First Admitted: 2013, Florida

Professional Webpage: https://www.metkalawfirm.com/meet-the-team/

Bar / Professional Activity:

Real Property Probate & Trust Section of the Fla. Bar, Member 2018-Present
Florida State University Law Review, N&C Editor, 2011 – 2013
The Florida Bar, Member, 2013 – Present
2014-Present Attorneys Title Fund Member, 2022
2018-2021 Central Florida Real Estate Attorneys Counsel Member, 2021
Central Florida Real Estate Counsel, Director 2016 – 2018

Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results):

(2018-2020) Represented Numerous HOAs in negotiating settlement agreements and payment plans to assist homeowners who were delinquent on HOA assessments and in foreclosure. Payment plans were effective in allowing homeowners to become current and foreclosures were dismissed., 2020
Represented Numerous HOAs in drafting amendments to Governing Documents and assisting with collections matters, 2024
Assisted commercial Landlord with amicable settlement with Tenant. , 2023
Represented client with amicable settlement between neighbor regarding a boundary line dispute., 2023
Assisted client with amicable settlement between neighbor regarding easement dispute. , 2023
Represented Buyers and Sellers in pre-suit escrow dispute negotiations and settlements, 2022

Representative Clients:

Represented numerous commercial Landlords and Tenants throughout the year by negotiating Letters of Intent, Lease Agreements, Options to Renew, Amendments etc., 2023
Assisted multiple clients with foreclosure defense strategies including without limitation, short sale negotiations. , 2023
Successfully represented clients with easement and boundary line disputes. , 2023

Transactions:

Directly advise local brokers and real estate agents regarding new NAR Settlement proceedures, 2024
Independently advice local brokerages on day-to-day legal questions and custom contract preparation. , 2024
Managing attorney of residential closing department overseeing approximately 10 residential and 3 commercial closings/month, 2024
Represented private lenders for commercial loan transactions, 2024
Represented claimant and settled claim against contractor for misappropriation of claimant construction funds, 2024
Prepared and negotiated join tenant agreement between two non-married owners of real property, 2024
Assisted with drafting and negotiating ingress/egress easements for numerous clients on residential and commercial properties, 2024
Represented local financial institution in numerous complex commercial financing transactions, 2024
Commercial contract drafting, assisted numerous Buyers and Sellers with drafting costume contracts for purchase and sale of commercial development, including negotiations for flips with national builders. , 2024
Assisted two separate HOAs with Revitalization of their governing documents, 2024
Represented clients in negotiating deposit disputes, 2024
Represented numerous residential and commercial landlords through eviction proceedings, 2024
Represented numerous commercial landlords and tenants in negotiating leases, and termination of leases without necessity of evictions. , 2024
Successfully identified attempted fraudulent real estate transactions and stopped the fraud before it occured. , 2024
Assist two separate homeowners associations with corporate mergers and mergers of governing documents to form one HOA governed by one set of DCCRs while maintaining two separate plats, 2024
Successfully identified attempted fraudulent real estate transactions and stopped the fraud before it occured. , 2022

Special Licenses / Certifications:

2021-Present Board Certification, Real Estate Law

Pro bono / Community Service:

(2022 - Present) Board Member of Project Scholars, Inc. and provide pro bono legal service in the way of generalized advice to the organization's board as well as contract preparation and review, 2022

Honors:

Best Real Estate Attorney or Law Firm, Orlando Weekly Reader's Choice, 2022
Super Lawyers Rising Star 2023 Honoree (Fla.), 2023

Educational Background:

Florida State University College of Business, Bachelor’s Degree, 2010

Industry Groups:

Commercial and Residential Landlord/Tenant
Commercial And Residential Real Estate
Community Associations
Construction
Lending

Chelsea L. Metka