FLORIDA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Founding Member of the Law Firm of Mestdagh
ALEXANDRE M. MESTDAGH is the founding member of the law firm of Mestdagh, Wall & Hamilton, P.A. He has been practicing law in Central Florida for more than 18 years. With his practice focused in the area of transactional real estate, real estate finance, and business law, Alex represents international and Florida-based clients in connection with the acquisition, financing, development and disposition of real-property projects. Such projects include the sale and purchase of office buildings, shopping centers, vacant land, mixed-use projects, and development of planned communities. His experience extends to representing clients in due diligence and matters of title in connection with large-scale developments. With his background in real estate finance, Alex also counsels borrowers and lenders with acquisition loans and refinances. In addition, he represents both landlords and tenants on leases covering fast-casual restaurants, shopping centers, industrial space and office buildings. Born in Brussels, Belgium and fluent in French, Alex advises French-speaking clients in the acquisition and disposition of real estate and businesses.
Christopher M. Hamilton is a partner in the firm's Winter Park office with over a decade of real estate and business law experience. Chris protects and advances the interest of his clients, who are primarily banks, investors, developers, family businesses, and land owners, in their business affairs. He is a seasoned real estate attorney, having served as closing agent and title agent for hundreds of purchase and sale transactions and loan transactions of all varieties and sizes. Other transactional practice areas include leasing, association governance and issues, and corporate transactions, governance and entity formations. Chris particularly enjoys challenging transactions, navigating any issues that arise through to a successful closing.
Additionally, Chris is an experienced and capable litigator. His litigation practice primarily consists of banking and lending litigation, representing lenders in commercial and residential foreclosures, deficiency judgments, collections, appeals, and creditor representation in bankruptcy. He has successfully handled hundreds of contested foreclosures and deficiency judgment cases on behalf of lenders-the vast majority of these cases are resolved on a summary judgment basis, but are occasionally resolved after evidentiary hearings. Additional litigation experience includes real estate title claims and quiet title actions, landlord-tenant issues and evictions, business partner separation cases (i.e., "business divorces"), and general business litigation.
In recent years, Chris's practice has had an emphasis on real estate mortgage transactions for banking institutions, private investors and "hard money" lenders. Because of his experience on both the closing side and litigation side of mortgage transactions, Chris brings a unique "cradle to grave" perspective that adds value for his lending clients. He assists with loan evaluation, underwriting, and due diligence for transactions, resolves title issues, and handles the loan closing. If a loan does not perform, Chris spearheads any loss mitigation that the lender may desire (including workouts, modifications, forbearance agreements, and short sales). If loss mitigation is not feasible, Chris will be the lead counsel for the foreclosure lawsuit. If a foreclosure or short sale results in the lender taking title to the collateral, then when the lender desires to sell the property, Chris will handle that closing. Chris's experience with all stages in the life of a loan allows him to avoid common traps and pitfalls and ensure that his clients achieve great results.
Outside of the office, Chris loves to spend time with his wife and young daughter. Chris is a lifelong fisherman and boater. He is passionate about fly fishing for tarpon and redfish.
Education
Florida State University College of Law, Tallahassee, FL
Juris Doctor, May 2005 - Magna Cum Laude; Law Review Executive Board Editor
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Dominic Sieber focuses his practice on residential and commercial real estate.
Edward J. Fore is an experienced real estate attorney who focuses his practice in the areas of real estate transactions, development, and lending. Ed assists clients with their real estate projects from beginning to end, including entity formation, negotiating contracts, clearing title issues, handling closings, advising and negotiating purchase and construction loans, drafting construction contracts and commercial leasing agreements, and handling disposition of properties.
Hazel B. Gumera is an experienced junior partner, and practices law in the areas of transactional real estate law, business law, and eminent domain. She counsels buyers, sellers, and commercial lenders, as well as landlords and tenants of commercial leases in retail, office, and warehouse spaces. She also represents sellers in asset purchase agreements, and landowners and businesses in eminent domain matters.
Prior to joining the firm, Hazel worked as an associate attorney at a real estate firm in Orlando. Hazel spearheaded commercial lease reviews and led a presentation on commercial leases tailored to tenant franchisees at an annual franchisor conference. She has represented all parties involved in a real estate transaction. Hazel also served as Of Counsel at a leading Florida eminent domain firm, where she represented an interstate natural gas pipeline company in condemnation suits across northern and central Florida.
Hazel defended corporations in products liability cases as an attorney at an American multi-national corporate law firm. Hazel also worked as an attorney at a non-profit organization in New York City, where she represented clients in foreclosure litigation and counseled victims of Superstorm Sandy on federal and state disaster relief, insurance, building code violations, and contractor fraud. Prior to that, Hazel was a closing agent at a property management company, which managed over 22,000 multi-family units in the New York City area, and a law clerk at a boutique real estate firm, where she prepared purchase agreements and closing documents.
A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Hazel resides in the Dr. Phillips area. She enjoys spending time with her husband and daughters, running, eating at new restaurants, and cheering on their favorite sports teams.
Education
New York Law School, J.D., 2012
University of Virginia, B.A., 2006
Helen Ford brings more than 25 years of experience to her diverse real estate practice, which includes acquisition, sales, development, leasing and financing of commercial, retail, hospitality, golf course, single family residential and multi-family residential properties. Helen has the unique distinction of having been a partner at two different Am Law 100 Firms as well as having served as in-house counsel at a major financial institution.
Mark A. Grimes is an experienced real estate lawyer, admitted to the Florida Bar in 1974. Mark has represented a wide variety of clients through the years, from commercial and residential real estate builders and developers, to individual home purchasers and sellers. Mark also has a broad background in title insurance matters, having served as underwriting counsel to three major title insurance companies, and as a title insurance agent for six major Florida title insurance companies. He also has broad experience in representing title insurance companies in title insurance claims matters. Mr. Grimes was born and raised in Newport, Rhode Island, and is a graduate of Providence College (B.A. History, cum laude) and of Boston College School of Law. He currently resides in Deland, Florida.
Steve Wall, is an experienced transactional and trial attorney dedicated to representing and advising clients in construction law, lien and mortgage foreclosure, contract negotiation, land development, landlord-tenant and timeshare disputes, and general litigation.
Mr. Wall graduated from The University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Science in English Literature, and obtained his law degree from the University of Minnesota.
Mr. Wall started his law career at an Orlando insurance defense firm. After the hurricanes of 2004, Mr. Wall and a partner started their own firm catering to the needs of construction industry clients. There, Mr. Wall's practice included all aspects of construction law, construction defect litigation, lien foreclosure, contract negotiation, public sector contracting, insurance coverage analysis, homeowner and condominium claims, bankruptcy creditor protection, and debt collection. As part of his practice, Mr. Wall has utilized and mastered various technologies, including cutting-edge presentation software programs and paperless-office utilities, to better serve his clients.
Education
University of Minnesota Law School, Juris Doctorate (J.D.), 2000
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in English, 1997