Overview
Clients appreciate John’s holistic approach to deals: a clear vision and goal, a well-developed plan, manageable milestones, and a laser-like focus – with the flexibility to adjust when necessary to get the deal done.
Institutional investors rely on John Ruffier to execute their most complex real estate transactions. As Real Estate Department Chair, he focuses on large-scale portfolios involving billion-dollar acquisitions and intricate regulatory requirements across multiple states.
John has closed over $3 billion in commercial real estate deals, including a record-setting $1.25 billion medical office portfolio sale spanning 55 properties. His portfolio experience also includes $1.3 billion in senior living acquisitions, with individual transactions ranging from $200 million to $600 million.
What sets large portfolio transactions apart is their layered complexity. In addition to standard commercial considerations, John assists clients in managing licensing requirements, operational transitions, and state-specific regulations that can derail deals without proper coordination. His disciplined, team-focused approach, shaped by lessons he learned as a competitive rower, helps keep deals on course even when challenges arise.
His clients include REITs building real estate platforms, private equity firms targeting portfolio opportunities, and institutional investors seeking diversification. When standard structures don't fit the deal, John regularly structures creative solutions such as mezzanine financing or membership interest sales.
An Orlando native, John remains actively involved in the community alongside his legal work. He is a former board chair of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, and now serves on its emeritus council. Locally, he chairs the board of the Central Florida Kidney Center and serves as the Vice-Chair and member of the executive committee of United Arts of Central Florida. He is also a past president of the Hope and Help Center of Central Florida and was honored with the Chuck Hummer II Visionary Award for his leadership in the LGBTQ+ community.
Experience
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Represented real estate investment trust in the $1.25 billion sale of a medical office portfolio consisting of 55 properties in 16 states. At the time, this transaction ranked as the second-largest medical office portfolio sale in terms of total dollar volume.
- Represented real estate investment trust in $238 million acquisition and financing of 9 medical office buildings in multiple states.
- Represented real estate investment trust in $562 million acquisition and financing of 20 senior living communities in multiple states.
- Represented real estate investment trust in $343 million acquisition and financing of 21 senior living communities in multiple states.
- Represented real estate investment trust $270 million acquisition of 19 senior living communities in multiple states.
- Represented real estate investment trust in $199 million acquisition and financing of 25 senior living communities in multiple states.
- Represented a private equity company in $184 million acquisition and financing of 14 senior living communities in multiple states and later in the disposition of the same set of properties via a membership interest sale to privately-owned real estate company.
- Represented a private equity company in $7.7 million sale of 4 senior living communities, including the negotiation of a $1.5 million mezzanine loan secured by interests in the senior living community purchaser.
- Represented a private equity company in $5 million mezzanine loan secured by a pledge of interests in multiple entities related to a senior living community.
- Represented privately-owned real estate company in $25.4 million acquisition and finance of a senior living facility in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
News & Insights
News
Publications
Recognition
Recognition
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
- The Best Lawyers in America guide, Banking and Finance Law, 2016-2026; Real Estate Law, 2016-2026
- Florida Super Lawyers, 2021-2023
- Awesome Attorneys, Orlando Family Magazine, 2023
- Chuck Hummer II Visionary Award, Hope and Help Center of Central Florida
- Best of the Bar, Orlando Business Journal
- Florida Legal Elite, Florida Trend, 2007, 2013, 2017
Community & Civic
Community Activities
- United Arts of Central Florida
- Vice Chair, 2025
- Board of Directors
- Executive Committee
- Central Florida Kidney Center, Board of Directors and Board Chair
- Coalition for the Homeless, Board of Directors, past Member
- Human Rights Campaign, Board of Directors, past Chair
- Human Rights Foundation, Board of Directors, past Member
- Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, City of Orlando Governmental Liaison
- Hope and Help Center of Central Florida, Board of Directors, past member, and past President
- Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Associate Board, past President
- City of Orlando Public Art, Advisory Board, Former Member
- Vanderbilt University Alumni Recruiting Committee, past Chairman
Professional Certifications & Memberships
- Orange County Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- The Florida Bar
Practices & Industries
Admissions
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
Education
- University of Florida Levin College of Law, J.D., 1996
- Vanderbilt University, B.A., 1992