Originally admitted to practice in Texas in 1984 and Massachusetts in 1986, Jeffrey Drew Butt has more than 25 years of experience representing clients in all aspects of complex transactions. In addition to his role as managing partner of the firm’s Tampa office, Mr. Butt focuses his practice in the areas of real estate, leasing, business law, affordable housing and commercial transactions including the purchase and sale of businesses and assets. He also represents lenders and borrowers in real estate, asset-based and affordable housing financings as well as in workouts, restructurings and foreclosures.

In 2006, Mr. Butt received the Golden Achievement Award from the United Way of Tampa Bay. The recognition, the organization’s most prestigious volunteer honor, was for his 16 years of service as pro bono legal counsel to the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. For his work with the Crisis Center, Mr. Butt was also awarded the Daily Point of Light Award, a national honor given to recognize individuals whose service has greatly benefited their community. Similarly, in August 2007 he was honored by Florida Governor Charlie Crist with the Governor’s Points of Light Award. In 2010 he was selected for inclusion in Florida Super Lawyers, published by Thomson Reuters, for his work in real estate based on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement, a distinction recognizing the top 5 percent of lawyers in the state. He is also listed in The Best Lawyers in America and The Legal 500 US.

Mr. Butt is experienced in the acquisition, sale, financing and development of shopping centers, office buildings, hotels, nursing homes, restaurants, condominiums and apartment complexes. He has performed complex leasing transactions including long-term ground leases, for landlords and tenants.

Mr. Butt is a frequent lecturer on title insurance and related topics. In addition, he is a board-certified real estate lawyer by The Florida Bar’s board of legal specialization and education.

Mr. Butt is a member of the Real Property Sections of the American Bar Association and The Florida Bar. Active in the community, he is the chair ex-officio of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay’s board of directors as well as a participant in Leadership Tampa and the Tampa Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Butt also served for many years on the construction oversight committee of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa.

Representative Experience

• Advising in the acquisition of approximately 25 acres for the development of a corporate office park.
• Advising in the closing of approximately 200 mark-to-market restructurings and related (a)(7) loans for OAHP on properties located throughout the United States.
• Advising in the acquisition of a 200-plus-room hotel in Denver, Colorado, and the negotiation of a license agreement and management agreement.
• Advising in the acquisition of the east Florida division of a national motor club and related loan negotiation.
• Representing lenders in various FHA loan programs.
• Representing a credit union in branch site acquisitions and related development work.
• Representing borrowers and lenders in substantial secured loans.
• Representing a shopping center owner in the negotiations of leases with national chain stores.
• Representing the owners in the acquisition, financing and leasing of shopping centers and Class A downtown office buildings.