Most Promising Newcomer Finalist: Mischaël Cetoute, Holland & Knight

Real Estate attorney Misch Cetoute was featured in a Q&A with the Daily Business Review as part of the leadup to its 2026 Florida Legal Awards. Mr. Cetoute was named a finalist for the Most Promising Newcomer Award, and the interview focused on his initiative leading Holland & Knight's portion of an Urban Land Institute (ULI) program on 2025 amendments to Florida's Live Local Act as well as his contributions to an episode of the firm's "Real Estate Law Unlocked" podcast on the same topic. Mr. Cetoute recalled that more than 70 individuals attended the ULI event, where he moderated the panel describing how the new definitions and incentives apply to developers and community leaders. He also shared that the podcast episode, titled "Florida Live Local Act: Expanded Definitions Create New Opportunities," generated praise from listeners, who said the conversation helped them align business strategy. Mr. Cetoute explained that his background in education – he taught high school history and served as a dean prior to becoming an attorney – inspired this kind of work creating accessible, practical resources.

"In the classroom, I learned that complex ideas resonate best when broken down and delivered in a way that invites participation. I carried that same philosophy into the ULI panel and podcast," he said. "For me, these efforts unite my legal expertise and my passion for teaching to ultimately build stronger communities."

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