasting the impact of a…

Bruce Wiener serves as managing partner of Akerman's Tallahassee office. Board Certified by The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education in Real Estate Law, he focuses his practice on transactional real estate law, commercial lending, and land use. He represents buyers and sellers in…

John Busey Wood advises public and private companies on real estate acquisitions, facilities management, construction and development, commercial, hospitality, retail, and ground leasing, commercial property management, and brokerage. For more than 45 years, John has represented owners in the design…

Beth Zafonte has helped real estate developers, Fortune 500 companies, institutions, and other public and private businesses across the United States identify more than $3 billion in economic development incentives over the last 35 years. She has represented, Forest City Ratner Companies,…