Laura M. Walda

Responsive, caring and a good listener is how clients describe Laura Walda, who understands that each client needs to feel special and receive the highest level of service.

A shareholder in the firm’s commercial real estate practice, Laura focuses on complex contract and lease negotiation, real estate acquisitions and dispositions, negotiation and structuring of credit facilities and problem-solving.

She also has experience in commercial litigation focusing on title insurance matters, landlord/tenant disputes and banking litigation.

Experience

• Lead counsel on the negotiation of joint venture agreements, development agreements and loan documents for multifamily development projects ranging from $25-$100 million.
• Lead  outside counsel in negotiation of leases for a national insurance company.
• Lead outside counsel in negotiation of purchase and sale agreements and leases for a cannabis company.
• Lead real estate counsel on 12-plus acre multi-use development project in downtown Orlando.
• Lead counsel on $105 million, 12-site disposition of industrial sites located across the country.
• Co-counsel on $73.6 million, 5-site disposition of retail villages located at nationally-known vacation venues.
• Co-counsel on $75 million disposition of three (3) office buildings located in Texas and Florida.
• Led a team on 40-plus single-site restaurant sale/leaseback transactions for a national restaurant chain.
• Co-counsel on the negotiation, structuring and closing of multiple $60 million-plus “bet the company” credit facility negotiations on behalf of the borrower.
• Co-counsel on the negotiation of a complex property settlement agreement involving $350 million worth of equity and real-property related assets.

News

Speaking Engagements

Publications

Recognition

• The Best Lawyers in America guide, Real Estate Law, 2022-2025
• Distinguished Service Award, Indiana University Maurer School of Law, 2022
• Outstanding Networking Achievement Award, CREW Orlando, 2022
• Distinguished Leader Award, CREW Orlando, 2021
• 40 Under 40, Orlando Business Journal, 2021
• Rising Star, Florida Super Lawyers, 2016-2019
• Florida Legal Elite "Up & Comer," Florida Trend, 2017
• Ninth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Merit Award, 2017
• Young Lawyer Pro Bono Award of Excellence, Fall 2013
• Governor's Fellow, Governor of the State of Indiana, 2004-2005

Community Activities

• Mead Botanical Gardens, Board of Trustees
• Indiana University Maurer School of Law Alumni Board, Executive Committee
• Winter Park Chamber of Commerce
  • Chair-Elect, Board of Directors
  • Executive Committee Member
  • Government Affairs Committee Member
• CREW Orlando, Past President
• City of Winter Park, Planning and Zoning Board, 2017-2020
• City of Winter Park, Keep Winter Park Beautiful and Sustainable Board, 2011-2014
• Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Garden, Past President, Executive Committee and Member of the Board of Trustees
• Leadership Winter Park, Class XXV
• Legal Aid Society, Guardian Ad Litem

Professional Certifications & Memberships

• Phi Beta Kappa
• The Florida Bar
• Orange County Bar Association