John focuses his practice on the corporate, commercial, real estate, construction and
environmental areas. In the corporate area, John represents clients in matters ranging from
the creation of business organizations to recapitalizations, including corporate governance
issues and board and shareholder representation in corporate divorces. He also represents
clients in commercial real estate acquisitions, dispositions, leasing and financing matters,
including Industrial Development Authority bond financings. John’s construction practice is
centered on the representation of owners and developers in construction projects nationwide
and includes design and construction contract drafting and negotiation as well as project
administration and claims management.

In the environmental area, John has represented industrial, commercial, financial, and
agricultural clients in a wide range of matters including petroleum, pesticide, and hazardous
waste cleanups, asbestos management and abatement, corporate compliance and
transaction-related issues.

John practiced with Steel Hector & Davis LLP for 11 years prior to forming DGR&W. Prior to
attending law school, John worked as a commercial banker at Southeast Bank, N.A. in Miami.

Representative Experience

• Represented seller of 101,000+ square foot warehouse in $19,000,000 transaction.
• Represented seller of 54,000 square foot warehouse in $9,500,000 transaction.
• Represented buyer of 300,000+ square foot warehouse in $44,000,000 transaction and
  related financing.
• Represented grocery store tenant in pre-construction lease transaction in mixed-use
  project.
• Represented buyer in its acquisition of a 6.8-acre, 2-parcel equestrian facility in
  Wellington, Florida. Worked with buyer’s outside general counsel on related financing
  and corporate matters.
• Represented purchaser in acquisition of 101,000+/- square foot distribution facility and
  related $10,500,000 taxable bond issue by Miami-Dade County Industrial Development
  Authority.
• Represented seller of assets in seafood distributor in transaction with private equity firm.
• Represented tenant in commercial lease for 175,000+/- square foot warehouse.
• Represented educational institution in $19,250,000 tax-free bond issue by Miami-Dade
  County Industrial Development Authority to refinance existing indebtedness.
• Represented bank mortgagee before local and state governments in cleanup of
  contaminated real property collateral.
• Represented landowner that contributed real property to venture with developer and
  investor for construction and operation of 249-unit multifamily rental project.
• Represented developer in $10,240,000 short-sale of 63-unit residential condominium
  project.
• Represented purchaser in acquisition of 61,000+/- square foot distribution facility and
  related $5,375,000 taxable bond issue by Miami-Dade County Industrial Development
  Authority.
• Represented developer in $7,822,000 short-sale of 47 units within a multi-family
  residential community.
• Represented tenant in negotiation of commercial office lease for 25,000 square feet in
  Class-A office building.
• Represented grocer in negotiation of sublease for 40,000 square foot retail space with
  publicly traded tenant.
• Represented landlord in negotiation of lease for downtown executive office and banking
  lobby space with publicly-traded bank.
• Represented owner of manufacturing facility in renovation and expansion of the facility
  and related $6,000,000 tax-free bond issue by Miami-Dade Industrial Development
  Authority.
• Represented receiver for closely-held real estate holding company in management,
  leasing, and disposition of numerous shopping centers in eastern United States.
• Represented owner of office building in leasing matters.

Previous Experience

• Steel Hector & Davis LLP
  • Partner (1993 – 1998)
  • Associate (1987 – 1992)
• Southeast Bank, N.A.; Assistant Vice President, 1980-1984

Awards & Recognitions

• Listed, The Best Lawyers in America®, Corporate and Real Estate Law, 2014-2022
• Named, “Top Lawyer,” Corporate and Business, Real Estate, South Florida Legal Guide,
  2013, 2014 and 2017
• Listed, “Florida Super Lawyer,” Real Estate, Closely Held Business, Business/Corporate
  2007-2023, every edition
• Listed among “South Florida’s Top-Rated Lawyers,” Business & Commercial, September
  2012
• Listed as a Florida Legal Elite, Florida Trend magazine, Real Estate, 2004, 2006, 2008,
  2013
• Ranked AV® PreeminentTM 5.0 out of 5*

*AV® PreeminentTM and BV® DistinguishedTM are certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc.,
used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.