Related Practices
Practice Leader
Practice Team 
Click to View - R. Gene Aldridge
- Allison Nuth Ash
- Kenneth L. Bednar
- Joelle Z. Bertozzi
- Heather E. Bush
- Garey F. Butler
- Tirso M. Carreja, Jr.
- Brandon C. Dodd
- Kendra Loar Gaugush
- Jenny Byars Gribbin
- Karl B. Hanson, Jr.
- Jourdan Haynes
- James T. Humphrey
- Thomas J. Hunt
- Christina M. Johnson-Boyce
- Rhea F. Law
- Steven W. Marcus
- Marilyn W. Miller
- Shari B. Olefson
- James B. Porter
- Terrence Russell
- Jeffrey C. Shannon
- Ted R. Tamargo
- Fred S. Werdine
Related Industries
The Real Estate Practice Group is devoted full-time to commercial real estate related matters including:
- Acquisitions and dispositions;
- Development and construction;
- Financings and investments, including construction and permanent mortgage loans, syndicated loan transactions, mezzanine loans, sale-leaseback transactions, and the formation of joint ventures, partnerships of all types and limited liability companies;
- Leasing and property management; Loan workouts, restructurings, foreclosures and bankruptcies; and
- Environmental matters.
The Real Estate Group's goal is to provide innovative and outstanding legal services and to devise creative solutions to help clients achieve their objectives. We focus on understanding our clients' business plans, providing responsive and result-oriented representation and counseling our clients in order to avoid or reduce risk and liabilities.
Fowler White Boggs's Real Estate Group, while centered in Tampa, has significant capability in other offices, particularly Fort Myers, Jacksonville and Tallahassee.
Real Estate/Acquisitions and Dispositions
Fowler White Boggs Real Estate attorneys have extensive experience in the acquisition and sale of virtually every kind of real property, including office buildings, shopping centers, multifamily housing developments, condominium housing projects, commercial condominiums, industrial properties, hotels, vacant land, golf courses, country clubs and planned unit developments. Our attorneys have assisted clients with acquisition and disposition transactions in all regions of the State of Florida.
Partnerships, limited liability companies and joint ventures form the basis for many acquisitions, and are also an important element of most development projects and many financing transactions. We have significant experience in forming these entities and work closely with the Firm’s Tax Group to maximize the tax benefits of these ownership structures.
Real Estate Development and Construction
Development and construction issues are often substantially interrelated, requiring close cooperation and a consistent approach among counsel. Fowler White Boggs provides development and construction services to its clients.
Fowler White attorneys assist clients in evaluating development opportunities. We provide pre- transaction counseling to structure deals, prepare requests for proposals and analyze responses by developers, financial institutions, tenants and others, and then identify appropriate contract structures and negotiate the agreements.
We take a comprehensive approach to construction, beginning at the initial stages of a project. We assist the client to engage an owner's representative and other consultants, with the goal of timely completion of planning, budgeting and scheduling processes. We assist clients in selecting a construction manager or general contractor, preparing bidding documents and construction agreements which are protective of the owner.
We have extensive experience in negotiating construction management agreements and general contractor agreements. In addition, we regularly assist clients with the selection of an architect and the negotiation of the architect's agreement. We have considerable experience in resolving construction disputes, including claims relating to scheduling and cost of the work, warranty work and construction liens.
Real Estate Finance
Fowler White Boggs Real Estate attorneys represent lenders, borrowers and investors in a wide range of real estate financings and investments, involving properties throughout the State of Florida and the United States. These include construction loans, permanent loans, revolving-credit agreements, shared-appreciation or participating mortgage financings, partnership and limited liability company investments, structured financings, and various types of syndications and other capital market transactions. We represent various banks and other financial institutions in their lending activities on office buildings, shopping centers, hotels, multifamily residential rental and for sale housing developments, and other property types.
Leasing and Property Management
Fowler White Boggs Real Estate attorneys have a broad range of experience in leasing and lease-related transactions. We have prepared, on behalf of owners and management companies, space leases in office buildings, ground leases, retail leases, and related documents, including consents, non- disturbance agreements, license agreements, letters of credit and brokerage agreements. We have also represented large numbers of office and retail tenants.
With our knowledge of landlord-tenant laws, we also have successfully represented commercial landlords on numerous occasions in their efforts to enforce the terms of their leases.
In addition to leasing, we represent owners of leased properties in the negotiation of property management agreements, and leasing and brokerage agreements. We also advise owners of leased properties in connection with various operational issues.
Work-outs and Restructurings
Fowler White Boggs Real Estate Group has significant experience in dealing with distressed real estate and troubled and defaulted loans, including participated loans. Alone and in conjunction with the Firm's Bankruptcy, Tax, Environmental and litigation attorneys, we have represented institutional lenders, real estate owners and developers, and trustees in loan work-outs, foreclosures, bankruptcies and dispositions of distressed and "REO" properties.
Environmental
Environmental law plays a significant role in our Real Estate Practice. Attorneys from Fowler White's Environmental Law Practice frequently collaborate with the Firm's Real Estate attorneys, supplementing the environmental law expertise of the Real Estate Group.
We undertake analysis of both the risk of environmental liability and the best manner in which to eliminate or manage that risk in virtually every financing, acquisition, development and leasing transaction. At the inception of a project, we counsel our clients to structure the transaction in a manner which minimizes environmental risks. During the negotiation process, we work with clients to understand and allocate remaining risks in ways that minimize client obligations and liabilities.
Where local, state and/or federal environmental review procedures are required, we assist clients with the preparation of environmental assessments, environmental impact statements and reports, and environmental decision-making documents.
Fowler White Boggs Real Estate and Environmental attorneys work together to develop innovative solutions to environmental issues, which often pose significant obstacles to real estate conveyance, development and construction. While such risk allocation can be accomplished through traditional contractual negotiations using representations, warranties and indemnities, environmental laws also present creative public/private partnership opportunities with environmental agencies for voluntary clean-up, site-specific risk assessment and brownfield funding mechanisms. Together, the Real Estate and Environmental Groups offer comprehensive resources to clients in environmental matters affecting real estate.
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News
- Fowler White Boggs Named in U.S. News–Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” Rankings
- Fowler White Boggs Names New Shareholders
- Fowler White Attorneys Recognized as Lawyers of the Year by Best Lawyers
- Forty-Eight Fowler White Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2011
- Fowler White Named Among the Top Law Firms by The Legal 500 – United States
- Chambers USA Names Fowler White Boggs Among Top Law Firms in Florida in Seven Practice Areas
- Terrence Russell Named New Managing Shareholder of Fowler White Boggs’ Fort Lauderdale Office
- Leadership Positions Announced at Fowler White
- Karl Hanson Elected Chairman of Synovus Bank in Jacksonville
- Three New Associates Join Fowler White Boggs
- Shari Olefson quoted on the Future of Commercial Real Estate
- Fowler White Named Among the Top Law Firms by The Legal 500 – United States
- Shari B. Olefson joins Fowler White Boggs as a Shareholder
- Fowler White Announces New Shareholders
- Jim Porter Joins Fowler White
- Karl Hanson Joins Fowler White
Publications
From Our Video Library
Shari Olefson interviewed on CBS Evening News
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," recently appeared on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, talking about the White House's proposed reform of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.
Time to buy a home?
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," appeared on CNBC to discuss whether it's time to buy a home as home prices plummet.
Shari Olefson Interviewed on PBS Newshour
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," discusses on PBS Newshour about likely effects of foreclosure freeze and investigation by attorneys general.
Is the American Dream turning into a complete nightmare?
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," appeared on CNBC to discuss whether there is any hope for housing recovery.
Housing Double Dip on Horizon?
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," appeared on CNBC to discuss whether we're heading toward a housing double dip.
Can Housing Rebound?
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," appeared on CNBC the "The Call" to discuss whether housing can rebound without government aid.
Walk Away Mortgage Free?
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," appeared on CNBC to discuss whether a homeowner walking away from an underwater mortgage is a smart business decision.
Shari Olefson discusses the Impact of the Homebuyer Tax Credit
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," was a guest on Fox Business Network to discuss the impact of the homebuyer tax credit. In the segment, Ms. Olefson discusses the . In the segment, Ms. Olefson discusses if the Homebuyer Tax Credit worked and whether we should extend it.
The Fall of Fannie
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," discusses the current state of the GSE's.
Shari Olefson talks with MSNBC
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," appeared on MSNBC to discuss the record amount of foreclosure filings around the country.
Short Selling Homes: A Good Housing Fix?
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," appeared on CNBC to discuss the pro and cons of allowing “underwater” homeowners to sell their homes for less than they owe and basically force the lender to take the loss rather than foreclose on the home.
Shari Olefson interviewed by Fox Business News
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," appeared on Fox Business to discuss why the housing market has not yet recovered.
Insight on the President's Plan for GSEs
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," was a guest on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street". In the segment Ms. Olefson gives her insight on the President's plan for GSEs, like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Are Mortgage Mods Slowing Recovery?
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," was a guest on CNBC's "The Call of the Wild". In the segment Ms. Olefson discusses whether mortgage modifications are slowing down the recovery.
Home Prices Rising
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," was a guest on CNBC's Market Alert. In the interview, Ms. Olefson discusses the factors of why home prices rose for the fourth month in a row, but that consumer confidence is coming in weaker than expected in October.
Homeowners Suing Banks
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," recently appeared on Fox News to discuss why some homeowners are suing banks for not modifying their mortgages.
Housing Headwinds Ahead?
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," was a guest on CNBC's "Road to Recovery". In the segment, Olefson discusses whether the government's efforts to help housing have helped the U.S. economy.
The Mortgage Double Standard
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," was a guest on CNBC's "Street Signs". In the segment, Olefson discusses why there is so much rhetoric about "moral hazard" when homeowners walk away from mortgages gone bad.
Fannie & Freddie Get Permanent Lifeline
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," was a guest on CNBC's "The Call of the Wild". In the segment Ms. Olefson discusses why the Treasury says it will provide capital on an as-needed basis to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Shari Olefson Discusses Existing Home Sales on CNBC
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," was a guest on CNBC's "The Call". In the segment Ms. Olefson discusses existing home sales and the shrinking inventory.
Inflation vs Deflation
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," was a guest on CNBC's "Road to Recovery". In the segment Ms. Olefson discusses whether the fed should be concerned with inflation or deflation in the near future.
Shari Olefson discusses the continued foreclosure crisis on Fox 13 News “Your Turn” with Kathy Fountain
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," was recently interviewed by Fox 13 News’ “Your Turn” with Kathy Fountain. Ms Olefson discusses the recent foreclosure rates and the second wave of foreclosures.
Shari Olefson Interviewed by Fox News
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," was recently interviewed by Fox News regarding what if any rights do homeowners have when their homes are taken over by banks.
Record Foreclosures in July
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," was a guest on CNBC's Reality Check which aired on August 13, 2009. In the segment Shari shares her insights on why home loans failed at a record pace in July, despite ongoing federal and state programs to avoid foreclosures.
Shari Olefson discusses the Helping Families Save Their Home Act on Fox 13 News’ “Your Turn” with Kathy Fountain
Shari Olefson, a shareholder in the Firm’s Business Transactions and Corporate Law Practice Group, recently sat down with Fox 13 in Tampa Bay to discuss the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009.
Shari Olefson discusses the Homebuyer Tax Credit
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," was a guest on CNBC's The Call. In the interview, Ms. Olefson discussed whether we should extend the homebuyer tax credit into next year.
Housing: Are We Out of the Woods?
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," was recently a guest on CNBC's Market Alert. The segment covered whether or not we are out of the woods in the housing market.
Shari B. Olefson Speaks on Commercial Real Estate with CNBC
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," was a guest on CNBC's Power Lunch which aired on July 7, 2009. The segment covered the foreclosure crisis and its impact on the commercial real estate market. Ms. Olefson indicated that commercial real estate typically lags residential by 12 to 18 months and that she believes the amount of commercial foreclosures will rise, attributed to negative indicators being seen in the market such as high vacancy rates, high cap rates and declining property values.
Shari Olefson Discusses the New Housing Rescue Plan
Shari Olefson, a shareholder in the Firm’s Business Transactions and Corporate Law Practice Group, discusses the details of the $75 billion Housing Rescue Plan that is expected to help as many as 9 million homeowners.
Do we need a Loan Modification Program?
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," was a guest on CNBC's The Call of the Wild which aired on July 30, 2009. The segment covered whether or not we still need a loan modification program.
Housing Starts Drop
Shari Olefson, shareholder and author of, "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," was a guest on CNBC's Market Alert. Shari Olefson discusses the just-released housing numbers and what that means to homeowners, investors and lenders.
Shari Olefson discusses the Foreclosure Crisis on Fox 13 News’ “Your Turn” with Kathy Fountain.
Shari Olefson, a shareholder in the Firm’s Business Transactions and Corporate Law Practice Group, recently sat down with Fox 13 in Tampa Bay to discuss the Foreclosure Crisis and what people need to do when facing foreclosure. Ms. Olefson also talked about her new book, Foreclosure Nation and how it can help people in this time of crisis.
Shari Olefson sits down with FOX NEWS
Shari B. Olefson, a shareholder in the firm’s Corporate and Business Transactions Practice Group talks about what steps you need to take when facing foreclosure. In addition, Ms. Olefson talks about her new book Foreclosure Nation.
Shari Olefson Talks with News Channel 6 WTVJ
Shari Olefson, a shareholder in the firm's Corporate and Business Transactions Practice Group, discusses how to protect yourself from foreclosure. In addition, Ms. Olefson discusses her new book Foreclosure Nation.
