James W. Shindell
Partner
305-375-6141
jshindell@bilzin.com
Area of Focus:
Real Estate
GET TO KNOW
Jim
Jim describes himself as a “deal junkie" who takes tremendous pleasure in his clients' success. Jim represents clients in the buying, selling, and financing of commercial real estate, as well as leasing. Jim has practiced for more than 20 years and is Chair of Bilzin Sumberg’s Real Estate Group.
Jim has a deep admiration for his clients’ risk-taking and entrepreneurialism. He enjoys being an integral part of the client team and working to help turn the client's vision into reality. Jim has particular experience with development projects that require interplay of governmental requirements, architectural and construction demands, and community considerations.
Jim has a deep admiration for his clients’ risk-taking and entrepreneurialism. He enjoys being an integral part of the client team and working to help turn the client's vision into reality. Jim has particular experience with development projects that require interplay of governmental requirements, architectural and construction demands, and community considerations.
Q & A
What do you think clients value about working with you?
I think they see just how committed our team is to their project. I think they see how hard we work to know their business, needs, and concerns and I think they see how much we care.
How do you view your client relationships?
I have the good fortune of having a relationship-based practice. I have worked with a number of clients for 15 to 20 years, and many have come to see me as an extension of their team and a trusted advisor, not just their lawyer.
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James's PRACTICES
EXPERIENCE
EXPERIENCE
Representation of Florida East Coast Industries in closing a $600 million refinancing on behalf of ten of its affiliates, comprised of three related loans: (1) $400 million mortgage loan from Wells Fargo secured by 36 office, retail and industrial parks; (2) $150 million mortgage loan from Wells Fargo secured by 351 miles of railroad right of way from Miami to Jacksonville and related fee and easement parcels; and (3) $50 million mezzanine loan from an affiliate of Square Mile Capital Management.
EXPERIENCE
Representation of Oleta Partners, LLC, a joint venture comprised of affiliates of the Swerdlow Development Group and the LeFrak Organization, in the successful negotiation of the long-term ground lease of a 185-acre brownfields redevelopment site in the City of North Miami, and assisted with a complicated leasehold financing.
EXPERIENCE
Representation of publicly traded Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) in $475 million purchase of 22 office properties across six Sunbelt states and the simultaneous sale of the membership interests of the owner of 18 of the 22 office properties for $237 million.
EXPERIENCE
Representation of developer in obtaining a $280 million construction loan from Banco Santander for the EPIC Hotel and Residences, a mixed-use project including a 414-room Kimpton hotel, 342 condominium residences, and mega yacht marina on the Miami River.
EXPERIENCE
Representation of Downtown Development Holdings, LLC and Tower Downtown Investor, LLC, companies affiliated with developer Ugo Colombo, in obtaining $236 million construction financing for development of Brickell Flatiron. The financing was a combination of mortgage and mezzanine debt. Brickell Flatiron is a 64-story high-end condominium tower in Miami's urban core which was designed by architect Luis Revuelta with interiors by Massimo Iosa Ghini.
EXPERIENCE
Represented 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 since the housing market crash.
INSIGHTS
Blog
May 26, 2015
The City of Miami continues to emerge as a top global destination for the über-wealthy. According to Knight Frank’s annual Wealth Report (2015), Miami is ranked 6th globally, 2nd in the U.S. and will remain among the world’s top 10 most important cities to Ultra High Net Worth Individuals for the next decade. The wealth report credits the influx of… Continue Reading
Jim serves on the Executive Board of the Center for Real Estate Education and Research at Florida State University.
Blog
January 23, 2015
Renowned economist Hugh F. Kelly (PhD, CRE), Clinical Professor in New York University’s Schack Institute of Real Estate and the 2014 national Chairman of The Counselors of Real Estate, led a discussion at a CREW-Miami luncheon regarding issues affecting the commercial real estate market in 2015 and gave his annual economic predictions.
Some of… Continue Reading
Blog
January 21, 2015
Urban Development: Faster Greener Commutes Key to Sustained City Growth, a report released in October 2014 by Cushman & Wakefield, provided insight into Transit Oriented Development as it explored “the consequences of rapid population growth in 10 major North American cities”—with Miami being one. The study found that the majority of these… Continue Reading
CREDENTIALS
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University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, J.D., 1979University of South Florida, B.S., summa cum laude, 1976
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Habitat for Humanity of Greater MiamiPast President of the Board
Board Member
Past Advisory Board MemberThe Florida BarReal Property, Probate & Trust Law SectionFSU Center for Real Estate Education & ResearchExecutive Board MemberSt. Philips Episcopal ChurchPast Member of Vestry -
Florida
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Band 2, Chambers USA, Real Estate, 2006 - present
The Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate Law, 2005 - present
Florida Super Lawyers, 2006 - present
Florida Trend's Legal Elite, 2007-2010, 2013 - present
South Florida Legal Guide, Top Lawyers, 2006 - present
Daily Business Review, Top Dealmakers of the Year, Real Estate Finance, 2007; Hotel, 2010
Real Estate Florida, Top Real Estate Lawyers, 2008
AV® Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
Related Topics
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