Practice Areas: Land Use & Zoning, Business Litigation, Environmental
Licensed in Florida since: 1986
Education: Florida State University College of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2007, 2015 - 2018, 2021 - 2024 Call today:
305-379-2425
Pathman Law, LLC
One Biscayne Tower2 South Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 2400
Miami, FL 33131 Visit website
Details
Wayne M. Pathman is managing partner of Miami-based Pathman Law, LLC. He has gained an unparalleled reputation as one of Florida’s distinguished lawyers with more than 30 years of experience in land use, zoning, and environmental law, water law, and commercial litigation, and as an outstanding civic leader.
Florida Trend magazine selected Mr. Pathman as one of the “500 Most Influential Executives in Florida” from 2019 through 2023. The statewide top-tier publication recognizes Mr. Pathman for his passionate involvement in the South Florida community which includes his leadership position for three years as the chairman of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce. The lifelong Miami Beach resident is active throughout South Florida. Mr. Pathman was recently elected to his sixth term as chairman of the City of Miami’s Climate Resilience Committee. He was elected the committee’s first chairman in 2015 when the panel was formed and named the Sea Level Rise Committee. He frequently advises the South Florida community on the economic impact of sea level rise.
Mr. Pathman has extensive experience representing businesses, developers, and individuals before administrative and regulatory bodies at the municipal, state, and federal levels in land use, zoning, and environmental matters. Clients rely on Mr. Pathman to advise them on all aspects involving land use and development negotiations and approvals, zoning and acquisition of properties, and all aspects of RFPs. He is a leading authority and lecturer on issues regarding water law.
Mr. Pathman represents developers of apartment buildings, shopping centers, hotels, and historic properties. He frequently represents residential and commercial developers seeking land use and zoning approval. He also represents developers and individuals regarding marine docks and dockage issues. He also represents numerous businesses and individuals with complex commercial litigation matters regarding contract disputes with zoning and real estate matters. Mr. Pathman frequently addresses various government agencies and private institutions on land use, zoning and water-related matters.
Numerous publications have honored Mr. Pathman for his tireless work in the community and his professional accomplishments. Publications such as Super Lawyers, Florida Trend, Best Lawyers in America, and the South Florida Legal Guide continue to recognize Mr. Pathman as a “Top Lawyer” and an outstanding civic leader. Miami Today included Mr. Pathman in its annual “Book of Leaders,” and separately featured Mr. Pathman as “The Achiever.”
Mr. Pathman is often quoted by media outlets such as the Miami Herald, El Nuevo Herald, South Florida Business Journal, Daily Business Review, Miami Today, Florida Trend, New York Times, Newsweek, Time, The New Yorker, Rolling Stone Magazine, MSNBC, and WLRN-Public Radio.
Practice areas
Land Use/Zoning, Business Litigation, Environmental- 50% Land Use/Zoning
- 30% Business Litigation
- 20% Environmental
First Admitted: 1986, Florida
Professional Webpage: https://pst.law/attorneys/wayne-m-pathman/
Bar/Professional Activity:
- The Florida Bar, Litigation and Environmental Law Sections
- Miami-Dade County Bar Association
- Chairman, City of Miami’s Climate Resilience Committee. Serving his fifth term as chairman. Elected as the committee’s first chairman in 2015 when the panel was formed and named the Sea Level Rise Committee. Mr. Pathman represents businesses, developers, and individuals before administrative and regulatory bodies at the municipal, state, and federal levels in land use, zoning, and environmental matters. He is a leading authority and lecturer on issues regarding water law., 2024
- Chairman, City of Miami’s Climate Resilience Committee. Serving his fifth term as chairman. Elected as the committee’s first chairman in 2015 when the panel was formed and named the Sea Level Rise Committee. Mr. Pathman represents businesses, developers, and individuals before administrative and regulatory bodies at the municipal, state, and federal levels in land use, zoning, and environmental matters. He is a leading authority and lecturer on issues regarding water law., 2023
- Chairman, City of Miami’s Climate Resilience Committee. Serving his sixth term as chairman. Elected as the committee’s first chairman in 2015 when the panel was formed and named the Sea Level Rise Committee., 2022
- Chairman, City of Miami’s Climate Resilience Committee. Serving his fifth term as chairman, Mr. Pathman was elected as the committee’s first chairman in 2015 when the panel was formed and named the Sea Level Rise Committee., 2021
- Chairman, Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce: Member, Board of Governors and Executive Board of Governors, 2016 co-creator, moderator of the series of four sea level rise events, “A Time to Start Thinking Differently: The Economic Impact of Sea Level Rise on South Florida,” Chairman of Subcommittee on the Impact of Sea Level Rise on Miami Beach and surrounding areas, Chairman of the Advocacy Committee, Chairman of the Climate Symposium on Sea Level Rise., 2018
- Chairman, City of Miami’s Climate Resilience Committee. Serving his fourth term as chairman. Elected as the committee’s first chairman in 2015 when the panel was formed and named the Sea Level Rise Committee., 2018
- Chairman, Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce: Member, Board of Governors and Executive Board of Governors, 2016 co-creator, moderator of the series of four sea level rise events, “A Time to Start Thinking Differently: The Economic Impact of Sea Level Rise on South Florida,” Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Impact of Sea Level Rise on Miami Beach and surrounding areas, Chairman of the Advocacy Committee, Chairman of the Climate Symposium on Sea Level Rise., 2017
- Mr. Pathman was elected to his third consecutive term as the chair of the City of Miami's Sea Level Rise Committee. The Miami Beach native represents businesses, developers, and individuals before administrative and regulatory bodies at the municipal, state, and federal levels in land use, zoning, and environmental matters. He is a leading authority and lecturer on issues regarding water law., 2017
- Chairman, Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, Member, Board of Governors and Executive Board of Governors, 2016 co-creator, moderator of the series of four sea level rise events, “A Time to Start Thinking Differently: The Economic Impact of Sea Level Rise on South Florida,” Chairman of Subcommittee on the Impact of Sea Level Rise on Miami Beach and surrounding areas, Chairman of the Advocacy Committee, Chairman of the Climate Symposium on Sea Level Rise., 2016
- Chairman, City of Miami’s Sea Level Rise Committee. Mr. Pathman is serving his second consecutive term. The Miami Beach native has gained an unparalleled reputation as one of Florida’s distinguished lawyers with more than 30 years experience in land use, zoning, environmental law, water law, and commercial litigation, and as an outstanding civic leader., 2016
- Chairman, City of Miami’s Sea Level Rise Committee. Mr. Pathman is honored to be elected the committee's first chairman. Mr. Pathman represents businesses, developers, and individuals before administrative and regulatory bodies at the municipal, state, and federal levels in land use, zoning, and environmental matters. He is a leading authority and lecturer on issues regarding water law., 2015
Videos:
- Mr. Pathman was featured in a video produced by the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce., 'Sea Level Rise - Wayne Pathman Profile, Real Estate, 2018
- Mr. Pathman is featured in an MSNBC special on sea level rise., MSNBC Sea Level Rise Feature, Real Estate, 2016
Representative Clients:
- Hennes & Mauritz (H & M), Swedish retailer, Obtained all land use & zoning approvals...
- Fifth and Alton Development, Miami Beach - Handled all land use and development negotiations...
- Development of Town Center Miami Beach
- Aqua Project on Allison Island - Obtained all land use and zoning approvals...
- Redevelopment of Diplomat Country Club...
- Bayside Marketplace - Obtained all land use and zoning approvals for renovation
- CBS Outdoor/Outfront Media - successfully handled RFP for countywide bus, rail and shelter contracts
- Palau Project - luxury condo project on Miami Beach
- Opa-Locka Executive Airport, handled land use and zoning for commercial development of airport
- Crown (Miami Beach/now The Thompson Hotel) - handled zoning for conversion of historic hotel to apartments
- Represented leading real estate company in handling zoning analyses and acquisition for the acquisition of nearly 2,000 apartments located in six separate Florida counties
- 20th Century Fox, lead counsel representing the movie "True Lies" for securing permits and licenses throughout Florida
- Represents numerous automobile dealerships in acquisitions and zoning for the creation of automobile dealerships
Transactions:
- A team from Miami-based law firm Pathman Lewis, LLP represented a large Miami-based owner of apartment properties in the closing of two Fannie Mae loans for the refinancing of 22 apartment complexes totaling 1,146 units in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for a combined loan amount of $77.81 million. The borrowers are Tzadik Sioux Falls Portfolio I, LLC, and Tzadik Sioux Falls I, LLC., 2020
- Pathman Lewis, LLP closed a $36.52 million transaction for its Miami-based client, Tzadik Management. Financing for the six off-market multi-family apartment properties in three Georgia counties was arranged by Originations of Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. The acquisition totals 1,010 units., 2018
- The Pathman Lewis, LLP team, led by Wayne Pathman, Hal Lewis and Richard Schermer, performed the closing of a $81,363,000, 6-county, 14-apartment complex transaction, including $69.3 million dollar CMBS and mezzanine financing package for purchase money financing provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association. Wayne Pathman, Hal Lewis and Richard Schermer, assisted by partner Louis Archambault and associate Salome Bascunan represented the buyer, Tzadik Acquisitions, LLC, and its principal Adam M. Hendry, in acquiring and financing 14 apartment complexes comprising 2,199 residential units in Duval, Hillsborough, Lake, Orange, Polk and Sarasota Counties in Florida. The properties will be managed by Mr. Hendry’s company, Tzadik Properties, LLC. Mr. Hendry, with the assistance of his team, David Runyon, Matt McCallister and Alex Arguelles, engineered the acquisition from multiple seller entities under affiliated ownership controlled by Avesta Real Estate Holdings, LLC, a Florida limited liability company. The transaction closed on October 15, 2014., 2014
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania – Sea Level Rise panel participant at Penn Institute for Urban Research, 2016
- The Victory Center for Autistic Children, Former Board Member
- Chair, City of Miami, Sea Level Rise Committee
- Former Executive Committee member, Museum of Science Capital Campaign Committee
- Member of the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact
- Mt. Sinai Medical Center, Founders Club
- Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce
- Beacon Council
- American Institute of Architects (AIA), consultant on Rising Sea Levels and partipant of "Climate Issues and the Future"
- Miami Children's Museum, Board and Executive Committee Member
- Greater Miami Jewish Federation
- University of Miami, Congressional Field Hearing by Congressmen Joe Garcia (Florida) and Frank Pallone (New Jersey) regarding climate change
- Capital Campaign Committee, Miami Beach Jewish Community Center
- Friends of UM/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce - Member, Board of Governors and Executive Board of Governors, Chairman of Subcommittee on the Impact of Rising Sea Levels on Miami Beach and surrounding areas, Chairman of the Advocacy Committee, Chairman of the Climate Symposium on Sea Level Rise, Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce
Honors/Awards:
- Mr. Pathman is honored to be included in the 2023 Florida list of Super Lawyers. Pathman is the managing partner of the Miami-based law firm and heads the firm’s land use, zoning, and environmental law section. Mr. Pathman represents businesses, developers, and individuals before administrative and regulatory bodies at the municipal, state, and federal levels in land use, zoning, and environmental matters. He is a leading authority and lecturer on issues regarding water law., Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2023
- Mr. Pathman has been named one of Florida Trend magazine’s “Top 500 Executives in Florida.” The list includes the 500 most influential executives in different economic sectors throughout the state. The Florida Trend editorial staff selected the “Top 500” across more than 60 business categories., '500 Most Influential Executives in Florida', Florida Trend Magazine, 2023
- Mr. Pathman has been named one of Florida Trend magazine’s “Top 500 Executives in Florida.” The list includes the 500 most influential executives in different economic sectors throughout the state. The Florida Trend editorial staff selected the “Top 500” across more than 60 business categories., '500 Most Influential Executives in Florida', Florida Trend Magazine, 2022
- Mr. Pathman is included in the 2022 Florida list of Super Lawyers. He heads the firm’s land use, zoning, and environmental law section. Mr. Pathman represents businesses, developers, and individuals before administrative and regulatory bodies at the municipal, state, and federal levels in land use, zoning, and environmental matters. He is a leading authority and lecturer on issues regarding water law., Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2022
- Mr. Pathman has been honored as one of the Top Lawyers in the 2022 edition of the South Florida Legal Guide. Selection is based entirely on peer nominations from attorneys across Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. The publication is considered a premier resource guide that serves the business community in the tri-county regions., Top Lawyers, South Florida Legal Guide, 2022
- Mr. Pathman received the prestigious honor of being selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Best Lawyers recognizes only 5% of lawyers in the United States. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has recognized the exceptional accomplishments of top legal professionals., Top Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, 2022
- Florida Trend magazine has honored Mr. Pathman in the 2021 edition as one of the “Top 500 Executives in Florida.” The list includes the 500 most influential executives in different economic sectors throughout the state. Mr. Pathman is one of only 53 attorneys selected to the 2019 Florida 500., '500 Most Influential Executives in Florida', Florida Trend Magazine, 2021
- Mr. Pathman was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2021 edition., Top Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, 2021
- Mr. Pathman is included in the prestigious 2021 Florida list of Super Lawyers. He is the managing partner of the Miami-based law firm and heads the firm’s land use, zoning, and environmental law section. Mr. Pathman represents businesses, developers, and individuals before administrative and regulatory bodies at the municipal, state, and federal levels in land use, zoning, and environmental matters. He is a leading authority and lecturer on issues regarding water law., Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2021
- Mr. Pathman was selected for inclusion in the 2020 edition of the South Florida Legal Guide., Top Lawyers, South Florida Legal Guide, 2021
- Mr. Pathman was selected for inclusion in the 2020 edition of the Best Lawyers in America., Top Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, 2020
- Florida Trend magazine honored Mr. Pathman in 2019 as one of the “500 Most Influential Executives in Florida.”, '500 Most Influential Executives in Florida', Florida Trend Magazine, 2020
- Mr. Pathman has been selected as a Top Lawyer 2005-2019., Top Lawyers, South Florida Legal Guide, 2019
- Mr. Pathman was selected for inclusion in the 2018 edition of Florida Super Lawyers., Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2018
- Mr. Pathman is recognized as one of Florida Trend magazine’s 500 most influential executives in different economic sectors throughout the state. , '500 Most Influential Executives in Florida', Florida Trend Magazine, 2019
- Mr. Pathman was selected for inclusion in the 2017 edition of Florida Super Lawyers., Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2017
- Florida Trend, “Must-Know Contacts,” 2016, 'Must Know', Florida Trend Magazine, 2016
- Mr. Pathman Lewis was included in the 2016 edition of Florida Super Lawyers., Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2016
- Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, “Forward Thinking Award,” for raising awareness of rising sea levels., 'Forward Thinking Award', Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, 2016
- Mr. Pathman was included in the 2015 edition of Florida Super Lawyers., Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2015
- Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, James McDonnell Outstanding Board of Governor Award, Miami Beach Chamber's 'Outstanding Board of Governor', Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, 2015
- Urban Land Institute honored Mr. Pathman for his project, Hennes & Mauritz (H&M), Swedish Retailer at Historic Lincoln Theater Property., 'Project of the Year', Urban Land Institute, 2014
- Mr. Pathman was selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2019 edition of the Best Lawyers in America., 'Top Lawyers', Best Lawyers in America, 2013
- The Wall Street Journal selected Mr. Pathman as a Top Attorney., Florida's Top Attorneys, Wall Street Journal, 2013
- Mr. Pathman was selected as a finalist for the South Florida Business Journal's, Key Partner Award, 'Key Partner Award Finalist', South Florida Business Journal, 2012
- Mr. Pathman was selected for the Urban Land Institute's, Project of the Year Award: Fifth and Alton Development, Miami Beach, 'Project of the Year Award', Urban Land Institute, 2010
- Mr. Pathman was selected for inclusion of Florida Super Lawyers in 2007., Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2007
- The South Florida Business Journal selected Mr. Pathman as a "Heavy Hitter" in real estate., 'Heavy Hitters - Real Estate', South Florida Business Journal, 2007
Educational Background:
- University of South Florida, B.S., Political Science and International Law, Cum Laude, 1981
- Special Assistant to the Honorable Robert Graham, Governor, Clerked for Chief Judge Larry Smith of the First District Court of Appeals, Florida State University College of Law
- Vice President, Tau Epsilon Phi
- Member, Phi Kappa Pi, University's highest academic honor society
- President, College of Social and Behaviorial Sciences
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- Topic: "Why is Florida Ground Zero?" This topic relates with the sea level rise issue., 'Why is Florida Ground Zero?'
- Mr. Pathman was speaker at a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) event on Sea Level Rise., Speaker, Sea Level Rise, Certified Commercial Investment, Real Estate, 2017
- Land Use Institute's event: ‘Planning, Regulation, Litigation, Eminent Domain, and Compensation’: Speaker on Sea Level Rise., Speaker, ‘Planning, Regulation, Litigation, Eminent Domain, and Compensation’, Land Use Institute, Real Estate, 2017
- Mr. Pathman took part as a panelist., Panelist, 'This Time the Warning's Real', Real Estate, 2014
- June 2015 - AIA Conference - Sea Level Rise and Insurance and Bank
Industry Groups:
- and developers and individuals regarding marine docks and dockage issues
- and historic properties
- and represents businesses and individuals with complex commercial litigation matters.
- Developers of apartment buildings
- Hotels
- residential and commercial developers seeking land use and zoning approval
- Shopping Centers
Office location for Wayne M. Pathman
One Biscayne Tower
2 South Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 2400
Miami, FL 33131
Phone: 305-379-2425
Selections
9 Years Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers: 2007, 2015 - 2018, 2021 - 2024
