Joe Hernandez’s transactional real estate experience spans over 20 years from his prior career as a real estate and corporate banker throughout his legal career. Joe represents a variety of clients, including real estate developers, financial institutions, private equity firms, hotel companies, and public and private universities in all phases of complex commercial real estate transactions. His experience includes acquisitions, development, financing, joint ventures, and private placements in connection with real estate projects in the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Joe has also handled the resolution of complex title insurance issues involving real property in the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Joe has also represented banks and other lending institutions in secured corporate loan transactions, including revolving credit facilities, asset-based lending, and other secured lending facilities.

Notable Client Work

• Represented a lender in its $1 billion senior mortgage participation and mezzanine loan to a nursing home and health care facilities company.
• Represented a large hotel company in the refinancing of $300 million in mortgage financing for a large resort hotel in Orlando, Florida.
• Represented a public university in analyzing real estate issues in connection with the donation of a large tract of land located in Puerto Rico to the University for Conservation Purposes.
• Represented a large commercial bank in $110 million corporate and real estate financing to a large commercial grower of foliage and bedding plants involving over 2,600 acres of real property throughout several states.
• Represented Florida East Coast Industries in real estate aspects of $270 million acquisition of Codina Group, Inc., the largest industrial developer in South Florida, and acquisition of related real estate assets.
• Represented developer throughout the purchase, development and $90 million construction financing of an affordable residential project consisting of a 398-unit condominium and retail development in the City of Miami.
• Represented WestLB in a corporate and real estate loan in the aggregate amount of $59 million to a world renown hotel company and its affiliates secured in part by a mortgage on a five star hotel located in Brazil.

Education

• 1996: J.D., University of Miami School of Law, cum laude
  • Editorial Board Member, University of Miami Law Review
  • Member of the University of Miami Moot Court board
• 1987: B.S.B.A., Finance, University of Florida

Professional & Community Involvement

• Member, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, The Florida Bar
• Member, Real Property Section, American Bar Association
• Member, Real Property Committee, Dade County Bar Association
• Chairman of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee Member, Junior Achievement
• Member, Young Leaders Society, United Way
• Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Miami, Class of 2001
• Adjunct Professor, University of Miami Law School, Real Estate Transaction Workshop

Awards & Recognition

• Selected, "Florida Legal Elite," Florida Trend magazine, 2007, 2008 and 2009
• Recognized as one of Florida Super Lawyers for 2009

Articles, Publications & Lectures

• Co-Author, "Issues for the Cross-Border Real Estate Lawyer," printed in PLC Cross-border Corporate Real Estate Handbook 200/0 and The In-House Perspective, January 2007
• Author, "Bases para Inversores Latinoamericancos," Live Miami, 2001