Shari Olefson is a partner servicing Broward, Dade, Palm Beach, Monroe, Collier and Lee Counties. Shari is one of only a handful of lawyers in the state who is both a Florida Bar certified real estate attorney and has earned a Master of Law degree in Real Property, Land Development and Finance. Since 1989, her practice has focused on real estate, business transactions and assisting clients to resolve the disputes that sometimes result from transactions and business relationships, including complex business and real estate related mediation, work-outs and foreclosures.
Ms. Olefson's transactional and related conflict resolution background encompasses purchases, sales, refinances, development, construction, finance, foreclosures, asset preservation and loss mitigation, title agency, real estate and mortgage licensing and brokerge, commercial leasing, RESPA compliance, 1031 exchanges, and contracts.
She has worked with all property types including retail, office, industrial, multifamily and custom residential, shopping centers, restaurant, out-parcel, marina, hotel-motel, mixed use and raw land. Ms. Olefson's business background includes all facets of entity selection and formation, joint venture creation, mergers and acquisitions.
Her clients include, individuals, public and private local, national and international lenders, businesses, landlords, tenants, developers, investors, buyers, sellers, and borrowers.
Ms. Olefson also represents lending and investment institutions creating loan programs and structuring and restructuring loan portfolios and commercial transactions. Her expertise is likewise sought by lenders, developers and investors in connection with special assets in default resolution, negotiation, mediation and documentation.
Ms. Olefson enjoys long standing relationships with clients throughout Florida, the United States and internationally, attesting to her dependability, technical skill, business acumen and dedication to servicing client needs. She's the author of "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream" (Prometheus Books, N.Y.) as well as numerous formal and informal presentations and writings as well as a frequent speaker and writer for industry organizations and associations.
Practice
- Business and Real Estate Transactions, Workouts and Mediation
Education
- University of Miami, L.L.M. Real Property, Land Development and Finance Law, 1989
- Yeshiva University, Benjamin Cardozo School of Law, J.D., 1989
- Carnegie Mellon University, B.A., Professional Writing (Journalism); B.A., Psychology, 1 Year Study Acting, 1985.
- Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Court Mediator
- Member Florida Bar Real Property, Trust and Probate section
Bar Admissions & Memberships
- Florida
- New York
- District of Columbia
Professional Affiliations
- American Resort Development Association
- Commercial Real Estate Women
- Florida Bar Certified Real Estate Attorney
- Association of Foreign Investors & Real Estate
- American Hotel & Lodging Association
- American Resort Development Association
- Building Owners & Managers Association
- Commercial Mortgage Securities Association
- Commercial Real Estate Developers Association
- Florida Bar Simplified Forms Committee
- First American Title Insurance Company
- International Council of Shopping Centers
- Licensed Real Estate Broker
- Mediator
- National Association of Real Estate Investment Managers
- National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts
- National Association of Realtors
- National Apartment Association
- Urban Land Institute
Past and Present Community/Civic Involvement
- Pine Crest School Alumni and Parent Association
- Ocean Reef Club Legacy Member
- Grand Oaks Member
- SOS Children's Village
- Leadership Broward, Class 16
- Center One
- Broward County Human Rights Advisory Board
- Jewish Federation
Presentations & Publications
- "Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream," (Prometheus Books, NY) Author
- Florida Real Estate Magazine, Top Real Estate Attorney 2008