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Top-Ranked Real Estate Lawyers in Tampa, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.222 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked real estate lawyers in Tampa, Florida are Steven H Mezer (LexRank 88.00), Charles Edward Klug Jr. (86.60) and Michael Emanuel Boutzoukas (84.00).

This ranking lists 22 real estate lawyers in Tampa, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. All 22 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 11 to 48 years in practice. 1 of the 22 lists Spanish on their Florida Bar profile.

Lawyers ranked
22
Fully verified
22 of 22

The ranking

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

  1. No change

    Steven H Mezer

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 48 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 4.4)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.5)
  2. No change

    Charles Edward Klug Jr.

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #2 with 86.60: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30). 1.40 points behind #1, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 4.4)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.5)

    1.40 points behind #1 (Steven H Mezer): Data quality −1.4.

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

  3. No change

    Michael Emanuel Boutzoukas

    Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 37 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). 2.60 points behind #2, mostly reputation.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)

    2.60 points behind #2 (Charles Edward Klug Jr.): Reputation −4.

  4. No change

    David Ross Brittain

    Trenam Law · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 43 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 27.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)
  5. No change

    Leslie Wager Hudock

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 39 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 27.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)
  6. No change

    Robert Gary Stern

    Trenam Law · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 35 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 27.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)
  7. No change

    Ted Ray Tamargo

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 37 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 27.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)
  8. No change

    Richard Slaughter McIver

    Kass Shuler, P.A. · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #8 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 27.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)
  9. No change

    Christopher Walter Brewer

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #9 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.40 points behind #8, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.5)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)

    1.40 points behind #8 (Richard Slaughter McIver): Data quality −1.4.

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

  10. No change

    William Theodore Conner

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #10 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.5)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)

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

  11. No change

    Richard David Eckhard

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #11 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.5)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)

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

  12. No change

    Kristopher Emil Fernandez

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #12 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.5)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)

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

  13. No change

    S Katherine Frazier

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #13 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.5)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)

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

  14. No change

    Samuel Paul Queirolo

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #14 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.5)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)

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

  15. No change

    Stephanie Ann Reinicke

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #15 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.5)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)

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

  16. No change

    James C Russick

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #16 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.5)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)

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

  17. No change

    Valerie Stoker Litschgi

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 34 years experience
    • Real Estate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #17?

    Ranks #17 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.5)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)

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

  18. No change

    Michael Van Hargett

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 19 years experience
    • Real Estate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #18?

    Ranks #18 with 76.80: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20). 5.80 points behind #17, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)

    5.80 points behind #17 (Valerie Stoker Litschgi): Experience −7.2.

  19. No change

    Stephanie M Martin

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #19 with 76.80: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)
  20. No change

    Jennifer Michelle Barrow

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 17 years experience
    • Real Estate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #20?

    Ranks #20 with 74.40: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (20.4/30). 2.40 points behind #19, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)
    • Experience 20.4/30 (ranking avg 27.5)

    2.40 points behind #19 (Stephanie M Martin): Experience −2.4.

  21. No change

    Felix Gabriel Montañez

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 13 years experience
    • Real Estate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #21?

    Ranks #21 with 69.60: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (15.6/30). 4.80 points behind #20, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)
    • Experience 15.6/30 (ranking avg 27.5)

    4.80 points behind #20 (Jennifer Michelle Barrow): Experience −4.8.

  22. No change

    Jerrod Dale Simpson

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 11 years experience
    • Real Estate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #22?

    Ranks #22 with 67.20: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (13.2/30). 2.40 points behind #21, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.4)
    • Experience 13.2/30 (ranking avg 27.5)

    2.40 points behind #21 (Felix Gabriel Montañez): Experience −2.4.

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 · 22 profile pages254 facts for 22 lawyers

Real Estate market in Tampa

LexRanked tracks 22 lawyers and 4 law firms in real estate law in Tampa, Florida. 22 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 19, 2026.

Lawyers
22
Law firms
4
Verified professional data
22 of 22
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
37 years22 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 Tampa

What sets these Tampa lawyers apart

All 22 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 22 ranked lawyers Figure
Board Certified in Real Estate Law 22 of 22
Years in practice 11 to 48 (median 37)
Languages besides English Greek (1), Spanish (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 (10 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Tampa office address and real estate as a practice area on record. It compares 22 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 Hillsborough County is in Florida's Thirteenth 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. 22 of the 22 lawyers in this ranking hold it; 4.9% of Florida lawyers hold a board certification in any field.

Which court handles cases in Tampa?

State court cases in Hillsborough County are heard in Florida's Thirteenth Judicial Circuit.

Are there Spanish-speaking real estate lawyers in Tampa?

Yes. 1 of the 22 ranked lawyers lists 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?

22 of the 22 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Steven H Mezer, Charles Edward Klug Jr., Michael Emanuel Boutzoukas, David Ross Brittain and Leslie Wager Hudock and others.

What is the difference between the top two lawyers?

Steven H Mezer scores 88.00 and Charles Edward Klug Jr. 86.60, a gap of 1.40 points, mostly in data quality. Compare them side by side

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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