North America - United States • Real estate
Bercow Radell Fernandez Larkin & Tapanes
The Florida-based boutique firm Bercow Radell Fernandez Larkin & Tapanes is reputed for its depth of expertise in land use, zoning, and environmental matters. The department is headed by Jeffrey Bercow, Ben Fernandez, Michael Larkin and Melissa Tapanes Llahues, all of whom are based in Miami. Bercow ‘provides thoughtful and sensible counsel to clients based on years of experience and expedites the approval process by recommending creative yet attainable solutions’, while Fernandez is adept at providing advice on the full range of land use and zoning matters, ranging from permitting and due diligence reviews to environmental and historic preservation matters. Larkin handles a wide variety of zoning and appellate litigation matters in Miami Beach, and Tapanes Llahues represents landowners, industrial clients and developers and specializes in legislative quasi-judicial affairs. In December 2023, Paul Savage joined the firm from Rasco Klock Perez & Nieto.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Bercow Radell are known to be very reputable, extremely competent, and also a pleasure to work with.'
- 'Melissa Tapanes is a force. She is extremely knowledgeable, strategic, and smart, in addition to being a very kind human being.'
- 'The firm has a strong reputation for providing effective and accurate advice to clients, a quality that is recognized by the various government agencies they interface with on behalf of those clients.'
- 'Jeffrey Bercow, the seasoned founder of the firm, provides thoughtful and sensible counsel to clients based on years of experience and expedites the approval process by recommending creative yet attainable solutions.'
- 'Graham Penn's familiarity with the processes and people involved in the Miami Beach regulatory environment is unmatched. His knowledge has proved crucial to our efforts to take on various issues with the zoning and building approval processes.'
- 'Graham Penn has been consistently responsive, informed, and creative in thinking about problems.'
- 'The team at Bercow Radell Fernandez & Larkin has been incredibly efficient, professional and determined to ensure the project comes to life. Their knowledge and experience in navigating systems and processes exceeded all of our expectations. There was no obstacle that was too big or challenging for them. They are quick and creative problem solvers with a heart to make their community better.'
- 'Melissa Tapanes' leadership skills and her creativity have moved mountains for our project. Melissa has been committed to ensuring our dream of expanding become a reality. She helped us navigate challenging obstacles and always remained available and engaged not only with our project but with our organization. She became invested in our mission and went above and beyond. Our interactions did not feel like a transaction but like a true collaboration to accomplish something significant together to make Miami a better place.'
Key clients
- 27th and Coral Way, LLC
- 27th and Coral Way 2, LLC
- The Ritz Carlton
- D.R. Horton Inc.
- RFR Holdings, LLC
- Nomade Lido, LLC
- Biscayne Shores Development Group
- Altman Real Estate
- Unsafe Structures Cases
- North at Brickell II, LLC
- Sobe 18, LLC
- Waste Connections
- Reva Dadeland, LLC
- Urban Network Capital Group, LLC
- 1840 Partners LLC
- Pelican Harbor Seabird Station, Inc
- Citizen M
- Community Habilitation Center, Inc.
- 9300 Collins Owner, LLC
- Florida’s Live Local Act Cases
Work highlights
- Advised the Ritz Carlton South Beach and Sagamore hotels on an endeavor encompassing the extensive renovation and restoration of the Sagamore Hotel and the introduction of a new residential building to the site.
- Advised Biscayne Shores Development Group and Altman Real Estate on the development of two properties once unified by a covenant.
- Assisted D.R. Horton with developing a new live-work community in South Miami-Dade County.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
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Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Jeffrey Bercow, Ben Fernandez, Michael Larkin, Melissa Tapanes Llahues