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Governor DeSantis Announces Florida Counties May Enter Phase 2 of Florida’s Reopening Plan

June 03, 2020

By: Amanda Wilson & Ferran Arimon

Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced his plan to move Florida counties into Phase 2 of Florida’s three-phase plan to reopen the economy. Florida is to enter Phase 2 on Friday, June 5. Phase 2 will include all counties except Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties where the highest concentration of COVID-19 cases have been reported. The specifics of Phase 2 have been set forth in Executive Order 20-139.

Phase 2 includes the reopening of bars, movie theaters, concert halls and bowling alleys. Such establishments will be permitted to operate at 50% capacity with social distancing restrictions. 

The Order states that restaurants, bars and other vendors licensed to sell alcoholic beverages on premises may operate at 50% capacity. However, bar areas must be open with seated service. Additionally, restaurants and bars may utilize their outdoor seating provided there is appropriate social distancing. It should be noted that this section does not apply to nightclubs. 

Under Phase 2, retail businesses, gyms and fitness centers are authorized to operate at capacity but are encouraged to follow appropriate social distancing and safety protocols issued by the CDC and OSHA.

While Phase 2 will not apply to Dade, Broward and Palm Beach, DeSantis stated that those counties may seek approval to enter Phase 2 with a written request from the county mayor. 

Be sure to visit our Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource Center page to keep up-to-date on the latest news.


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Ferran

Ferran Arimon is an attorney in the firm’s Commercial Real Estate Group. He focuses his practice on commercial real estate transactions, including the acquisition, disposition, financing, development and leasing of various property types, as well as construction financings and re-financings. His practice also includes corporate and securities law.

Ferran regularly advises buyers, sellers, developers, landlords and tenants in real estate transactions related to multifamily developments, industrial properties, office buildings, shopping centers, restaurants, hotels, retirement communities and vacant land. He also assists clients with leasing contracts, title review and survey analysis, contract negotiation for purchase and sale, due diligence, negotiation of transfer documents and finalizing of transaction closings.

Additionally, Ferran has experience in corporate and securities law, mergers and acquisitions, and tax law. He has worked with clients to structure financing transactions in compliance with federal and state securities laws, having represented both public and private companies in mergers, acquisitions, capital raising, and corporate governance matters. He has also counseled clients on a broad range of tax issues and business planning issues from entity selection and formation to dissolutions.

Prior to law school, Ferran was an analyst at real estate investment management company in Miami. His role centered around underwriting, valuing, and identifying acquisition opportunities for distressed or value-add commercial and residential real estate acquired through joint ventures, direct Investments and non-performing loans portfolios.

Fluent in Spanish, Ferran regularly writes articles on a variety of emerging legal issues.

Ferran earned his law degree from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and his MBA from the University of Florida Warrington College of Business. Prior to law school, he received his undergraduate degree from Babson College, where he majored in finance and was a member of the men’s tennis team.

Amanda

A member of the firm’s tax practice, Amanda Wilson concentrates on federal tax planning and structuring. She represents clients in a wide variety of complex federal tax matters with a particular emphasis on pass-through entities such as partnerships, S corporations and real estate investment trusts.

Specifically, Amanda focuses on advising clients on the formation, operation, acquisition and restructuring of such pass-through entities. In addition, she regularly advises clients on the structuring and operation of private equity funds, real estate funds and timber funds. Amanda is the author of the Bloomberg Tax Management Portfolio 718-3rd Edition, Partnerships- Disposition of Partnership Interests or Partnership Business; Partnership Termination.

Amanda regularly works in structuring deals to benefit from tax advantaged structures, including like-kind exchanges, new market tax credits, low income housing tax credits, qualified opportunity zones, and investment tax credits available for solar and other renewable energy. Amanda also has extensive experience in corporate planning and international tax matters, as well as federal tax controversy. Her practice before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) includes providing advice on audits and appeals, drafting protests and ruling requests, and negotiating settlements.

Prior to joining the firm, Amanda worked for Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP (now Eversheds Sutherland), an Am Law 100 firm in the Atlanta office, where she was part of Sutherland’s Tax Practice Group. Amanda has also served as an adjunct professor at Emory University School of Law where she taught Partnership Taxation.

Amanda regularly contributes to the firm’s Taxing Times blog and is a regular panelist on tax webinars hosted by Strafford Publications.

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