Jeffrey T. Bankowitz Attorney At Law

Jeff is a shareholder in the Orlando office, focusing his practice on commercial real estate. He has experience representing clients on all sides of real estate transactions, including purchases and sales, mortgage secured financing, leasing transactions, entitlements, and construction contracts. He has also drafted and negotiated joint venture agreements and corporate organizational documents.

Following his graduation from the Florida State University College of Law in 2001, he joined a well-respected Orlando law firm and concentrated his practice on representing clients in all manner of commercial real estate transactions. In 2011, Jeff joined BBA Aviation plc as Senior Legal Counsel for Signature Flight Support Corporation. In 2013, he became general counsel for BBA Aviation’s Flight Support Division providing strategic counsel and advice to all business functions with significant focus on transactional matters including real estate leasing and development, mergers and acquisitions, and the negotiation of the company’s general commercial agreements.  He also directed strategies for all company litigation including employee claims, class actions, property damage and personal injury cases, and general litigation matters. He routinely interacted with governmental authorities and regulators at the local, state and federal levels and had responsibility for corporate governance and compliance matters. 

• Background

  Jeffrey graduated, cum laude, from Wake Forest University in 1998. In 2001, he graduated with high honors from Florida State University College of Law, where he served on the Florida State University Law Review and the Journal of Transnational Law and Policy. While in law school he interned at the Florida Supreme Court for Chief Justice Charles Wells.

• Education
  • Wake Forest University, B.S., business (cum laude, 1998)
  • Florida State University College of Law, J.D. (high honors, 2001)
    • Florida State University Law Review, Member
    • Journal of Transnational Law and Policy, Member
  
  
• Admissions
  • Florida
• Representative Highlights
  • Negotiated the acquisition of an aviation services company owning approximately sixty fixed base operations throughout North America for approximately $2.1 Billion in February 2016, including handling the Hart-Scott-Rodino filing for the transaction, leading the effort in the Americas to fulfill conditions precedent and the integration of the Legal Department following closing.
  • Negotiated and drafted documents for a complex FBO development at a major International Airport with a total cost of $82 Million, including the airport master lease, sublease for the construction of over 250,000 square feet of hangars and related facilities, property management agreement, worldwide fuel supply agreement, and construction contract.
  • Negotiated the divestiture of a commercial aviation ground handling and fueling company for $202 Million.
  • Led internal legal review of mergers and acquisition activity with a cumulative value of approximately $500 Million, including review of due diligence, negotiation of definitive agreements, fulfilling conditions precedents; obtaining executive approvals, handling regulatory filings, and development of transition plans.
  • Negotiated and drafted complex joint venture agreements, ground leases, development agreements, executive employment agreements, purchase and sale agreements, and aviation services agreements.
  • Directed litigation strategies in diverse circumstances including class actions; environmental matters, government procurement; employee claims; property loss; and personal injury.
• Awards and Recognitions
  • Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate Law, 2021-2025
  • Orlando Magazine, Best Lawyers, 2021