The University of Miami School of Law’s Robert Traurig-Greenberg Traurig LL.M. in Real Property Development program launched a new course, “The Development Process from the Developer’s Perspective: Legal and Business Considerations” beginning with the Spring 2022 semester.
The course explores the real estate development process through the perspective of multiple developers, most of whom have law degrees but have chosen careers as developers. Using case studies from real estate projects led by the developers, the course examines the multiple legal and business considerations that come into play throughout the stages of development.
“In a nutshell, we wanted to focus the course on real estate projects brought to market by developers who have a legal background,” said Raquel Matas, director of the program.
Address All Angles of Real Estate Development
Students gain an understanding of how developers approach issues, how legal and business skills come into play when problem-solving, and how risk is evaluated from different angles. The course also delves into how developers monetize and cash out on deals, and how affordable housing development can be attained by applying the same business and legal principles utilized for for-profit development.
The LL.M. program — widely regarded as the nation's best and ranked by LL.M. Guide in 2021 as a Top 10 Real Estate Law Program worldwide — is designed for the law graduate or attorney who wants to acquire or expand expertise in planning, structuring, and financing real estate projects, either as a practitioner, owner, or developer. Given the increased complexity of real estate development, pursuing a specialized post-graduate degree is one of the most effective ways to acquire the necessary breadth and depth of experience in this field.
Guest Lecturers Provide Legal Lens to Development
In the course, five of the eight lecturers are developers with law degrees, and two will be presenting with either the general counsel of the company or the lawyer who was very involved in the project. One, also a lawyer who went into the brokerage business, lectures on how to monetize a real estate project. Many are also on Miami Law’s real estate advisory board.
Board member Kimberly Hill Hoover, CEO RED Multifamily on The Adele, located at 1108 16th Street, NW Washington, D.C.
Board member Jeff Berkowitz, J.D. ’74, chairman and founder of Berkowitz Development Group, on the Kendall Village Center.
Board member Jerome Hollo, J.D. ’93, A.B. ’90, vice president and general counsel of Florida East Coast Realty on Panorama Tower Towers of Quayside.
Board member Jaret N. Turkell, LL.M. ’09, managing director of Berkadia (with associate Omar Morales) on “How to Monetize a Real Estate Development Project.”
Board member Michael Kashtan, J.D. ’93, general counsel for Fort Partners (with development director Bill Thompson) on the Surf Club Residences North at 9133 and 9149 Collins Avenue, Surfside, Florida.
Robert Finvarb, CEO of Robert Finvarb Companies on the AC Hotel by Marriott Miami in Brickell.
Albert Milo, principal and senior vice president of the Related Urban Development Group (with Terry Lovell, Esq.) on the Residences at SoMi Parc.
Michael Wohl, chairman of the Coral Rock Development Group, on the Brickell View Terrace project.
“The idea is to underscore how legal skills come in very handy in real estate development,” said Matas. “So even if the student’s end goal is not to practice but to go into actual development, legal training is key.”
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