About Us

Located in one of the world’s leading vacation and resort destinations, the Orlando office of BakerHostetler has become a leader in hospitality and real estate law. We are equally committed to the area’s burgeoning commercial sector.  Our litigation, employment, tax and business capabilities support new and growing businesses.  Clients benefit further from the resources, knowledge and experience of a national firm without sacrificing the focus of a local office.

Business
The Orlando Business practice is one of the largest in Central Florida. Our attorneys represent clients in business structuring, acquisitions, dispositions, exchanges, public and private offerings of securities, structured finance, international financings and transactions, and troubled-debt restructurings and reorganizations. We practice in domestic and international law, and have extensive experience in all aspects of the real estate and hospitality industries as well as in healthcare, construction and technology.

Litigation
Our Orlando litigators regularly handle matters for clients concerning state and federal securities fraud, creditors’ rights, intellectual property issues, construction disputes, bid protests, contract disputes, libel and slander, product liability, partnership disputes, and a variety of general commercial litigation matters, and private matters. We advise clients on business and real estate matters in order to minimize their risks of lawsuits; however, should litigation prove unavoidable, we provide counsel to maximize the prospects of a successful prosecution of claims for, or defense of, claims against our clients.

Employment and Labor
Our Employment and Labor practice represents clients in contract negotiations, grievance and arbitration proceedings, defense of wage and hour audits, development of personnel policies and procedures, Civil Rights litigation and the defense of employment discrimination cases.

We regularly represent clients before a variety of administrative bodies, including the Florida Commission on Human Relations, the Division of Unemployment Compensation, the Division of Workers’ Compensation, the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance.

Tax & Trusts and Estates
Our Tax and trusts and Estates attorneys represent corporations, partnerships,  limited liability entities, individuals, trusts and estates. We provide tax advice for international and domestic transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, asset and stock purchases, exchanges, and joint ventures. We advise start-up ventures on issues such as choice of entity, place of incorporation, income allocation and deferral, and provide ongoing tax counsel for established businesses. Our Trusts and Estates practice provides wealth management, planning and documentation, probate of estates from simple summary procedures to complicated taxable estates, and fiduciary litigation.

Industry Focus

• Real Estate—Our versatile Real Estate practice handles a variety of property matters from complex land-use projects to meeting the specific needs of Florida’s growing resort and leisure industries. We are experienced in handling regulatory issues and in negotiating sophisticated commercial loans, project finance, securitization and joint venture arrangements, commercial development activities, industrial development revenue bonds, and creating complex multi-use facilities and communities.
• Hospitality—Our Orlando office serves as global counsel to some of the world’s leading hotel and resort developers and operators. We are experienced in handling matters ranging from simple agreements to complex transactions, including sophisticated financing, major acquisitions, mixed-use projects, developments of regional impact, land use planning and permitting, construction, licensing, tax planning, and project disposition.
• Technology—The Orlando office is on pace with the rapidly expanding high technology environment in Central Florida. We regularly handle venture capital, securities and intellectual property matters, and represent numerous incubators, accelerators, entrepreneurs and investors in developing or acquiring technology. Our services in this area include initial acquisition, licensing and development, intellectual property protection, technical assistance, plant and personnel support and multi-stage financings, as well as follow-on transactions.
• Healthcare—Our attorneys work with a variety of healthcare providers, from hospitals, clinics, and other facilities to physician and dental group practices and related agencies.  They provide assistance with compliance programs involving government healthcare standards, including HIPAA privacy regulations, Stark II self-referral arrangements, fraud and abuse safe harbors and other federal and state regulations.  Additionally, they provide complete transactional support for entity formations, acquisitions and sales.

Community Commitment in Orlando, Florida
Our Orlando office developed the B.E.S.T. (Baker’s Educational Service Team) program to focus our charitable and community efforts on Orange Center Elementary School.  Participation ranges from classroom volunteering to support of school events and donation of materials/equipment - including books, instruments and computers.  The B.E.S.T. program has been recognized locally as one of the strongest examples of a corporate/community partnership, and we are pleased to have received a national "Points of Light" award in recognition of the B.E.S.T. program’s success.

The firm believes strongly in supporting individual efforts to improve Central Florida.  BakerHostetler attorneys and staff serve in leadership roles for more than 40 charitable and community organizations.