Akerman LLP houses a real estate practice group that ‘navigates the ever-changing business needs’ of data center clients, asset management companies, financial institutions, and healthcare corporations. The practice is led by the capable trio of Eric Rapkin, Lawrence Eiben, and Allison Nelson. Rapkin, who is based in Fort Lauderdale, is well versed in commercial property sales across the country, from Florida to New Jersey. In Chicago, Eiben is noted for his strength in joint ventures and construction loans. Nelson leverages extensive healthcare expertise from Denver, which she applies in leasing matters, portfolio acquisitions, and construction disputes. Another key member of the team that clients praise for its ’ability to quickly tackle new, time-sensitive engagements’ is James Grice. In Dallas, Grice is building a strong track record in the data center space. Andres Mendoza handles a mix of capitalization transactions and joint ventures from the firm’s Miami office. In 2025, Benjamin Wilson and Vivien Krieger joined the team from The Viera Company and Cozen O’Connor, respectively, while Sara Langan and Richard Bezold left the firm.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: NPS ®
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘I work with Allison Nelson and Lawrence Eiben who are the Co-Deputy chairs of Akerman's Real Estate Practice Group. I think they really shine when problems arise. If something is starting to go sideways, they are able to help course-correct. ’
- 'Allison Nelson and her team go above and beyond to efficiently and effectively achieve the best outcomes. They have the ability to pivot and navigate the ever-changing needs of the business without missing a beat. I value the partnership my team has with them. ’
- ‘Allison Nelson and her team are amongst the best I've had the pleasure of working with in over 30 years of doing commercial real estate projects. The attention to detail with the amount of workload is truly impressive. Allison and the team respond to issues and needs in a timely and efficient manner. They make me feel like I am their only client, which again is very impressive with the amount of workload they have with this account. ’
- ‘Akerman thinks strategically and negotiates the legal terms of our commercial leases accordingly. Akerman treats our money as if it were their own. ’
- 'The team go above and beyond to make sure every need that we have is met. Thankful for their dedication to us and hours of compromise to ensure operations aren't negatively impacted. ’
- ‘Akerman has a vast team of real estate attorneys who thrive in detail and ensure their client has max protection in its obligations. Their bandwidth and ability to quickly tackle new, time-sensitive engagements make their partnership valuable. Overall, their expertise in the scope of practice gives me confidence in their product. ’
Key clients
- Switch, Ltd.
- TECFusions, Inc.
- Clean Arc Data Centers
- GT USA
- Sumitomo Corporation of Americas
- Titan Capital ID, LLC
- A. Walker & Co. (AWC)
- Ajax Partners
- MDRH Holdings
- Titan Capital ID, LLC
Work highlights
Represented Switch in negotiating a build-to-suit lease that included both powered shell and hybrid turn-key data center space, all of which will be owned and constructed by Switch.
Represented Clean Arc Data Centers with the purchase of a site in Virginia that will be home to an approximately 635-acre data center campus.
Practice head
Eric Rapkin; Lawrence Eiben; Allison Nelson
Other key lawyers
James Grice; Andres Mendoza; Elissa Weiss; Benjamin Wilson; Vivien Krieger