Profile
Jonathan S. Gelman is a Shareholder in the Fort Lauderdale office of Greenberg Traurig and a member of the firm’s Global Real Estate Practice. Jon focuses his practice on the sophisticated structuring, financing, acquisition and disposition of all asset classes of real estate. With nearly 25 years of experience, Jon counsels leading owners, investors, developers, lenders and operators in major transactions throughout Florida and nationally.
Concentrations
- Purchases and sales of commercial properties
- Development
- Land development
- Joint ventures
- Retail, office and warehouse leasing
- Ground leasing
- Land assemblages
- Complex title issues
- Antenna tower leasing
- General business counseling
Capabilities
Experience
- Purchasers and sellers of shopping centers, office buildings, apartment buildings, hotels and mixed use projects.
- Developers in the ground-up development and financing of shopping centers, office buildings, residential subdivisions, multi-family projects and mixed use projects.
- Investor in joint venture transactions for retail, multi-family, office and warehouse projects throughout the United States.
- National retailers in their leasing matters throughout the United States.
- Landlords in anchor retail leasing, grocery store anchor leasing and shop tenant leasing.
- Landlords and tenants in office and warehouse leasing.
- Wireless companies in antenna tower leasing and other real estate matters throughout Florida and other states.
- New York City radio station in the leasing of rooftop space for the construction of a new broadcasting tower.
- Public company in the long-term lease of Elvis Presley's Graceland estate and in the purchase of surrounding properties.
- Bankruptcy trustee in the sale of a 68,000 square foot Palm Beach, Florida mansion to Donald Trump, which property was later featured on The Apprentice.
- U.S. Green Building Council LEED Accredited Professional (LEED-AP)
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate Law, 2009-2025
- Listed, South Florida Legal Guide, "Top Lawyer," 2020-2021
- Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Florida Super Lawyers, 2006 and 2013-2024
- Selected, Fort Lauderdale Illustrated, "Top Lawyers," 2020-2023
- Land Use and Zoning Law, 2022
- Real Estate Law, 2022-2023
- Business/Corporate, 2020-2021
- Real Estate Law, 2020-2021
- Team Member, Chambers & Partners USA Real Estate Law Firm of the Year, 2010, 2013, 2017-2018, and 2022
- Selected, Daily Business Review, "Top Dealmaker of the Year – Land Category," 2015
- Team Member, a U.S. News - Best Lawyers®, "Law Firm of the Year" in Real Estate Law, 2015
- Team Member, The Legal 500 United States, "Top Tier" Firm in Real Estate, 2013 and 2014
- Listed, Who's Who Legal - "The International Who's Who of Real Estate Lawyers," 2014
- Team Member, a Law360 "Real Estate Practice Group of the Year," 2011-2013, 2015, and 2022-2023
- Listed, Florida Trend magazine "Legal Elite," Real Estate Law, 2009
- Florida Bar Board Certified Real Estate Lawyer
- Rated, AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5.0
- Board Member, Katz Yeshiva High School of South Florida
- Adjunct Professor, University of Miami School of Law, 1995-2000
Credentials
Education
-
J.D., cum laude, University of Miami School of Law, 1992
- Order of the Coif
- Recipient, Berger Scholarship (a three-year, full tuition academic scholarship)
- Associate Editor, Inter-American Law Review
- B.A., University of Pennsylvania, 1988
- B.S., Economics, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, 1988
Admissions
- Florida
- Massachusetts