Jeffrey Margolis, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Real Estate

Fort Lauderdale
(954) 712-5176
jmargolis@bergersingerman.com

Jeff is a partner in Berger Singerman’s Fort Lauderdale office and Co-Manager of the Business, Finance & Tax Team.

Jeff represents real estate owners, builders and developers, institutional and entrepreneurial investors, managers, and other stakeholders, and has extensive experience with all aspects of residential and commercial real estate transactions. With a thorough understanding of the real estate market and working knowledge of the procedures and techniques which are critical to understanding, analyzing, structuring and negotiating commercial real estate transactions and real estate development, Jeff counsels clients on a broad range of transactional real estate matters including the acquisition, sale, financing, operation, structuring and development of planned residential and mixed-use projects, condominiums, apartment complexes, hotels and hospitality assets, offices, shopping centers and retail establishments, and manufacturing facilities.

Jeff has extensive experience in the acquisition, development, creation and operation of large scale real estate projects. Jeff regularly advises clients in the creation, structuring and operation of condominiums, master planned developments, mixed use projects, and resort and club communities including regulatory matters, planning, development, structuring, restructuring, documentation, registration, marketing, sales, operation and management. Jeff’s experience provides exceptional background for counseling clients on evolving flexible, practical and feasible legal structures for large scale real estate projects, condominiums and planned residential and mixed-use projects, preparation of governing documents, filing documentation with appropriate governmental agencies, and compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations.

Jeffrey is currently General Counsel for the Builders Association of South Florida.

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Overview

Jeff is a partner in Berger Singerman’s Fort Lauderdale office and Co-Manager of the Business, Finance & Tax Team.

Jeffrey is currently General Counsel for the Builders Association of South Florida.

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Representative Matters

Representation of leading national and regional real estate developers of condominiums, planned developments and mixed-use projects including active adult communities under the Fair Housing Act, marinas and waterfront communities, golf course communities and country clubs in various aspects of real estate development including regulatory matters, development, structuring and documentation.
Representation of developers of large-scale residential and mixed use projects such as Minto Communities, Stiles Corporation, Lowell Homes, the Rockefeller Group, Label & Co. Developments, and Century Homebuilders in matters concerning the planning, acquisition, development, design, structure, creation, construction and operation of small- and large-scale residential and mixed-use condominiums and planned developments, including drafting and customizing condominium and homeowners association documents.
Representation of developers on matters related to the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act, including preparing property reports in accordance with the Act, as well as registrations with state governmental agencies.
Representation of real estate developers and investors in both the acquisition and sale of real property ranging from small local transactions to complex multi-state transactions, including due diligence, title and survey review, addressing complex title issues, and drafting and negotiating contracts and other documentation for projects including Villas on Antique Row, Villas By The Sea Condominium, Miramar Town Center, Provence, Isles at Doral, Artesia, LakePark at TownPark, Hideaway Cove Condominium, Century Gardens, Century Gardens Village, and Centra.
Representation of purchasers as well as sellers in bulk sales and acquisitions of distressed condominium projects, including handling successor-developer filings and related issues.
Representation of manufacturer in the acquisition of manufacturing and plant facilities, including working through environmental issues with state and local authorities.
Representation of property owners and property-owner associations in negotiations of telecommunication agreements and antenna leases.
Representation of lenders in commercial foreclosure and lending matters, including representation of lender in the foreclosure of a Florida hotel.
Representation of institutional investors and equity funds in transactions and acquisitions cumulatively exceeding $1 billion.
Representation of institutional investor in the acquisition, closing, development and sale of developed lots in Palm Beach County, Florida including due diligence to determine the necessary steps to fully entitle the property and negotiation of a management agreement with a third-party manager to handle the day-to-day management, operation and development of the property.
Represented joint venture in the development, structuring and documentation for mixed-use, town center development in Miramar Florida which includes residential, office, retail and governmental uses as well as parking garages structured and documented as condominiums.
Represented a national homebuilder in the formation of community development districts (CDD’s) including negotiating structure and terms of the districts with local and state governmental authorities, preparing petitions, and handling the public hearing process.
Representation of private equity fund in the acquisition and closing of undeveloped but partially entitled land including the transfer of development agreements, low income housing credits, and impact fee credits.
Representation of institutional investors with respect to joint-venture acquisitions of a shopping centers throughout the State of Florida in excess of $500 million.
Representation of lender in the bulk sale of more than 50 condominium units and the bulk sale of promissory notes for the remaining inventory of units as well as assisting the developer in turning over control of the condominium association to unit owners.
Representation of international developer relating to waterfront development in Costa Rica consisting of townhomes, villas, single-family homes, and condominiums with respect to compliance with U.S. laws for marketing and selling foreign properties within the U.S. including the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act, individual state registration laws, and broker licensing and registration matters.
State counsel for residential real estate developer with respect to sales documentation for condominiums and planned developments throughout the State of Florida including preparation of all sales documentation for condominiums and planned development.
Represented hospitality holding company in negotiating the acquisition of 250 room luxury boutique hotel branded with a national flag the including which included negotiating a first and second mortgage financing and a new franchise agreement.
Represented Hunter Harp Holdings in negotiating the sale of Hotel Duval in Tallahassee, a 117-room, Marriott-branded luxury boutique hotel for $23 million to a private national hotel operator including negotiating the purchase and sale agreement, negotiating two separate franchise terminations with Marriott hotels and Shula’s restaurant, and leading the negotiations with the franchisors for new agreements with the new owner. This fast-track transaction was completed in a timely fashion to accommodate the football season revenue the hotel generates due to Florida State University’s season.
Represented developer in acquisition of 13 acre parcel of land within a 618 acre development of regional impact including negotiation of purchase agreement conditioned upon the seller acquiring the property; land use, zoning, and entitlement due diligence; survey and title review and resolution of matters relating to access to the property; post-closing development obligations as well as post-closing infrastructure development by governmental improvement district and utility companies; homeowners association documents; drainage easements; assignment of agricultural lease; assignment of developer rights; amendment to DRI development documents to allow development of 375 unit apartment complex; and post-closing agreements obligating the seller to complete or cause completion of infrastructure improvements.

Community Activities / Associations

Board of Directors and General Counsel, Builders Association of South Florida (BASF)
Member, The Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
- Condominium and Planned Development Committee
Appointed Member, Fidelity Commercial Real Estate Council
Appointed Member, Florida Home Builders Association, Political Action Committee
Pro bono representation of Holocaust survivors seeking reparations and compensation from the German government under the German Ghetto Work Payment Program for work performed in ghettos in German occupied areas, representation undocumented juvenile immigrants in removal proceedings in immigration court seeking to obtain legal status in the United States, representations of veterans seeking combat related special compensation (CRSC) through the National Veterans Legal Services Program, and representation of Haitians seeking to complete temporary protected status applications in the wake of the Haitian earthquake disaster through the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center
Member, University of Miami Inter-American Law Review Alumni Advisory Board