Lauren O. Cankaya
Associate
305-350-2405
lcankaya@bilzin.com
Area of Focus:
Real Estate, Public-Private Partnerships
Lauren O. Cankaya
Associate
305-350-2405
GET TO KNOW
LAUREN
Lauren O. Cankaya counsels clients on both affordable housing matters and public-private partnerships (P3s). Her representation on P3s sees her guiding clients through all levels of the procurement process for public-private partnerships. Lauren also has experience in land use and zoning matters, including developments of regional impact and the preparation of development applications to local government agencies.
Q & A
How has your professional experience outside of law informed your current practice?
Prior to law, I worked in public relations, including handling the public relations accounts of South Florida developers. If there is one thing you learn from a career in public relations, it is that clear and persistent communication is indispensable to success. You learn the importance of ensuring that the client understands market trends and industry issues that they can capitalize on, and on the effectiveness of communicating on their behalf to achieve results. This best practice of keeping developers up-to-date on important developments and key trends shaping their business environment continues to be a critical aspect of my real estate counsel to clients.
Is there something unique about your practice?
I currently practice as a transactional real estate attorney, but this builds upon my previous practice in land use and zoning. Consequently, I’ve developed a holistic approach to client matters built on a comprehensive understanding of real estate issues that can affect a given development. I count this 360 degree view as an important part of my practice because most of the matters I work on are complex ones that require an understanding of multiple real estate-related practice areas.
EXPERIENCE
Representation of the owners of several properties in the Overtown area of Miami, Florida, as part of a joint venture, to develop a $1 billion mixed-use project in several phases. Counsel included the negotiation of a joint venture agreement and the closing of the conveyance of certain parcels into ...
Representation a Florida-based real estate developer in connection with the preparation of an unsolicited proposal and negotiation of project documents for the redevelopment of an underutilized surface parking lot at Miami-Dade County’s South Dade Government Center. The $150 million project includes...
Representation of one of the nation's largest homebuilders, as buyer, in the $70 million acquisition of a large class-A office building in Miami, Florida that serves as the national headquarters for the client. The complex transaction coincided with significant active construction in the building an...
Advised Christ Episcopal Church on zoning regulations that would affect redevelopment of its properties; represented client with the City of Miami to obtain land use and zoning changes to enable redevelopment of its properties for the purposes of developing an affordable housing project.
Counsel to Miami Dade College in connection with a land exchange agreement with Miami-Dade County for an expansion of the College’s medical campus.
INSIGHTS
Florida’s Live Local Act offers relief from sales tax for building materials used in certain newly constructed residential units within affordable housing developments. Learn more about how builders and owners may benefit from this provision of the Live Local Act.
Florida’s Live Local Act dramatically expands the types of affordable housing units that qualify for tax exemptions. Learn more about Live Local Act’s effects for different types of developments as they relate to tax exemptions for affordable housing.
Florida’s recently enacted Live Local Act represents a major initiative aiming to provide affordable housing units across the state, with zoning, tax, and incentive provisions that will have major impacts on the real estate industry.
CREDENTIALS
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Florida International University, J.D., cum laude, 2018University of North Carolina, B.A., 2012
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Florida
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PRACTICES