Ilene K. Kobert is Of Counsel in the Real Estate Department of Greenberg Traurig's Miami office. Ilene concentrates her practice in various areas of commercial real estate law, representing both landlords and tenants, buyers and sellers, borrowers and lenders in connection with the acquisition, disposition, and development of numerous types of real property in Florida and nationwide. She advises borrowers in connection with secured financings, including acquisition loans, construction loans, and refinances. Ilene has wide-ranging experience counseling national retailers on the acquisition and development of shopping center pads, including the negotiation of ground leases, REAs and other matters affecting title.
Prior to joining the firm, Ilene acted as the main legal advisor to a U.S. franchise and real estate division of Burger King Corporation, providing legal support, including negotiation, review and counseling advice on franchise contracts, construction contracts, development and asset management matters, encroachment and development issues, sales and acquisitions, leasing issues, real estate and franchise litigation and dispute resolution, acquisitions and divestitures of restaurants, franchise agreement/system standards enforcement actions (defaults, terminations, litigations), franchisee workouts/bankruptcies and franchisee-to-franchisee sales. Additionally, Ilene served as in-house counsel to a national developer of single tenant, net leased properties, with an emphasis on build-to-suit programs for national tenants.
Areas of Concentration
· Complex commercial real estate acquisitions and dispositions
· Franchising matters, counseling on disputes and negotiation of franchise contracts
· Real estate financing
· Retail and commercial leases
Professional & Community Involvement
· Member, Florida Bar (Real Estate & Probate section)
· Member, American Bar Association (Real Property, Trust and Estate Law)
· Member, American Bar Association (Forum Committee on Franchising)
Awards & Recognition
· Team Member, Law360 "Real Estate Practice Group of the Year" (2011)
Legal Experience
· Director & Senior Attorney, Burger King Corporation, Miami, FL ( 2002-2004, 2009-2011)
· Senior Real Estate Attorney, Centres, Inc., Miami, FL (2007-2009)
· Vice President and General Counsel, Bayshore Land Group, Inc., Coral Gables, FL (2004-2007)
· General Counsel, Oak Forest Hotels Inc., Aventura, FL (1996-1999)
· Corporate Counsel, Atlantic Gulf Communities Corporation, Miami, FL (1995-1996)
· Real Estate Associate, large international law firm, Miami, FL (1988-1992)
Articles, Publications, & Lectures
· Co-Author, "Architectural Appearance Review Regulations and the First Amendment: The Constitutionally Inform 'Excessive Difference' Test," 12 Zoning & Plan. L. Report No. 1. (January 1989)