Overview

Elena Otero is a transactional attorney in Holland & Knight's Miami office. Ms. Otero’s practice primarily focuses on advising ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families and family offices on real estate investments, including luxury residential and high-end commercial real estate transactions. She also has a traditional real estate and finance and banking law practice, focused on commercial real estate and commercial lending.

Ms. Otero works closely with the firm's private wealth group to counsel ultra-high-net-worth clients and families and their businesses, family offices and other private investors in their real estate investments, acquisitions and dispositions. She assists these clients in evaluating opportunities amidst the rapid changes the real estate market is undergoing. Ms. Otero counsels clients not only as they acquire, dispose, lease or finance their assets, but also serves as a resource to help ensure their real estate investments align with the overall plan for the clients, their families, businesses and broader collection of assets, as well as keeps in mind generational concerns and goals. She has extensive experience in post-closing asset management, structuring purchases anonymously to protect a client's identity, and anticipating clients' needs in the real estate investment arena.

Ms. Otero's traditional real estate experience advising developers includes representation in various types of projects such as land development, condominiums, mixed-use developments, joint venture investments, hotels, restaurants, retail and office buildings. That representation usually involves navigating contractual, zoning and other developmental issues that arise as project development evolves. She also assists clients with management of real estate assets and a multitude of contractual agreements, including subleases, licenses and assignment agreements. She also represents clients in the acquisition, development, leasing (including sale-leaseback, triple-net and build-to-suit lease transactions), disposition and financing of commercial and residential real estate.

Additionally, Ms. Otero counsels local, national and international financial institutions and lenders in commercial lending transactions, including construction and permanent real estate financing, healthcare real estate finance, commercial and industrial loans, and asset-based lending. She also has experience representing institutional and private lending clients with licensing, regulatory and compliance matters.

Lastly, Ms. Otero is active in her community, currently serving, among other positions, on the Eleventh Circuit Grievance Committee I for the Florida Bar, Women United Executive Committee for United Way Miami and Women's Leadership Council for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami.

Media Coverage

Credentials

Education
  • University of Miami School of Law, J.D., cum laude
  • University of Miami, B.A., Political Science
Bar Admissions/Licenses
  • Florida
Memberships
  • Eleventh Circuit Grievance Committee I, The Florida Bar
  • United Way of Miami-Dade Young Leaders
  • United Way of Miami, Women United Executive Committee
  • Leadership Florida Connect Class VIII
  • Leadership Florida Regional Council, 2018-2020
  • Leadership Miami, 2016-2017
  • CREW Miami Chapter
  • CREW Fall Connections, Co-Chair, 2017
  • CREW, Legal Counsel, Board of Directors, 2018
  • Cuban American Bar Association (CABA)
  • The Florida Bar – Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
  • South Florida Banking Institute
  • Children's Home Society of Florida's Southeastern Division (Miami-Dade County), Board of Directors and Vice Chair, 2019-2020; Co-Chair 2020; Chair 2020-2022
  • Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami Women's Leadership Council
  • Urban Land Institute
Honors & Awards
  • Daily Business Review, Florida Legal Awards, On the Rise, 2021
  • Holland & Knight Pro Bono All-Star, 2020-2021
  • Consumer Discretionary Deal of the Year, 18th Annual M&A Advisor Award
  • Top Up and Comer, South Florida Legal Guide, 2019, 2021
  • Rising Star, Florida Super Lawyers magazine, 2016-2018
Spoken Languages
  • English
  • Spanish

Publications

Speaking Engagements

News