Experience
Will handles a broad range of complex commercial real estate and corporate issues for his clients throughout Florida and the entire Southeast. His clients include developers, investors institutional private equity funds, EB-5 developers and funds, as well as high net worth individuals and their associated family offices. He also regularly counsels clients on corporate securities and financing related matters. Representative engagements include serving as lead counsel on the development of a 15-acre mixed-use project, negotiating a portfolio of ground leases for a fast-growing restaurant chain, handling all financing negotiations (including FNMA) for a multi-family owner/operator, counseling a private lender client on the purchase (and subsequent modifications) of commercial loans, the sale of a portfolio of limited-service hotels, and representing the developer of an affordable housing project utilizing tax credits.
Distinctions & Memberships
- Business Observer, “40 Under 40”
- Super Lawyers “Rising Star”
- Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, “Up and Comer”
- Habitat for Humanity, Past Member Board of Directors, Pinellas County
- Shorecrest Preparatory School, Board of Directors
- Connect Florida, Statewide Leadership Institute, Inaugural Class, 2010-2011
- Gold Pin Recipient, Bay Area Volunteer Lawyers Program (Bay Area Legal Services) Pro Bono Service Awards, 2009
- Real Estate Investment Council of Tampa Bay (REIC), Board of Directors, Past President
- Real Estate Investment Council (REIC), Founder, Young Professionals
- Israel Bonds, Recipient of Inaugural “Young Leadership Award”, 2013
- Temple Beth-El, St. Petersburg, Florida, Past Chairman of Personnel Committee
- A Baseball Community, Finance Sub-committee
- RPPTL Section, The Florida Bar
- Israel Bonds
- Admitted to The Florida Bar
- The Best Lawyers in America® – Since 2019
- The Best Lawyers in America® 2022 Real Estate “Lawyer of the Year”
- The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 Corporate Law and Real Estate Law “Lawyer of the Year”
Education
- Yale University B.S.
- University of Pennsylvania Law School J.D.
- University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School, Certificate in Business and Public Policy
Speaking Engagements
- March 19, 2014 “The State of Downtown Tampa Development”
- May 6, 2014 “The Flood Insurance Landscape”
- December 3, 2014 “Multifamily & the Urban Renaissance”
- April 13, 2016 “Meet The Mayors”
- November 9, 2016 “Here Comes the Boom”
- December 7, 2016 “Understanding Agency Involvement in Commercial Transactions” given to the St. Petersburg Bar Association
Publication
“The Impact of the Flat World on Player Transfers in Major League Baseball”, with Scott Rosner, University of Pennsylvania Journal of Business Law, Fall 2009
When He’s Not Working Hard for Clients
Will enjoys spending time with his wife Stacy, and their three children.
November 2013 – present
Equity Partner, Executive Committee, Real Estate and Finance Attorney
- Represent private equity funds in national real estate transactions, valued at more than $1.3 Billion in 2017
- Provide corporate counsel and business strategy advice to corporate clients
Affiliations
- Real Estate Investment Council, Board of Directors, 2010 – present
- Real Estate Investment Council, President 2014
- Shorecrest Preparatory School, Board of Directors, 2016 – present
- Habitat For Humanity, Board of Directors, 2014-2015
- Connect Florida, State Leadership Institute, Inaugural Class, 2010-11
- Florida Bar, 2008-present
Awards
- Gulf Coast Business Observer, “40 Under 40”, 2016
- Florida Trend, Legal Elite, “Up and Comer”
- SuperLawyers, “Rising Star”
- Israel Bonds, “Young Leadership Award”, Inaugural Recipient, 2013
Speaking Engagements
- Meet the Mayors, 2016
- Here Comes the Boom, 2016
- Understanding Agency Involvement in Commercial Transactions, 2016
- The State of Downtown Tampa Development, 2014
- The Flood Insurance Landscape, 2014
- Multifamily and the Urban Renaissance, 2014
LANDGUARD TITLE SERVICES, LLC, St. Petersburg, FL December 2010 – present
Owner and Managing Member
- Oversee facilitation of more than 100 real estate closings per annum
- Supervise staff of three employees
- Manage company operations, personnel matters, technology infrastructure, business development and production
Affiliations:
- Licensed title agent for First American, Chicago, Fidelity and Commonwealth
- Co-owner Landguard Title Services, LLC – supervise all company employees
ENGLANDER and FISCHER, LLP, St. Petersburg, FL October 2009 – November 2013
Equity Partner, Executive Committee Member, Real Estate and Finance Attorney
- Equity partner at 17-lawyer, full-service commercial law firm, chair of real estate division
- Manage more than fifty (50) case files on behalf of personal clients
- Represent clients in the purchase, finance, leasing, and development of commercial real estate
- Provide corporate counsel and business strategy advice to corporate clients
- Clients include equity funds, institutional and private lenders, high net worth individuals and developers
CARLTON FIELDS, P.A., Tampa, FL September 2008 – October 2009
Real Estate Associate Attorney
- Defend clients against pre-suit demand letters for more than 30 purchasers in upscale condominium resort
- Manage drafting and submission of condominium documents, including purchase contracts, for affordable housing project
Awards:
Gold Pin Recipient, Bay Area Legal Services, 2009
EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA LAW SCHOOL, Philadelphia, PA
Juris Doctor, May 2008
Wharton Certificate in Business and Public Policy, May 2008
Relevant Courses: Sports Business Management; Sports Law; Tax; Accounting
Activities: Sports & Entertainment Society, Vice President
Awards: Gordon A. Block Award
YALE UNIVERSITY, New Haven, CT
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, May 2004
Activities: Varsity Football; Sports Director and lead announcer, WYBC Radio; Sports Publicity Office
Awards:
- Distinction in Political Science
- Jordan Olivar Award for “senior other than captain who through his dedication to Yale Football has earned the highest respect of his teammates”
- Academic All-Ivy
- All-Ivy Center
- Verizon Academic All-District
PRIOR EXPERIENCE
WHARTON SPORTS BUSINESS INITIATIVE, Philadelphia, PA September 2007- May 2008
Teaching Assistant, “Sports Business Management” at Wharton Business School
- Attended daily lectures, held office hours, and graded exams for more than 70 students per semester
- Issues covered: league structures, salary caps, player-agent relationships, marketing, anti-trust
- Working Papers “Inefficiencies of the Major League Baseball Posting Process”, co-authored with Professor Scott Rosner
AMERICAN CITY BUSINESS JOURNALS, Charlotte, NC June 2004-August 2005
Assistant Editor, Street & Smith’s Specialty Publications
- Managed compilation of articles and photos from 175 contributors for nationally distributed publication
- Conducted personal interviews with John Wooden, Mike Krzyzewski, Bill Walton and Scott Riggs
Publications:
- “86 Years and Worth the Wait”
- “50 Greatest College Football Programs of All Time”
- “100 Greatest College Basketball Programs of All Time”
- “A View from Within: A week in the life of NASCAR”
- “Thunder and Glory: the 25 Most Memorable Races”
EXPERIENCE
CARLTON FIELDS, P.A., Tampa, FL June 2006-August 2006 and July 2007-August 2007
Summer Associate
- Wrote paper “Additional Insured Forms” and reviewed documents for $40 million asset acquisition
- Assisted with the update of Florida Bar manual section addressing Adverse Possession
HOGAN & HARTSON, Washington, DC May 2007-June 2007
Summer Associate
- Drafted defeasance documents in conjunction with sale of three international 4-star resort properties
- Assisted negotiation of shareholder agreement for developer client entering new resort development contract
OFFICE OF THE CITY SOLICITOR, Philadelphia, PA January 2007-May 2007
Intern, Economic Development/Real Estate
- Managed lease review associated with expansion of Fairmount Park pathways
- Analyzed ground leases to determine sidewalk liability for sports stadium complex
NDLSC, Washington, DC March 2006-April 2007
Vice President, Campus Organizing for National Democratic Law Students Council
- Elected by national delegation representing more than 75 law schools
- Crafted organization and structural documents for fledgling organization aimed at long-term sustainability; organization is now in fourth full year
- Coordinated activities of all law schools with Democrat chapters
FOX NEWS CHANNEL, New York, NY May 2003-July 2003
Intern, Assistant Producer, “On the Record With Greta Van Susteren”
- Synthesized high-profile courtroom proceedings to brief on-air legal analysts who appeared on show
- Wrote and produced four prime-time televised segments
OFFICE OF SENATOR CHRISTOPHER DODD, Washington, DC May 2002-July 2002
Intern, Special Assistant to Legislative Director
- Prepared documents and handled correspondence Senator’s director of legislative agenda
- Compiled Senator Dodd’s daily press packet
AWARDS/RECOGNITION
- Sports Illustrated, “Faces In The Crowd” March 7, 2005
- Charlotte Jaycees, “10 Outstanding Charlotteans of the Year” 2005
- NCAA Broadcasting, selected by NCAA as flagship broadcaster for 2004 Women’s Frozen Four
INTERESTS
My wife (Stacy) and three children (Paige (6), Jack (3) and Shea (6 months), real estate investing, English Bulldogs
Articles
News
- 55 Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns LLP Lawyers Recognized by Best Lawyers® 2025
- 48 Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns LLP Lawyers Recognized by Best Lawyers® 2024
- 48 Lawyers from Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns, LLP Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2023—Four recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” In Their Respective Practice Area
- Florida’s 2022 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Recognizes 18 Johnson Pope Attorneys
- 46 Lawyers from Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns, LLP Recognized In The Best Lawyers In America® 2022—Five Recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” In Their Respective Practice Area
- 47 Lawyers From Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns, LLP Recognized By Best Lawyers® 2021 – Four Recognized As “Lawyer of the Year” In Their Respective Practice Area
- Florida Super Lawyers Recognizes 23 Attorneys from Johnson Pope
- 36 Lawyers From Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns, LLP Recognized In Best Lawyers In America® 2020 – Three Recognized As “Lawyer Of The Year” In Their Respective Practice Area
- Florida Super Lawyers Recognizes 24 Attorneys From Johnson Pope
- 32 Lawyers from Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns, LLP Recognized in “The Best Lawyers in America®” 2019 – Three Recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” in Their Respective Practice Areas
- Johnson Pope Takes the Lead in a Major Affordable Housing Development
- Will it so
- Will Conroy Moderates a National Real Estate Forum on Urban Renaissance
- The Flood Insurance Landscape
- Johnson Pope Continues to Expand its Regional Presence
Practice Areas
