Current Employment Position(s)

Shareholder

Lawyer Overview

Since 1988, Mr. Leavitt has represented property owners, tenants, and businesses throughout Florida and across the United States in matters involving governmental and quasi-governmental acquisition of private property interests and rights. This representation includes negotiated resolutions, administrative hearings, the political process, and trials.

Mr. Leavitt's clients include large national and international corporations, businesses, professionals, builders, homeowners, investors, developers, banks, utilities, and more. He also represents entities and individuals that have lost the function or use of property as a result of overly burdensome governmental regulations. In addition, his practice includes the representation of parties in real property valutation and related disputes.

Mr. Leavitt litigates many other real property disputes where the government is a potential party. He has successfully tried many cases in many jurisdictions. Mr. Leavitt also works on due diligence, valuation, and other transactional real property matters.

Areas of Practice

• Eminent Domain
• Inverse Condemnation
• Regulatory Takings
• Property Rights
• Real Property Valuation

West Practice Categories

Eminent Domain, Litigation & Appeals, Real Estate Law

Bar Admissions

• Florida, 1987
• Texas, 1987
• Colorado, 1989
• U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1987
• U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, 1987

Professional Associations and Memberships

• The Florida Bar - Eminent Domain Committee (Member)
• The Florida Bar - Eminent Domain Committee, 2001 - 2002 (Vice-Chair)
• The Florida Bar - Local and State Government Committee (Member)
• Orange County Bar Association (Member)
• Association of Eminent Domain Professionals (Member)
• Florida Eminent Domain Committee, 2005 - 2006 (Co-Editor, Newsletter/Case Law Update)
• American Bar Association - Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section, 1998 - 1999 (Chair, Eminent Domain Subcommittee)
• Congregation of Reformed Judaism (Board of Directors/Trustee)
• Jewish Federation of Orlando (Former Vice President and Community Relations Chair)
• The Florida Bar Foundation, Inc. (Fellow)

Education

• Southern Methodist University School of Law, Dallas, Texas, 1986
  J.D.
  Honors: National Mock Trial Team
  Honors: Moot Court Justice
• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1982
  B.G.S.
  Major: Business and Public Policy

Published Works

• Governmental Restrictions to Development: When Does a Regulation Become a Taking?, Development Extractions, Regulatory Takings, and Condemnation Seminar, 1992
• Fair Market Value: Many Times a Round Peg for a Square Whole, American Bar Association Annual Meeting - Eminent Domain Committee, 1996
• Fixtures - The Forgotten Property, The Florida Bar Condemnation Seminar, 1996
• National Survey of Eminent Domain Law, A Synopsis of Important Legal Decisions, American Bar Association Annual Meeting, 1998
• Tasting Good - A Private Sector View of Eminent Domain Effect on Restaurants and Bars, Association of Eminent Domain Professionals Conference, 1997
• Florida Business Damages, American Bar Association Annual Meeting, 1999
• The Real World vs. The Make Believe World of Eminent Domain, The Florida Bar Eminent Domain Committee, 2001
• Not Litigating? Issues Related to a Real Estate/Eminent Domain Transaction, The Florida Bar Eminent Domain Committee, 2003
• Armadillo: The End of the Interventionist Court?, Association of Eminent Domain Professionals, 2003
• The Armadillo Case: Dramatic Effect or Overreaction?, CLE International, 2003
• Not Litigating? Issues Related to a Real Estate/Eminent Domain Transaction, CLE International, 2005

Address

800 North Magnolia Avenue
Suite 1500
Orlando, FL 32803

Phones

407-428-5139

Faxes

(407) 423-1831

Emails

MLeavitt@deanmead.com

Websites

http://www.deanmead.com