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One of South Florida’s most knowledgeable and experienced real estate attorneys, Adele I. Stone assists clients in all phases of a commercial transaction. She diligently tracks trends in the commercial sector, including recent case law and new and proposed legislation, in order to help her real estate clients maximize their desired outcomes.
An “AV”-rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell and Florida Bar Board-Certified in Real Estate Law, Ms. Stone brings more than 30 years of legal experience to every engagement. In addition to her real estate practice, she also has built a robust business law practice, including the structuring of new entities, preparation of business agreements and asset based transactions.
Ms. Stone earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law in 1978 after graduating with high honors from the University of Florida in 1975. She was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1978 and has been a leader in professional organizations throughout her career. She is also an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.
Practice Description
Ms. Stone works closely with real estate owners, investors, developers, landlords, tenants and individual clients in the following areas:
- Acquisition and disposition strategies
- Complex commercial purchases and sales
- Commercial loans, including acquisition, development and construction loans
- Lease agreements for office, retail and industrial spaces
- Creation of office and industrial parks, including preparation of association documents, easement agreements and restrictive covenants
- Ground leasing
- Issuance of title insurance and title claims representation
Ms. Stone is an authorized title insurance agent for Old Republic National Title Insurance Company, Chicago Title Insurance Company and First American Title Insurance Company.
Her business law practice includes:
- Purchase and sale of corporate stock and purchase and sale of assets
- Preparation of partnership, joint venture, and buy-sell agreements
- Limited liability company operating agreements
- Formation of new entities
- Employment agreements
- Licensing agreements
Recent Awards and Honors
Ms. Stone has received numerous awards and honors in recognition of her professionalism and community involvement, including:
- Recipient of the 2009 Russell E. Carlisle Advocacy Award given annually by Legal Aid Services of Broward County, Inc. to an attorney whose career has exemplified a commitment to the poor and to public interest work.
- Recipient of the Annual Service Award from the Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar (2009).
- Recipient of the Justice Harry Lee Anstead Award for Board Certified Lawyer of the Year (2009).
- Recipient of the G. Kirk Haas Humanitarian Award presented by Florida Bar President
John G. White, III (2009). - South Florida Business Journal Influential Business Women Honoree (2009)
- Selected as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” for Real Estate Law
- Recognized by Florida Super Lawyer (Multiple years)
- Member of Florida Trend’s “Legal Elite” (Multiple years)
- A “Top Lawyer” in South Florida Legal Guide (Multiple years)
- Recipient of the President’s Award of Merit by Florida Bar President, Terrence Russell (2002)
- An American Cancer Society Woman of the Year (1995)
- Recipient of the Hollywood, Florida, Chamber of Commerce Athena Award (1994)
Professional and Community Organizations
A leader in Florida professional and community organizations, Ms. Stone was elected 2009-2010 president of The Florida Bar Foundation, a statewide philanthropic organization. She is also a founding member and past chairperson of the Executive Council of Legal Aid Services of Broward County/Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida.
Ms. Stone serves on the Board of Directors of the Florida Chapter of NAIOP, a national commercial real estate development association and is president elect of the chapter. She also serves on the South Florida Chapter’s Board of Directors. She is past president and current member of Attorneys' Real Estate Council of Broward County, Inc.
She chairs the Steering Committee of The Florida Bar/Florida Bar Foundation sponsored statewide pro bono program (“FASH”) developed to represent homeowners under threat of foreclosure, and is co-chairperson of the Pro Bono Committee of the Florida Bar Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section and member of the section’s Executive Council. She is also a member of the Broward County Bar Association.
Ms. Stone’s past professional and community involvement includes:
- Vice chairperson of Florida Bar Attorney-Client Privilege Task Force Committee appointed by Florida Bar president (2006-2008)
- Chairperson of the 2006 Annual Convention Committee of The Florida Bar
- Chairperson and member of The Florida Bar Professional Ethics Committee (1989-2006)
- Chairperson of Unbundled Legal Services Special Committee II appointed by Florida Bar president (2002)
- Chairperson of the “Ethics 2000” review committee appointed by Florida Bar president. The committee finished work in 2005 and Ms. Stone argued extensive revisions to the Rules of Professional Conduct on behalf of The Florida Bar before the Florida Supreme Court
- President of Legal Aid Services of Broward County Inc. (2000)
- Commissioner of Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency from 1986 to 1991, serving as vice chairperson from 1988 to 1991
- Adjunct professor, Barry University Andreas School of Business (1991-1992)
- Chairperson of the Florida Bar Grievance Committee 17D (1988)
- Leadership Hollywood (Class of 1987)
- Chairperson of the Intercoastal Division of The Children’s Home Society (1993-1994)
- Member of the Board of Directors of the State Board of The Children’s Home Society (1993-1995)
Professional Articles and Speaking Engagements
- NAIOP sponsored-seminar, “Changes in Lease Negotiations – How Legal and Insurance Issues Affect Landlords and Tenants in These Challenging Economic Times” (2009)
- How Historical Events Shape Lease Negotiations published in the Florida Real Estate Journal, Vol. 17, No. 2, May 1, 2009.
- Real Estate certification review course sponsored by Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section of Florida Bar (2005)
- “Masters Seminar on Ethics” seminar sponsored by Florida Bar Professional Ethics Committee (2002)
- American Corporate Counsel Association seminar: “House Rules and Ethics Rules -- Unique Ethical Dilemmas Facing In-house Counsel” (2002)
- University of Miami School of Law seminar: “Who Is Your Client? Ethical Considerations in Real Estate Transactions” (1999)
- First American Title Insurance Corporation seminar: “Conveyancing in the ’90s” (1995)
- Ethics: 1993 Leading Cases and Significant Developments in Florida Law, published by Nova Law Review
- Florida Bar Professional Ethics Committee seminar: “Avoiding Grievance and Malpractice Liability” (1992)
Adele can be reached by email at astone@atkinson-diner.com.