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-profile projects in highly regulated urban and suburban areas, including the development of new buildings and the adaptive reuse of existing buildings.

Kristofer’s practice spans the entire land development cycle, from initial due diligence and feasibility studies through to acquisition, conceptual design, contract negotiation, consultant engagement, entitlement, financing, construction, occupancy, stabilization, and disposition.

As part of his practice, Kristofer advocates before planning, zoning, design review, and historic preservation boards; he negotiates agreements with stakeholders and regulators; and he implements effective entitlement strategies to maximize development potential, expedite development review, and minimize the risk of litigation and project delays. Kristofer also has extensive experience in drafting statutory development agreements, comprehensive plan and zoning text amendments, land development regulations, purchase and sale agreements, transfer of development rights agreements, neighbor cooperation agreements, construction access agreements, easements, covenants, and other public and private contracts.

A trusted advisor and strategic counselor, clients rely on Kristofer’s guidance to navigate regulatory frameworks that too often are vague, convoluted, and enigmatic. Through his command of the law, his skill in statutory interpretation, and his persuasive written and oral advocacy, and aided by the trust and confidence he has earned from officials at every level of local government, Kristofer routinely secures outcomes favorable to his clients. At times, when negotiated solutions are not possible, Kristofer litigates to protect his clients’ property rights, whether in overcoming unfavorable regulations that are proposed for adoption, reversing permit denials, or affirming entitlements obtained.

Kristofer graduated from Yale Law School, where he was a Samuel S. Flug Memorial Scholar and served as a Student Director of the Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization and as Senior Editor of the Yale Journal on Regulation. He earned his undergraduate degree from Duke University, graduating in three years, with honors.

Prior to joining Akerman, Kristofer began his legal career at a leading national real estate law firm in Boston, Massachusetts, where he represented clients in many important projects in the city and throughout the commonwealth.

Kristofer is fluent in Spanish, and he routinely advises clients from Spain, Argentina, Chile, and other Spanish-speaking countries.