Miami Office

Jose J. Leonardo has more than 38 years of experience representing developers, investors, lenders, buyers, sellers, and business owners in sophisticated real estate, corporate, finance, infrastructure, and energy transactions. He concentrates his practice on complex commercial real estate transactions, real estate development, commercial lending, title insurance, condominium development, joint ventures, project finance, investment syndications, mergers and acquisitions, and related corporate matters.

Throughout his career, Mr. Leonardo has worked on numerous complex commercial real estate projects throughout Florida and across the United States, including land development, multifamily, condominium, mixed-use, office, hospitality, and single-family residential developments. He advises clients through all phases of the transaction and development process, including acquisitions, due diligence, financing, entitlements, rezoning, platting, condominium documentation, title and survey matters, closings, and post-closing matters.

Mr. Leonardo is frequently called upon to assist clients in structuring, negotiating, and closing high-value and complex real estate transactions. His experience includes representing developers and equity investors in acquisitions, development projects, construction transactions, institutional and private financing, mezzanine financing, joint venture arrangements, investor partnerships, and complex syndications for investments in real estate projects. He also advises clients regarding ownership structures for real estate development, investment, and financing transactions.

Mr. Leonardo has substantial experience representing lenders and borrowers in commercial finance transactions, including loans secured by real property, inventory, equipment, receivables, securities, and other assets. He also works with lenders, borrowers, and investors in connection with troubled loans, loan restructurings, and complex workout arrangements.

In addition to his transactional real estate practice, Mr. Leonardo has extensive experience in condominium development matters, including the preparation and recording of declarations of condominium, condominium documents, easements, covenants, and related development instruments. He also provides seller, buyer, title, escrow, and closing services in connection with a broad range of commercial and residential transactions.

Mr. Leonardo has represented domestic and international clients, including foreign individuals and entities, in the acquisition, sale, financing, development, and disposition of real estate and business assets. His broad transactional background allows him to provide practical, business-oriented guidance to clients navigating complex legal, financing, title, development, and closing issues.

For more than a decade, Mr. Leonardo has also been involved in infrastructure and energy transactions in South and Central America. His experience includes the financing and development of large-scale solar energy projects, energy contracts, power purchase agreements, public-private partnership negotiations, regulatory matters, government relations, and project finance. He has also worked with the Government of Honduras on several energy projects, including assisting with the drafting of energy legislation, power purchase agreements, and public-private partnership structures.

Before entering private practice, Mr. Leonardo honorably served two tours of active duty with the United States Air Force.