Dale Burket’s diverse real estate practice encompasses real estate transactions, development and finance, commercial leasing, solar and other renewable energy and environmental law.
Board Certified in Real Estate Law by The Florida Bar since 1992, Dale brings more than 40 years of legal experience and a particular expertise in managing large, multi-site, multi-state real estate acquisitions, sales and sale-leaseback projects. Currently he devotes a substantial portion of his practice to complex projects involving the management of real estate, tax, environmental and land use issues.
Dale has represented real estate investment trusts (REITs) in connection with mergers, securitizations, purchase of income-producing properties, and sales of properties by taxable REIT subsidiaries. He also co-chairs the firm’s Renewable Energy Group and has advised owners, lessees and developers regarding utility-scale solar farms.
Over his career, Dale has negotiated and closed several thousand sale-leaseback transactions for restaurant REITS and partnerships, including portfolio acquisitions and sales with many of the top 100 national restaurant chains, as well as 1031 tax-deferred exchanges of restaurants in sales to private investors. He also has extensive experience representing business clients in the negotiation and closing of complex senior debt facility financings and large real estate transactions, and he is particularly adept at the project management requirements of such transactions.
With an emphasis on client service, Dale has played a leading role in the firm’s expanded commitment to partnering with clients on alternative and special fee arrangements that share risk and promote efficiency and collaboration. He has also been a long-time advocate for incorporating “green” and sustainable initiatives into his clients’ projects, to both preserve the environment and to curb costs. He has written about sustainability issues in the commercial context, including “green” commercial leases, existing building retrofits, renewable energy sources, water conservation and Central Florida’s growing public transportation infrastructure.
A lifelong musician, Dale’s love for music combined with his college training as a music teacher have led to more than 15 years of volunteer involvement with the Florida Young Artists Orchestra (now a part of Central Florida Community Arts), serving as both a board member and three-term president. He also serves as a board member of the Winter Park Chamber Music Academy and is a Conductor for the Maitland Symphony Orchestra, a unique Central Florida community orchestra.
