Michael Boutzoukas
mboutzoukas@becker-poliakoff.com

Professional Experience
Mr. Boutzoukas was admitted by the Florida Bar to the practice of law in September, 1989, and by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in October 1989. The Florida Bar granted him Board Certification in Real Estate Law as of August 1, 2009, which is the highest level of recognition of an attorney's competency and expertise in one or more of the 22 areas of law approved for certification by the Supreme Court of Florida. In addition to his real estate practice, he also provides general consultation and guidance in legal matters to small businesses. Mr. Boutzoukas's peers in the Tampa Bay legal community will call upon him to assist them when their client's transactional issues and pre-litigation disputes arise out of non-traditional situations or circumstances to gain perspective on the best course of resolution.

Mr. Boutzoukas has garnered industry recognition for his knowledge of ad valorem and personal property tax appeals. Mr. Boutzoukas has successfully argued in Hillsborough County that wetlands and undevelopable areas should not be considered as part of a property's taxable valuation. Further Mr. Boutzoukas has successfully argued that parcels lying within Hillsborough County's Coastal High Hazard Area should receive a significant deduction due to the County's "cup for cup" rule, which requires nearly fifty percent of those properties to be set aside for storm water retention.

The focus of Mr. Boutzoukas's Real Estate Practice includes:

• Representation of clients in commercial real estate transactions such as the purchase or sale of commercial facilities, plants, and income properties
• Representation of clients in residential real estate transactions, including short sales, and legal guidance to consumers in foreclosure
• Assistance to clients with legal issues arising out of the joint or common ownership of real property, such as division of ownership, partition or joint ownership agreements
• Drafting and negotiation of lease documents for landlords and tenants in commercial lease settings
• Review and negotiation of commercial loan documentation for property owners/borrowers
• Drafting and representation of commercial loan documents for lenders
• Appearances before municipal and regulatory boards
• Representation in court proceedings related to real property transactions and ownership such as breach of contract issues, foreclosure matters, landlord/tenant disputes and partition actions

In addition to his Real Estate Practice, Mr. Boutzoukas also represents clients in:

• Entity formation and entity governance for small businesses, including corporations, s-corporations, limited liability companies and limited partnerships among others
• Pre-litigation dispute review and counseling to avoid litigation
• Counseling clients involved in business transactions for the purchase and sale of business assets and operations from contract to closing
• Review and legal analysis of business contracts and procedures to identify and assist clients with the implementation of streamlined and effective procedures aimed at minimizing exposure to litigation

Representative Client Services

• Assisting private lenders with the foreclosure of proposed parcels of real property in developments which were never completed by formulating, developing and implementing of a strategy to combine the efforts of similarly situated mortgage holders into an entity structure that would allow for both the disposition of the litigation and operation of the property until disposition through a bulk sale
• Drafting and negotiation of contracts for the purchase of multi-family housing complexes, through due diligence, financing and closing
• Assisting closely held entities with the development and drafting of agreements between their owners for the disposition of individual ownership interests upon the occurrence of targeted future events
• Counseling homeowners faced with foreclosures of their primary residence where the value of the home is less than the amount owed, and reviewing options and alternatives for their consideration

Notable Client Accomplishments

• Completed a complex land swap for a private client with the Florida Department of Transportation allowing the client to improve a corner parcel on a major thoroughfare in Hillsborough County, as part of a series of transactions involving multiple parties and parcels.
• Secured a major reduction in the valuation of large land parcel saving the client several hundred thousand dollars in Hillsborough County .

Activities & Memberships
Mr. Boutzoukas has also been actively involved in the community as a:

• Member of the City of Clearwater Municipal Code Enforcement Board since November 2008
• Member for several years on the Code Enforcement Board for the City of Dunedin (Member, 1992-1999 and Chair, 1996-1999);
• Member of his church board of directors, and an officer holding the positions of secretary, assistant treasurer, treasurer, 2 nd vice-president and 1 st vice-president. As general counsel to his church since 1995, he has donated countless hours of legal services to his church community.
• Member of the Board of Governors, Chapter 356, American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, beginning 2009.

Publications
"The Acceptance of Arbitration to Settle Disputes Arising Under Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the RICO Act," Vol. 17, No. 2, Stetson L. Rev. 421

Bar Admission
Florida

Education
Eckerd College, B.A.
Stetson University College of Law, J.D.

Languages
Greek (fluent)