Becker’s Kathleen O. Berkey and Jennifer Bales Drake Recognized as Florida Trend Legal Elite NOTABLE – Real Estate / Land Use Attorneys
Becker is pleased to announce that shareholders Kathleen O. Berkey and Jennifer Bales Drake were recently recognized in the 2025 Florida Trend Legal Elite NOTABLE Real Estate / Land Use Attorneys –special section. This list features 92 attorneys from across Florida who have demonstrated exceptional legal expertise and leadership in sustainable land use, property development, land use regulation and real estate transactions. The legal professionals have proven their ability to navigate complex regulatory frameworks and to advancing smart growth and responsible development that positively impacts individuals, businesses and communities throughout the state.
Florida Trend invited individuals from across the state’s legal community to nominate and recommend real estate and land use attorneys who met specific methodology and criteria parameters. Nominations were vetted by Florida Trend and the most noteworthy managing partners were selected for their outstanding leadership, business acumen and mentorship roles.
“The Florida Bar heartily congratulates our members receiving this incredible honor, reflecting their commitment to leadership, excellence and professionalism,” notes Florida Bar President Rosalyn Sia Baker-Barnes. “As lawyers, we are privileged to serve the public and our judicial system, and this honor represents those who do so at the very highest level.”
Ms. Berkey is a Florida Bar Board Certified Specialist (BCS) in City, County and Local Government Law and a certified Professional Planner by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). She is the only practicing professional to hold both credentials in Southwest Florida and one of eight statewide. She represents clients in zoning, land use, development, and planning matters, including representing clients before city and county commissions, councils, and boards in hearings throughout Southwest Florida and around the state; environmental resource and water use permitting; local and state code compliance; and private and government contracting and negotiation.
Ms. Drake is a highly accomplished real estate attorney and a Vice Chair of Becker’s Public, Private Partnerships (P3) practice group. Her practice focuses on commercial transactions which range from planned project development, including creation of condominiums, mixed use developments, townhome developments and single family developments, condominium conversions, public-private partnership transactions (P3), which includes representing municipalities, higher education institutions and private parties; real estate contract negotiation, mortgage and asset based financing for both financial institutions and borrowers, commercial leases, ground leases; preparation of joint venture agreements for real estate transactions, as well as real estate workouts and liquidation of real estate owned (REO) properties for financial institutions.
“It is with great pleasure that Florida Trend recognizes and honors these legal executives with the distinction of Legal Elite NOTABLE – Real Estate / Land Use Attorney. Dedicated to their profession, these attorneys show exceptional leadership, expertise in their fields of study and a steadfast conviction for the rule of law. Published in its September Issue, Florida Trend highlights each of the selected real estate attorneys through a short profile, identifying the impact they have made to their firm, the legal profession and the community they serve,” says Publisher David Denor.
View the entire Legal Elite NOTABLE – Real Estate / Land Use Attorneys roster, at https://www.floridatrend.com/notable/real-estate/.
