11 minute read
Development
The complexities of condominium, retail and corporate development are amplified when other uses – such as retail, offices and shared parking facilities – are on or adjacent to the site. Holland & Knight’s development attorneys provide guidance on agreements governing interrelationships among the different uses, including cost sharing and allocation expenses, in developments that include resort, office, retail, hotel and residential components.
MSC CRUISES
A team of Holland & Knight real estate, tax and international lawyers, working with MSC Cruises’ in-house legal team, negotiated a multiyear terminal management and lease agreement with Miami-Dade County on a fast-track basis for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of a new state-of-the-art mega cruise ship terminal complex.
Switzerland-based MSC Cruises is the largest privately owned cruise line in the world. The terminal complex is designed to be capable of simultaneously berthing two mega vessels with a capacity of up to 7,000 passengers each. The project is the largest cruise terminal transaction to date at the Dante B. Fascell Port of Miami (named after a former Holland & Knight partner). This public-private collaboration will result in a significant increase in capacity. The facility is expected to open by October 2022.
Holland & Knight represented Gomez Development in connection with the construction and development of a seven-story, 133-unit apartment complex known as 275 Fontaine Parc at 275 Fontainebleau Blvd. in Miami.
OUR TEAM SOUTH FLORIDA REAL ESTATE GROUP
POSITION YOURSELF TO THRIVE WITH OUR GROUP’S UNPARALLELED EXPERIENCE
Holland & Knight’s Real Estate Practice is active throughout the South Florida market across a network of three offices – Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Miami. Because Florida is one of the country’s top states for growth across a range of industry sectors, our South Florida practice serves as an integral part of Holland & Knight’s nationwide recognition.
For more than 100 years, we have provided legal counsel to real estate clients in practically every area of their business, including:
Acquisition/ Development/Sales
Real Estate Finance/Leasing Commercial
Projects Office/Retail/
Residential
Mixed-Use/ Public Housing
HOLLAND & KNIGHT’S REAL ESTATE PRACTICE IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF:
Real estate finance is a core strength of our Real Estate Practice, as demonstrated by our significant track record within the national real estate finance space.
REAL ESTATE FINANCE
RETAIL
Holland & Knight has one of the strongest retail practices nationwide. As other retail law firms abandon their focus on the retail sector, we are even more committed to it, and continue to organize our retail practice around the needs of clients to fit their business services and structure.
HOSPITALITY
We have a focus on the hotel and hospitality industry, with particular emphasis on hotel and mixed-use communities. We advise hotel owners and developers of mixed-use resort and urban communities domestically and in the emerging markets of Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Holland & Knight was one of the first law firms with attorneys certified as LEED-accredited (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). We have attorneys who are certified to advise clients on green building, environmentally sustainable construction and performance issues.
LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS Since the inception of low-income housing tax credits in 1975, Holland & Knight has represented syndicators, developers, broker-dealers and equity investors in structuring, negotiating and documenting tax-advantaged equity investments in all types of real estate throughout the U.S. As a result, we have developed extensive knowledge about low-income housing tax credits, and the tax and business problems that can arise in structuring tax-advantaged transactions.
SOUTH FLORIDA REAL ESTATE GROUP QUICK FACTS
Deep Hospitality Bench
of attorneys throughout South Florida, the gateway to Latin America
50
lawyers in the South Florida Real Estate group – the largest concentration of real estate attorneys across the firm
Leadership Positions
in Urban Land Institute, the largest and most prestigious land use organization in the country
OUR TRANSACTIONAL EXPERIENCE AND PROWESS ALLOW US TO BE:
HIGHLY RESPONSIVE to market changes, creatively adapting as circumstances demand
COMPREHENSIVE via working relationships with local regulatory and policy authorities throughout the country, including municipalities and the executive and legislative branches
INNOVATIVE by offering cutting-edge counsel on evolving issues affecting every aspect of the real estate industry
CONNECTED to the Florida, Caribbean and Latin American markets, employing our intimate knowledge of pivotal opportunities, trending communities and challenges within these locales and beyond
LEADING LAWYERS
ON YOUR SIDE 2020 Chambers USA Guide 25 real estate attorneys from six different markets recognized Firm received No. 1 rankings in Real Estate (North and Central Florida) and Zoning/Land Use (South Florida)
2020 U.S. News – Best Lawyers Guide Holland & Knight received national first-tier rankings in Real Estate Law and Land Use and Zoning Law in the 2015-2020 guides Named Law Firm of the Year in Real Estate Law in 2017
2020 The Best Lawyers in America Guide 66 real estate lawyers recognized Noted in the areas of Leisure and Hospitality Law, Real Estate Law, Environmental Law, and Land Use and Zoning Law
2019 The Legal 500 United States Guide Firm recognized as top-tier nationwide for Land Use/Zoning and recommended for Real Estate Partners Joseph Goldstein and Stephen Shapiro were highlighted as “Leading Lawyers” in the guide
Law360 Firm named 2018 Practice Group of the Year for Hospitality, Resort and Timeshare www.hklaw.com | 24
OUR TEAM INCLUSION IN ACTION
We seek to further develop an organization and a culture where all talented individuals –
including those traditionally underrepre
sented in the legal profession – can have, and can see, a path to long-term success.
We are committed to these efforts because diverse and inclusive teams reflect the world we serve and produce better results for our clients. Most importantly, a diverse and inclusive organization is simply better.
RECOGNITION DEMONSTRATED SUCCESS
Since 2017, 50 percent of our newly promoted partners are diverse, based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender or veteran status.
Our Directors Committee, the firm’s highest policymaking body, is 41 percent diverse, based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender or veteran status.
Eight of our U.S. offices are led by diverse Executive Partners.
Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality The firm received its sixth “perfect score” on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index in 2020, which rates U.S. workplaces LGBTQ+ inclusion
2020 Excellence in Service Award Recognized by the NALP/Street Law Legal Diversity Pipeline Program for the firm’s exceptional commitment to the Street Law Program
2019 Bank of America Diversity and Inclusion Award Recognized for focused attention on the training, development and promotion of diverse attorneys, and staffing Bank of America matters with diverse legal teams
2019 Chambers USA Diversity and Inclusion Awards “Most Pioneering Firm for Female Lawyers” and shortlisted for “Outstanding Firm for Furthering Diversity and Inclusion”
Mansfield Rule TM Certification Recognized as one of only 51 firms to earn the Mansfield Certified Plus 2019 designation, where women, minority and LGBTQ lawyers represent at least 30 percent of firm leadership roles and committees
The American Lawyer Magazine High rankings in ALM’s 2019 Diversity Scorecard including: - Top 5: Hispanic Partners - Top 20: African American Partners - Top 20: Total Minority Attorneys
HNBA 2019 Corporate Partner of the Year Recognized by the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) for our longstanding support of the organization and our unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion
2019 Law360 Diversity Snapshot Top 5: Best Law Firms for Minority Partners
ABA’s Military Pro Bono Project The only law firm to receive the Outstanding Service Award every year since its inception in 2012
Local Of ce Diversity Committees:
Devise and implement locally tailored programming
Inclusive Bene ts:
Bene ts for domestic partners regardless of gender; transgender and reassignment bene ts according to WPATH guidelines
Diversity Council:
Leads diversity strategy and initiatives, and includes Managing Partner and Directors Committee Chair
Af nity Groups:
Asian/Paci c Islander, Black, Hispanic, LGBT, Native American, Veterans, Women’s Initiative
Af nity Mentoring:
Attorneys may request an af nity mentor for additional guidance and coaching
INCLUSION IN ACTION
Rising Stars Program:
Dynamic and intensive leadership program for a select group of talented women lawyers
Recruiting:
Engagement and participation with diversity programs at law schools, including job fairs, seminars and mock interview programs
Diversity Pipeline:
Investment in programs designed to encourage historically underrepresented students to consider the legal profession
Community Engagement:
Engagement with af nity bar organizations and diversity conferences and events
Client Partnerships:
Collaboration with clients to improve diversity and inclusion in the legal profession
LCLD:
Participation in the 1L LCLD Scholars and LCLD Fellows Programs; Managing Partner serves as an LCLD member
Holland & Knight Founder Chesterfield Smith (1917-2003) instilled in our lawyers a sense of community purpose and recognition that we have a duty to provide needy people and groups with free legal services. Today, that charge remains woven into the fabric of our firm. Holland & Knight annually contributes an amount of time equal to at least 3 percent of the firm’s billable hours to pro bono legal service. The variety of cases we take on is as broad as the needs of the communities in which we practice.
In addition, members of the firm serve in leadership roles in governmental bodies, nonprofit organizations, civic initiatives, higher education institutions and economic development groups. As active members of our bar associations, we have many opportunities to leverage the resources of our firm with other law firms in community service. From cultural events to public education programs, our attorneys share their talents and resources to improve the quality of life in communities where we work and live. Holland & Knight also coordinates large-scale national and local service days and regular service engagements with the firm’s community partners.
OUR PUBLIC AND CHARITABLE SERVICE DEPARTMENT
Holland & Knight’s Public and Charitable Service Department was created in 2009 to integrate the firm’s global pro bono, community service and charitable giving initiatives to make deeper investments in communities in need. Our firm is proud to provide legal and organizational assistance to these positive forces for social change.
Veterans and the Military
Active-duty military service personnel often face complicated legal issues while they serve our country. We’ve joined the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Military Pro Bono Project to help these individuals and their families with a variety of legal needs. As a result of this work, the ABA honored Holland & Knight with its 2019 ABA Military Pro Bono Project Outstanding Services award. Holland & Knight is the only law firm or company to receive the Military Pro Bono Project’s annual Outstanding Service Award each year since the award’s inception in 2012. We dedicate significant resources to initiatives that benefit military veterans, including supporting the Wounded Warrior Project, providing legal services for the United Way’s Mission United Initiative to assist veterans with civilian re-acclimation, and partnering with the ABA’s Section of Taxation and the Internal Revenue Service to coordinate a Military Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.
Social Entrepreneurship
The nonprofit organization MyGoodDeed was founded in 2002 to carry forward the remarkable spirit of service and unity that arose on and after September 11, 2001. The organization was co-founded by Jay Winuk, the brother of Glenn Winuk, a Holland & Knight partner and volunteer firefighter and EMT, who lost his life in the line of duty as a rescuer at the World Trade Center on 9/11. MyGoodDeed has achieved great success leveraging grassroots technology, social media, public relations and networking strategies to expand participation in the
annual 9/11 Day Observance. This is now a federally designated National Day of Service and Remembrance, in large part due to the organization’s efforts. As MyGoodDeed has grown by leaps and bounds and spread its message worldwide, Holland & Knight has helped build the organization’s infrastructure to maximize the impact and sustainability of its call to service. Serving as general counsel, we provide pro bono legal services that range from corporate governance guidance to transactional and intellectual property strategy.
Civil Rights
Best Buddies International is the world’s largest program dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Holland & Knight has supported the organization for more than 20 years by serving as outside general counsel, on its board of directors and for local advisory boards; providing financial support for Best Buddies’ awareness events that promote disability rights to a wider audience; and employing individuals through the Best Buddies Jobs program. We applaud Best Buddies’ commitment to advocate for the rights of people with IDD as demonstrated by the Buddy Ambassador pictured during a congressional visit.
Human Rights
When Florida mandated Holocaust education in the state’s public schools in the mid-1990s, Holland & Knight assisted in preparing the first curriculum. Since then, we have focused on creating awareness about the Holocaust and genocide, and promoting the lessons learned from extraordinary stories of human courage and compassion. Our attorneys teamed up with Bet Tzedek to help hundreds of Holocaust survivors recover thousands of dollars in reparations from the German government and gain access to pro bono legal services. The firm works with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Lawyers Committee, which provides professional development initiatives to study the legal ramifications of the Holocaust. We also support other organizations that are active in this area of focus, such as Facing History and Ourselves and the Anti-Defamation League.
Children and Education
Through the Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation’s Opening Doors for Children program, the firm’s attorneys and staff help students who are at risk of never realizing their full potential. We partner with schools and nonprofits in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods to provide tutoring, serve as mentors and enhance their curricula. For example, at Charles R. Darwin Elementary School in Chicago, students who are struggling with reading get help from our volunteers during “power lunches” held in the classrooms. Through a Reading Is Fundamental program, they take home a minimum of three books per year to spark their interest in reading. Many of these students also learn about the history of the United States and are introduced to the legal system through a partnership with the Constitutional Rights Foundation.
