Alexandre Mestdagh

ALEXANDRE M. MESTDAGH is the founding member of the law firm of Mestdagh, Wall & Hamilton, P.A. He has been practicing law in Central Florida for more than 18 years. With his practice focused in the area of transactional real estate, real estate finance, and business law, Alex represents international and Florida-based clients in connection with the acquisition, financing, development and disposition of real-property projects. Such projects include the sale and purchase of office buildings, shopping centers, vacant land, mixed-use projects, and development of planned communities. His experience extends to representing clients in due diligence and matters of title in connection with large-scale developments. With his background in real estate finance, Alex also counsels borrowers and lenders with acquisition loans and refinances. In addition, he represents both landlords and tenants on leases covering fast-casual restaurants, shopping centers, industrial space and office buildings. Born in Brussels, Belgium and fluent in French, Alex advises French-speaking clients in the acquisition and disposition of real estate and businesses.

Experience

• Represents developer in sale of 135 acres of raw land in Orange County to national home builder
• Represents developer in sale of hundreds of finished lots in Development of Regional Impact (DRI) in Polk County, Florida to various national and regional home builders
• Represents buyer in acquisition of portfolio of six (6) vacant lots in Winter Park, Florida
• Represents developer in renewing $20M loan secured by Phase II of DRI in Polk County, Florida
• Represents seller in sale of 38,000 SF office building in Maitland, Florida
• Represents buyer in purchase of $34M portfolio of properties constituting apartments, vacant land and retail in Winter Park, Florida
• Represents owner in renewing $3M loan secured by retail center in Orange County, Florida
• Represents seller in sale of $1.2M hotel and seller-financing in Osceola County, Florida
• Represents lender in renewing and closing $900,000 loan secured by office building in Orange County, Florida
• Represents tenant in connection with lease for corporate headquarter relocation to a Class A office building (35,000 SF / 20 year lease) in Orange County, Florida

Education

• UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, Frederic G. Levin College of Law
  Juris Doctorate
  Gainesville, FL – May 2004
• UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, Warrington College of Business
  Master of Science in Business Administration – Real Estate
  Gainesville, FL – May 2004
• GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, Elliott School of International Affairs
  Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs, Cum Laude
  Washington, D.C. – May 1999

Court Admissions / Professional Memberships / Activities

Fluent in French • Member of the Florida and Washington, D.C. Bars • Member of Orange County Bar Association • Florida Circuit Court Certified Mediator • Licensed Title Insurance Agent • Appointed Closing Agent for First American Title Insurance Company, Old Republic/Attorneys’ Title Insurance Company, Westcor and Fidelity National Title Insurance Company • Completed 75% of Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation • Former Board Member of Hannibal Square Community Land Trust, Winter Park, Florida • Board Member of Central Florida Real Estate Attorney’s Council (CFREC) • Member of French American Business Council of Orlando (FABCO)

Steve Wall

Steve Wall, is an experienced transactional and trial attorney dedicated to representing and advising clients in construction law, lien and mortgage foreclosure, contract negotiation, land development, landlord-tenant and timeshare disputes, and general litigation.

Mr. Wall graduated from The University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Science in English Literature, and obtained his law degree from the University of Minnesota.

Mr. Wall started his law career at an Orlando insurance defense firm. After the hurricanes of 2004, Mr. Wall and a partner started their own firm catering to the needs of construction industry clients. There, Mr. Wall’s practice included all aspects of construction law, construction defect litigation, lien foreclosure, contract negotiation, public sector contracting, insurance coverage analysis, homeowner and condominium claims, bankruptcy creditor protection, and debt collection. As part of his practice, Mr. Wall has utilized and mastered various technologies, including cutting-edge presentation software programs and paperless-office utilities, to better serve his clients.

Education

• University of Minnesota Law School, Juris Doctorate (J.D.), 2000
• University of Wisconsin-Madison, Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in English, 1997

Court Memberships & Admissions

• Florida
• Wisconsin
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
• U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida

Professional Associations & Related Experience

• The Florida Bar Association, Trial Lawyers / Real Property Sections; Construction Law Committee
• State Bar of Wisconsin, Construction & Public Contract Law Section
• City of Maitland Code Enforcement Board Member, 2005-2006

Christopher Hamilton

Christopher M. Hamilton is a partner in the firm’s Winter Park office with over a decade of real estate and business law experience. Chris protects and advances the interest of his clients, who are primarily banks, investors, developers, family businesses, and land owners, in their business affairs. He is a seasoned real estate attorney, having served as closing agent and title agent for hundreds of purchase and sale transactions and loan transactions of all varieties and sizes. Other transactional practice areas include leasing, association governance and issues, and corporate transactions, governance and entity formations. Chris particularly enjoys challenging transactions, navigating any issues that arise through to a successful closing.

Additionally, Chris is an experienced and capable litigator. His litigation practice primarily consists of banking and lending litigation, representing lenders in commercial and residential foreclosures, deficiency judgments, collections, appeals, and creditor representation in bankruptcy. He has successfully handled hundreds of contested foreclosures and deficiency judgment cases on behalf of lenders—the vast majority of these cases are resolved on a summary judgment basis, but are occasionally resolved after evidentiary hearings. Additional litigation experience includes real estate title claims and quiet title actions, landlord-tenant issues and evictions, business partner separation cases (i.e., “business divorces”), and general business litigation.

In recent years, Chris’s practice has had an emphasis on real estate mortgage transactions for banking institutions, private investors and “hard money” lenders. Because of his experience on both the closing side and litigation side of mortgage transactions, Chris brings a unique “cradle to grave” perspective that adds value for his lending clients. He assists with loan evaluation, underwriting, and due diligence for transactions, resolves title issues, and handles the loan closing. If a loan does not perform, Chris spearheads any loss mitigation that the lender may desire (including workouts, modifications, forbearance agreements, and short sales). If loss mitigation is not feasible, Chris will be the lead counsel for the foreclosure lawsuit. If a foreclosure or short sale results in the lender taking title to the collateral, then when the lender desires to sell the property, Chris will handle that closing. Chris’s experience with all stages in the life of a loan allows him to avoid common traps and pitfalls and ensure that his clients achieve great results.

Outside of the office, Chris loves to spend time with his wife and young daughter. Chris is a lifelong fisherman and boater. He is passionate about fly fishing for tarpon and redfish.

Education

• Florida State University College of Law, Tallahassee, FL
  Juris Doctor, May 2005 – Magna Cum Laude; Law Review Executive Board Editor
• University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
  B.S., Business Management, May 2002 – Summa Cum Laude

Reported Cases

• Hollywood Collectibles Group, LLC v. Master Cutlery, Inc.,
  Cases 2014 WL 2155214 (M.D. Fla. May 22, 2014)

Recognitions

• Florida Super Lawyers Rising Star 2013, 2014, 2015

Admissions

• Florida Bar, 2005
  United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, 2010

HELEN FORD

Helen Ford brings more than 25 years of experience to her diverse real estate practice, which includes acquisition, sales, development, leasing and financing of commercial, retail, hospitality, golf course, single family residential and multi-family residential properties. Helen has the unique distinction of having been a partner at two different Am Law 100 Firms as well as having served as in-house counsel at a major financial institution.

Helen’s attention to detail and ability to handle complex transactions, combined with her responsiveness and problem-solving skills, makes her an asset to her clients.

Experience

• Represented national apartment developer in all aspects of acquisition of raw land and development of upscale residential apartment communities with associated new entity formation, acquisition and development financing averaging $30 million per project, and ultimate closing on permanent financing following completion of construction.
• Represented various national homebuilders in all aspects of acquisition and development of raw land into single-family residential developments, including negotiating acquisition contracts, title and survey review, development financing, platting and drafting of covenants, conditions, easements and restrictions and HOA entity formation.
• Represented owner of 900+ acre DRI in the development and sale of property to third-party purchasers, including negotiating purchase and sale contracts, drafting Master Declaration, easements, assignment of trips and entitlement documents, platting, and handling the closings for the transactions.
• Negotiated hotel sale contracts and handled closings of disposition of various U.S. located hotels on behalf of national hotel operator in connection with sale/managed back disposition strategy.
• Negotiated ground leases, office leases and renewals for branch locations and ATM facilities for a financial institution, including leases for space in a 270,000 square foot office building.
• Implemented redevelopment of older bank branch sites resulting in demolition of old branch, construction of new branch and sale of excess land.
• Title Agent for various national title companies

Education

• Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Juris Doctor, Paralegal Certification, Bachelor of Arts

Court Admissions

• Florida Bar (1998)
• Pennsylvania Bar (inactive)

Professional Associations / Recognitions

• Best Lawyers in America, 2018 for Real Estate Law
• Conroy Club Homeowners Association, Inc., Board Member (2008-2013 and 2019-present)
• Commercial Real Estate Women – Orlando, Florida Chapter (CREW) Member (2014-2018 and 2020)

Kenneth Gluckman

Kenn Gluckman focuses on company formation, corporate governance, company agreements, buying and selling businesses, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, employee issues, franchise operations, and commercial real estate.

Kenn holds the Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent® rating, which is the highest possible rating for an attorney for both ethical standards and legal ability. Kenn previously worked for a management-side labor and employment law firm, one of the top ten largest commercial law firms, and his own small business law boutique firm focusing on general business representation.

During law school, Kenn was an Article and Notes Editor for the Environmental Law Journal and served an internship with Justice Major Harding at the Florida Supreme Court.

Education

• Florida State University College of Law, 1995
  Juris Doctor, Magna Cum Laude
• Florida State University
  Bachelor of Science

Court Admissions

• Florida, 1995

Professional Associations / Community Involvement

Edward J. Fore

Edward J. Fore is an experienced real estate attorney who focuses his practice in the areas of real estate transactions, development, and lending. Ed assists clients with their real estate projects from beginning to end, including entity formation, negotiating contracts, clearing title issues, handling closings, advising and negotiating purchase and construction loans, drafting construction contracts and commercial leasing agreements, and handling disposition of properties.

Ed’s experience also includes assisting clients with drafting and amending of trusts, land use matters and zoning changes, representing regional and community banks in real estate and SBA loans, representing apartment developers, serving as in-house counsel for real estate developers, and serving as special real estate counsel in Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases.

A Winter Park native, Ed graduated from Winter Park High School, University of Central Florida, and Barry University School of Law. He lives in Orlando with his wife and their daughter. Ed enjoys fishing and hiking with his family on weekends, volunteering for the Rotary Club of Orlando, and is a state licensed alligator trapper.

Education

• University of Central Florida Bachelor of Economics 2010
• Barry University School of Law Juris Doctor Cum Laude 2013

Court Memberships & Admissions

• Florida Bar
• United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida

Activities

• Secretary of The Rotary Club of Orlando
• Winter Park Chamber of Commerce Leadership Winter Park – Class of 24

Dominic SIEBER

Dominic Sieber focuses his practice on residential and commercial real estate.

This includes drafting and negotiating purchase and sale agreements, loan documents and leases,
clearing title and handling closings. He advises individuals, developers, tenants, landlords and
lenders.

Dominic prides himself on being a problem solver who protects his clients’ interests while also being practical about the aim of closing a transaction.

Originally from Berlin, Germany, Dominic earned an MBA degree from Florida Atlantic University and graduated with Honors from the University of Florida Levin College of Law.

During law school, Dominic clerked for the Honorable Judge Van Vorst of the Eighth Judicial Circuit in Alachua County and was involved in Mediation Clinic where he facilitated the resolution of disputes as a co-mediator.

Fluent in German, Dominic can serve the legal needs of both foreign and domestic clients. He is passionate about helping others and has volunteered in activities that include beach cleanups and hurricane disaster relief in the Florida Keys. Outside the office, Dominic enjoys outdoor activities, scuba diving, traveling, watching sports like football, soccer, and tennis, and spending time with family and friends.

Education

• University of Florida Levin College of Law, Gainesville, FL 
  • Juris Doctor, cum laude, received May 2021
  • Honors: Book Award in Fiduciary Administration; Energy Law and Policy 
  • Dean’s List (Fall 2020; Spring 2021)
• Barry University School of Law, Orlando, FL
  • Juris Doctor Coursework, attended August 2018 – May 2019
• Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
  • Master of Business Administration, received May 2018
• Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
  • Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration, summa cum laude, received May 2014 
  • Minor: Geography
  • Honors: Dean’s List (two semesters); President’s List (two semesters)

Court Admissions

• Florida

RECOGNITIONS / PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS / ACTIVITES

• Fluent in German
• Young Professionals Group Ormond (YPGO)
• Certified Scuba Diver
• Disaster Relief Volunteer

Mark A. Grimes

Mark A. Grimes is an experienced real estate lawyer, admitted to the Florida Bar in 1974. Mark has represented a wide variety of clients through the years, from commercial and residential real estate builders and developers, to individual home purchasers and sellers. Mark also has a broad background in title insurance matters, having served as underwriting counsel to three major title insurance companies, and as a title insurance agent for six major Florida title insurance companies. He also has broad experience in representing title insurance companies in title insurance claims matters. Mr. Grimes was born and raised in Newport, Rhode Island, and is a graduate of Providence College (B.A. History, cum laude) and of Boston College School of Law. He currently resides in Deland, Florida.