Home People Krista D. DeCastro

Krista D. DeCastro

Of Counsel
305-350-7384
Area of Focus: Public-Private Partnerships
Krista D. DeCastro
Of Counsel
305-350-7384
  • OVERVIEW
  • EXPERIENCE
  • INSIGHTS
  • CREDENTIALS
  • PRACTICES
GET TO KNOW KRISTA

Krista DeCastro’s practice sits at the dynamic intersection of transactional real estate, finance, and public-private partnerships. She regularly negotiates development agreements for public-private developments and advises clients on the complex ground leases that are at the heart of many P3 projects. More generally, her broad experience covers the acquisition, disposition, and development of real property, including office, retail, industrial, hotel, marina, condominium, residential, and mixed-use properties. She has extensive experience representing borrowers and lenders on structuring and negotiating loan originations and modifications, construction loans, and other secured financings. Krista also has significant experience representing landlords and tenants in office, retail, and industrial leases.

Q & A
What do you find most interesting about working on public-private partnerships in the real estate sector?
What makes public-private partnerships so interesting and challenging at the same time is the consideration of public value central to P3s. In addition to being profitable for our clients, P3 arrangements need to fill a need that serves a broader public goal, thereby compelling you to navigate multifaceted policy issues and negotiate diverse stakeholders. This is especially true for South Florida real estate where competing interests are many. This complexity requires me to bring a highly strategic and nuanced approach to P3 matters that’s critical to the success of client projects.
Where do you think Bilzin Sumberg excels in meeting client needs?
Bilzin Sumberg strongly encourages cross-collaboration and innovative thinking among its attorneys and practice groups, which I consider to be one of its chief strengths. This is especially important when practicing law in an area that is inherently multidisciplinary like public-private partnerships. Bilzin Sumberg’s culture of cross-collaboration means that I can regularly draw on the knowledge of specialists in real estate, land use, government contracting, and finance, among others, to craft innovative solutions for client needs.
EXPERIENCE
Experience
$1 Billion Purchase, Renovation, and Refinance of 1 Hotel & Homes South Beach
Representation of an entity comprised of Starwood Capital, the LeFrak Organization, and Invesco Ltd. in the purchase and substantial $340 million renovation of one of South Beach's largest oceanfront luxury resort properties, the 1 Hotel & Homes South Beach. Our team handled contract negotiation...
Experience
Development of Miami Beach Convention Center Hotel
Representation of a joint venture between Terra Group and Turnberry Associates in connection with the development of a $600 Million, 800-room convention center headquarters hotel on a site owned by the City of Miami Beach adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center. Negotiated a grant agreement wi...
Experience
$500 Million Mixed-Use P3 Development on County-Owned Land
Representation of a developer in negotiating the assignment of an existing lease agreement for a recreational automobile club on a 165-acre property owned by Miami-Dade County. Also negotiated a lease amendment for the development of a mixed use project on the property consisting of recreation and s...
Experience
$350 Million Financing for Private Equity Fund
Representation of a private equity fund in its acquisition of a $350 million loan secured by a luxury resort in Anguilla, British West Indies.
Experience
Large Transit-Oriented P3 Development in Miami-Dade County
Representation of a local non-profit organization and its development partner in connection with the $200 million transit-oriented redevelopment of a public lot adjacent to a major mass transit node, which will include more than 1,000 new residential units, including workforce housing, military hous...
Experience
$160 Million Loan for High-Rise Condominium Mansions of Acqualina
Representation of The Trump Group in a $160 million construction loan for a high-rise residential project in Sunny Isles, Florida, reported in the Wall Street Journal to be the first major construction loan in excess of $100 million that banks had issued to a residential project outside New York sin...
INSIGHTS
Blog January 23, 2024
Micro-Transit: A New Arena for Public-Private Partnerships in the Transportation...
The world of transportation has seen significant advancements in recent years, and one such innovation is the micro-transit system. This article will provide a comprehensive overview of what a micro-transit system is, how it differs from traditional mass transit, and the benefits it brings to commun...
Blog December 4, 2023
A Brief Introduction to Tax Increment Financing
Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is a financing tool used by local governments to fund economic development projects.It allows local governments to capture a portion of the tax revenue generated by a specific area and use it to fund improvements within that area.
Blog August 2, 2023
Scrutinized Companies and Other Restrictions in Florida’s Public Procurement Spa...
While the ambiguities in SB 264 and uncertainties as to its application may have far-reaching implications on private real estate investment in Florida, companies, investors and other stake-holders doing business in Florida in the government procurement space must routinely navigate restrictions sim...
CREDENTIALS
  • Northwestern University, J.D., 2005
    Emory University, B.B.A., 2001
  • Key Biscayne Bar Association
    Member
    Key Biscayne Chamber of Commerce
    Member
    Young Professionals in Infrastructure
    Member, 2023
  • Florida
PRACTICES
Public-Private Partnerships