Education

University of Maryland School of Law, J.D., with honors

University of Maryland, B.A., cum laude, English

Bar Admissions

Florida

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Melissa S. Turra

Partner
Jacksonville
t: 904-798-5457

Missy Turra is the Executive Partner of the Jacksonville office of Holland & Knight LLP. Ms. Turra represents clients in all phases of real estate development, including due diligence, land acquisition, entitlement process, financing, construction, development, project operations and restructuring. She has developed a specialized practice in the areas of resort and master planned community development, condominium and condominium hotel projects. Her practice in this area focuses on resort, residential and mixed-use developments. Ms. Turra has extensive experience representing developers, builders and resort owners and operators throughout Florida, the United States and the Caribbean in connection with the planning, development and operation of master planned residential communities, condominium developments and mixed-use communities, ranging from first-time home buyer neighborhoods to exclusive resort developments with extensive amenities, including golf courses, tennis clubs, beach clubs, marinas, commercial facilities, shopping, restaurants and conference centers. Ms. Turra also advises developer and lender clients in connection with state and federal land registrations and litigation matters relating to real estate disputes and condominium rescission matters under the Florida Condominium Act and Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act.

Ms. Turra also represents lenders in connection with loan workouts on failed and distressed projects and advises lenders and bulk purchasers on successor developer liability and condominium restructuring issues. She is a member of the Global Hospitality Asset Restructuring Team. This multi-disciplinary team has significant experience in banking regulations, finance, government relations, real estate, business issues, creditors rights and litigation and understands the structure and complexity of securitized transactions, including loan workouts and restructuring, and disposition of distressed real estate as single assets and in portfolios.

Ms. Turra previously served as the Practice Group Leader for Holland & Knight's Jacksonville real estate group and as the Women's Initiative coordinator for the Jacksonville office. She is currently a member of Holland & Knight's Global Hospitality, Resort and Timeshare Group, Multi-Family National Specialty Team, Residential Single Family National Specialty Team and Condominium Development National Specialty Team. Ms. Turra frequently speaks at condominium and mixed use community symposiums, including the Information Management Network's Mixed Use, Hospitality, Hotel Residences and Condo Hotel Symposiums in Las Vegas, Nevada and Miami, Florida. Ms. Turra also serves on Holland & Knight's Profit Sharing Committee and served as the chair of the firm's nominating committee for the 2008 Directors Committee election.

Ms. Turra is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Order of the Coif. She competed on the varsity tennis team at the University of Maryland, plays in national tennis competitions, and is currently ranked in the Top 10 nationally in the Husband-Wife category.

Professional Honors & Awards

  • The Best Lawyers in America guide, Real Estate Law, 2008-2010
  • Florida Super Lawyers magazine, 2009
  • Florida Real Estate Journal, Named as a Top Women in Florida Commercial Real Estate, 2008
  • Jacksonville Magazine's Best Lawyers, 2008
  • EVE Award Finalist, Florida Times Union, 2007
  • Florida Legal Elite, Florida Trend magazine, 2006
  • Up and Comer, Jacksonville Business Journal, 2005
  • Order of the Coif, 1994
  • Phi Beta Kappa, 1991

Memberships

  • ABA - Real Property, Probate and Trust Section
  • Jacksonville Bar Association, Real Property, Probate and Trust Section
  • The Florida Bar, Real Property, Probate and Trust Section
  • The Florida Bar, Environmental and Land Use Section

Speaking Engagements

  • "Navigating Deals Through Today's Capital Markets," NAIOP Past President's Breakfast, Jacksonville, Florida, December 2009
  • Financing, Developing and Operating Mixed Use Hospitality, Hotel Residences and Condo Hotels, IMN's Annual Florida Symposium, 2008
  • Condominium Hotel Symposium, IMN, Las Vegas, Nevada, 2005, 2006, 2007
  • "State and Federal Land Registration Requirements," Problem Solving for Condominium Associations in Florida (Lorman), 2005
  • Legal Aspects of Condominium Development in Florida, National Business Institute, December 2004

Published Articles & Books