Article Detail

News & Knowledge

Lowndes Webinar Series - Navigating the COVID-19 Crisis: How Recent Court Decisions & COVID-19 Impact Your Commercial Property Taxes

August 07, 2020

Lowndes attorneys Brendan Lynch and Jacqueline Bozzuto provide an informative webinar about how your commercial property tax bill could be affected by the recent appellate court ruling that the Rushmore method, which was used by the Orange County Property Appraiser's office for valuation of Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts, is illegal under Florida law. They also discuss the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic to your business’s property taxes, including the likelihood of tax relief in 2020.

Speakers


Download slides


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

S. Brendan

A Virginia native originally with aspirations to become a journalist, Brendan Lynch fell in love with Florida and has made it his home since 2005. He represents both commercial and residential property land owners, as well as tenant business owners, in issues of property tax valuation and eminent domain/condemnation.

Brendan assists property owners throughout Florida with their property tax appeals, including assessment reviews, direct negotiations with county property appraisers, appeals to the Value Adjustment Board, and trial and appellate court proceedings. His clients include apartment projects, big box stores, condominiums, commercial strip centers, hotels, residences, student housing, vacant land, and other retail buildings.

With broad experience handling many different types of exemption applications, Brendan often assists clients from the application stage through challenges, to denial of any exemption, through trial and appellate court proceedings. These exemption applications include agricultural, conservation easements, healthcare, homestead, military housing, non-profit, religious, and senior living.

Typically, the eminent domain cases involve a governmental entity (Florida Department of Transportation, county, city, expressway authority, or other state agency) or private utility with condemnation powers seeking to take land from the property owners. Interestingly, Brendan has also represented condemning authorities on special projects – bringing a perspective from both sides of the table.

Brendan’s love for his adopted hometown of Orlando is reflected in his commitment to the community and its cultural diversity. A long-time advocate for the arts and former chair of the United Arts of Central Florida’s Board of Directors, Brendan helped steer the largest Collaborative Campaign in the organization’s history (over $3 million). He has also served in leadership roles for the Adult Literacy League, the Orange County Teen Court, and the Heart of Florida United Way.

Jacqueline

Jackie Bozzuto has extensive experience mapping out strategies for real estate development and finance for the hospitality industry and beyond. She has also assisted clients with acquiring portfolios out of bankruptcy estates, as well as multi-site and multi-state purchases and sales.


Goal-oriented, organized, gifted relationship-builder and connector of people. These skills, along with decades of experience in the restaurant industry, have earned Jackie the reputation of “trusted advisor” to clients.

Born and raised around her family’s commercial real estate, investment and management business in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands and later in south Florida, Jackie was exposed early on to running businesses smoothly. Her family operated restaurants for a number of years as well, and she transferred her love of all things culinary to advising clients on the operational side of the business. She helps clients, both locally and nationally, streamline their processes, develop acquisition programs and expand their portfolios.

Jackie’s experience mapping out strategies for real estate development and finance, including commercial leasing, extends beyond the hospitality industry. She has also represented clients acquiring hundred-million-dollar portfolios out of bankruptcy estates, as well as other multi-site and multi-state purchases and sales. In addition, she assists foreign entities and individuals with setting up optimal tax structures for ownership of residential and commercial property in the U.S.

Clients appreciate Jackie’s attention to detail, respect for their budgets, and commitment to getting the job done. They are also amazed by her ability to bring people together who will benefit from networking with each other. She is well connected in the Central Florida community, currently serving on the Governmental Affairs Committee of CFHLA (Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association). A frequent speaker at high-profile hospitality industry events, she is the immediate past president of CREW-Orlando (Commercial Real Estate Women) and serves on numerous other boards and committees as well.

Beyond her service to clients and community, Jackie enjoys cooking, traveling, and race car driving.

Jackie has worked with many repeat clients, including:

Applebee’s
Bonefish Grill
Brass Tap
Burger King
Carrabba’s Italian Grill
Fleming’s Prime Steak House & Wine Bar
IHOP
Jeremiah’s Italian Ice
Megastron Development
Outback Steakhouse
Roy’s
Seymour International
Wendy’s
Wing Stop

Meritas Law Firms Worldwide logo