Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, today announced Partner Taylor Ward joined the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group from Taylor English Duma LLP in Orlando. He builds upon the firm’s core strengths in complex commercial real estate transactions and adds important experience in the hospitality and restaurant sectors.

“Taylor is a valuable addition to our national real estate practice,” said Eric Rapkin, chair of Akerman’s real estate practice group. “He brings our clients a wealth of knowledge that involves all facets of commercial real estate, having led complex transactions in multiple, active real estate markets across the country.”

Ward has more than 25 years of experience with commercial real estate transactions in Florida, North Carolina, and New York. He has substantial experience in multistate purchase, sale, and financing transactions for hotel, retirement, and restaurant REITs as well as for private companies and individual investors. Taylor also has experience with other real estate matters, including bulk sales of time shares units, due diligence review for the acquisition and financing of self-storage facilities, multi-family, mixed use, and other commercial properties.

In addition to his national real estate practice, Ward is involved in several philanthropic efforts. He has served as a facilitator for the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce’s youth and adult leadership programs since 2006 and as an instructor for the Learning to Lead, a one day leadership program for more than 200 fifth grade students from Orange County. He also held several roles with the Central Florida Council and the Southern Region for the Boys Scouts of America for more than 15 years.

A former Fulbright Scholar, Ward spent a year with the Faculty of Law at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan. He earned his JD, LLM and BA degrees from Duke University.

With the addition of Ward, the Orlando office has attracted eight lawyers in the last year. Notable additions include tax partner Stacey Prince-Troutman from Broad and Cassel; real estate of counsel Tara Gould from Garganese, Weiss & D’Agresta, P.A.; real estate of counsel Heather Boadella from GrayRobinson, P.A.; and corporate of counsel Michael Anderson from SunTrust Bank.

Akerman is previously recognized as one of the best workplaces in Central Florida, according to the Orlando Sentinel’s Top 100 Companies list. Its Orlando office includes 54 lawyers and is top-ranked in 15 practice areas, including banking and finance, commercial litigation, and real estate among others (U.S. News – Best Lawyers). The firm is also recognized for its leading diversity and inclusion practices, and among the most innovative law firms in social responsibility for creating a first-of-its-kind partnership with the National Court Appointed Special Advocates Association (CASA).

About Akerman

Akerman LLP is a top 100 U.S. law firm recognized among the most forward thinking firms in the industry by Financial Times. Its more than 700 lawyers and business professionals collaborate with the world’s most successful enterprises and entrepreneurs to navigate change, seize opportunities, and help drive innovation and growth. Akerman is known for its results in middle market M&A and complex disputes, and for helping clients achieve their most important business objectives in the financial services, real estate and other dynamic sectors across the United States and Latin America.

Akerman’s Real Estate Practice Group offers comprehensive and fully integrated project counsel services to clients across the United States and Latin America. With substantial industry experience and local market insights, the firm represents clients in complex real estate transactions and financings, development and redevelopment projects, public-private initiatives and litigation. Recognized as a national tier one law firm for real estate law by U.S. News - Best Lawyers, the group advises investors, developers, builders, lenders, retailers, owners and corporate end users, often in high profile matters.