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Top-Ranked Real Estate Lawyers in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.216 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked real estate lawyers in Fort Lauderdale, Florida are Howard Allen Cohen (LexRank 88.00), Mark Frederick Grant (88.00) and Salome J Zikakis (84.00).

This ranking lists 16 real estate lawyers in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. All 16 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in Real Estate Law by The Florida Bar, a credential held by 4.9% of Florida lawyers in any field. Their experience ranges from 13 to 52 years in practice. 2 of the 16 list Spanish on their Florida Bar profile.

Lawyers ranked
16
Fully verified
16 of 16

The ranking

Ordered by organic LexRank score; paid placements are labelled and never affect a position. How we rank

  1. No change

    Howard Allen Cohen

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 51 years experience
    • Real Estate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #1?

    Ranks #1 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 4.5)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.0)
  2. No change

    Mark Frederick Grant

    Greenspoon Marder LLP · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 49 years experience
    • Real Estate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #2?

    Ranks #2 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 4.5)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.0)
  3. No change

    Salome J Zikakis

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 40 years experience
    • Real Estate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #3?

    Ranks #3 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20). 4.00 points behind #2, mostly reputation.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)

    4.00 points behind #2 (Mark Frederick Grant): Reputation −4.

  4. No change

    Brendan Aloysius Barry

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 31 years experience
    • Real Estate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)
  5. No change

    William Stuart Kramer

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 45 years experience
    • Real Estate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)
  6. No change

    Linda Neale Monaco

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 25 years experience
    • Real Estate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #6?

    Ranks #6 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)
  7. No change

    David Weisman

    Greenspoon Marder LLP · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 47 years experience
    • Real Estate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #7?

    Ranks #7 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)
  8. No change

    Gary M. Singer

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 24 years experience
    • Real Estate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #8?

    Ranks #8 with 82.80: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Experience (28.8/30); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.20 points behind #7, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
    • Experience 28.8/30 (ranking avg 28.0)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)

    1.20 points behind #7 (David Weisman): Experience −1.2.

  9. No change

    Mary-Marjorie Earnest

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 38 years experience
    • Real Estate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #9?

    Ranks #9 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20). 0.20 points behind #8, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.0)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)

    0.20 points behind #8 (Gary M. Singer): Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  10. No change

    Jonathan S Gelman

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 34 years experience
    • Real Estate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #10?

    Ranks #10 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.0)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  11. No change

    Philip J Morgan

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 52 years experience
    • Real Estate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #11?

    Ranks #11 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.0)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  12. No change

    Adele Ilene Stone

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 48 years experience
    • Real Estate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #12?

    Ranks #12 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.0)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  13. No change

    Franchesca Rhodis

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 23 years experience
    • Real Estate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #13?

    Ranks #13 with 80.20: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20). 2.40 points behind #12, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)

    2.40 points behind #12 (Adele Ilene Stone): Experience −2.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  14. No change

    Joseph Stephen Giannell

    PeytonBolin PL · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 19 years experience
    • Real Estate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #14?

    Ranks #14 with 76.80: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20). 3.40 points behind #13, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)

    3.40 points behind #13 (Franchesca Rhodis): Experience −4.8.

  15. No change

    Mauri Ellis Peyton II

    PeytonBolin PL · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 19 years experience
    • Real Estate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #15?

    Ranks #15 with 76.80: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)
  16. No change

    Rebecca Amelia Victoria Rodriguez

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 13 years experience
    • Real Estate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #16?

    Ranks #16 with 69.60: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (15.6/30). 7.20 points behind #15, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.5)
    • Experience 15.6/30 (ranking avg 28.0)

    7.20 points behind #15 (Mauri Ellis Peyton II): Experience −7.2.

Data sources behind the scores

Every score on this page is calculated from facts backed by these sources. Each profile shows which source supports which fact and when it was last checked.

  • floridabar.org · Official / regulatory · 16 profile pages190 facts for 16 lawyers

Real Estate market in Fort Lauderdale

LexRanked tracks 16 lawyers and 2 law firms in real estate law in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 16 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 19, 2026.

Lawyers
16
Law firms
2
Verified professional data
16 of 16
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
36 years16 lawyers

Calculated by LexRanked from its own records on ; data verified . Ratings and review counts count only when backed by a source; figures from fewer than three profiles are withheld. All lawyers in Fort Lauderdale

What sets these Fort Lauderdale lawyers apart

All 16 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in Real Estate Law by The Florida Bar, which only about one in twenty Florida lawyers achieves in any field. Florida Bar board certification requires at least five years of practice, substantial involvement in the field, peer review by other lawyers and judges, continuing legal education and a written exam, and it must be renewed every five years. The figures below come from each lawyer's Florida Bar profile.

Fact about the 16 ranked lawyers Figure
Board Certified in Real Estate Law 16 of 16
Years in practice 13 to 52 (median 36)
Languages besides English Greek (2), Spanish (2), French (1)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school University of Florida, Fredric G. Levin College of Law (4 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Fort Lauderdale office address and real estate as a practice area on record. It compares 16 real estate lawyers, using only facts with a cited source. How we rank.

Florida rules to know

Florida taxes deeds at 70 cents per $100 and protects primary homes with a homestead exemption and an annual cap on assessment increases.

Rule What it means
Documentary stamp tax on deeds 70 cents per $100 of the price (Fla. Stat. § 201.02)
Homestead exemption Up to $50,000 off the assessed value of a primary residence (Fla. Const. art. VII, § 6)
Save Our Homes cap Assessed value of a homestead rises by no more than 3% a year or inflation, whichever is lower (art. VII, § 4)
Court Where cases are heard
State court circuit Broward County is in Florida's Seventeenth Judicial Circuit

How to choose among these lawyers

Confirm the license, ask who will handle your matter, and get the fee terms in writing before you sign.

  1. Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory and check the bar number shown on their LexRanked profile.
  2. Ask whether the lawyer you meet will handle your matter personally, and how many matters like yours they have handled recently.
  3. Ask how they charge and what costs are extra, and get the agreement in writing.
  4. If you prefer to work in another language, check the languages listed on each profile.

Further reading

Sources for the rules above

Frequently asked questions

What is the documentary stamp tax on a Florida home sale?

70 cents for every $100 of the price on the deed, under section 201.02 of the Florida Statutes.

How much does the Florida homestead exemption save?

It removes up to $50,000 from the assessed value of a primary residence, and the Save Our Homes cap limits yearly increases to 3% or inflation.

What does Board Certified in Real Estate Law mean?

It is a credential from The Florida Bar for lawyers with substantial experience in the field who have passed peer review and a written exam. 16 of the 16 lawyers in this ranking hold it; 4.9% of Florida lawyers hold a board certification in any field.

Which court handles cases in Fort Lauderdale?

State court cases in Broward County are heard in Florida's Seventeenth Judicial Circuit.

Are there Spanish-speaking real estate lawyers in Fort Lauderdale?

Yes. 2 of the 16 ranked lawyers list Spanish on their Florida Bar profile. Each LexRanked profile shows the languages on record.

How is this ranking ordered?

By the LexRank score, calculated only from facts with a cited source: experience, practice-area relevance, awards on record such as board certification, professional credentials, data quality and location. Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Payment never changes a position.

Do client reviews affect the LexRank score?

Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Reviews are shown on profiles for information only, and Reputation counts only awards on record, such as board certification. How we rank

Which lawyers are verified?

16 of the 16 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Howard Allen Cohen, Mark Frederick Grant, Salome J Zikakis, Brendan Aloysius Barry and William Stuart Kramer and others.

About this ranking

Last updated
Methodology
LexRank v1.2 - deterministic, reproducible scoring
Editorial review
LexRanked editorial team,
Independence
Positions are never sold. Paid placements, if any, are labelled and do not affect scores.

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