Serving Fayette County, Georgia and St. Lucie County, Florida
Commercial and Residential Law Attorney Serving Port St. Lucie and St. Lucie County, Florida
From contract to courtroom — one firm for both.
Linnes Finney Jr. — Your Commercial and Residential Law Attorney
Linnes Finney Jr. handles commercial and residential law matters at our Port St. Lucie, Florida office. He is Florida Bar Board Certified in Civil Trial Law, served as the 64th President of the National Bar Association in 2006, and has litigated commercial disputes in more than 20 states. That litigation background is not incidental to transactional work — it means he reviews every contract and lease with a clear understanding of what terms create risk and what a dispute over those terms looks like in court.
At a boutique five-attorney firm, your matter is handled directly by the attorney you hire. Linnes works with commercial and residential clients from contract review through closing — and through litigation if the deal falls apart.
Commercial and Residential Law Services in Florida
Commercial lease review and negotiation
Commercial lease review and negotiation — reviewing terms, flagging risk, and negotiating favorable provisions before you sign
Commercial purchase and sale transactions
Commercial purchase and sale transactions — contract review, due diligence, and closing representation for commercial property buyers and sellers
Residential purchase and sale transactions
Residential purchase and sale transactions — contract review and closing representation for residential buyers and sellers
Real estate contract disputes
Real estate contract disputes — breach of contract, failure to close, earnest money disputes, and misrepresentation claims
Title issues
Title issues — resolving title defects, boundary disputes, and encumbrance issues that affect a transaction or property use
Commercial property disputes
Commercial property disputes — ownership disputes, easement conflicts, and property rights issues between commercial parties
Advance directives
Written instructions for your medical care if you are unable to communicate them yourself
Healthcare surrogates
Florida-specific designation naming the person authorized to make medical decisions on your behalf
Review It Before You Sign It
A commercial lease is one of the most consequential contracts a business owner signs. Personal guarantees, rent escalation clauses, tenant improvement allowances, exclusivity provisions, and early termination penalties are standard lease terms that most tenants do not fully understand until they become a problem.
The cost of having an attorney review a commercial lease before signing is a fraction of what a disputed lease costs to litigate — or what a bad lease costs to live with. Linnes Finney Jr. reviews commercial leases with the eye of a litigator who has seen which terms generate disputes and which landlords use to their advantage.
This Page vs. Property Law & Landlord-Tenant
Commercial & Residential Law covers transactions and commercial disputes — the purchase, sale, lease negotiation, and contract disputes that arise when real property changes hands or when commercial parties disagree on terms.
Property Law & Landlord-Tenant covers the ongoing relationship between landlords and tenants — residential and commercial evictions, lease enforcement, security deposits, and habitability disputes.
If you are signing a commercial lease or buying property, you are in the right place. If you are a landlord dealing with a tenant issue or a tenant dealing with a landlord, see our Property Law & Landlord-Tenant page.
Serving Port St. Lucie and the Treasure Coast
Our Port St. Lucie office handles commercial and residential law matters for clients across St. Lucie County and the surrounding area, including Fort Pierce, Tradition, Jensen Beach, and Palm City.
(772) 873-5900 — Florida Office
Common Questions About Commercial and Residential Law in Florida
Do I need an attorney to review a commercial lease in Florida?
Florida law does not require an attorney to sign a commercial lease, but commercial leases are typically drafted by landlord's counsel and favor the landlord's interests. Personal guarantee provisions, rent escalation clauses, exclusivity limitations, and early termination penalties are terms that can significantly affect a business's financial exposure for years. An attorney reviews the lease, identifies unfavorable terms, and negotiates modifications before you are bound by them.
What happens if a seller backs out of a real estate contract in Florida?
If a seller breaches a purchase and sale contract in Florida, the buyer typically has two remedies: specific performance — asking a court to compel the seller to complete the transaction — or rescission and recovery of the earnest money deposit plus damages. Which remedy is available and appropriate depends on the contract terms, the reason for the breach, and whether specific performance is feasible given the circumstances. An attorney evaluates your options and pursues the one that best protects your position.
What is a commercial real estate attorney near Port St. Lucie used for?
Commercial real estate attorneys handle the legal aspects of commercial property transactions — contract review, due diligence, title issues, closing representation, and lease negotiation — and resolve disputes when transactions or lease relationships break down. At our Port St. Lucie office, Linnes Finney Jr. handles both transactional and dispute work, which means one attorney manages the full arc of a commercial real estate matter.
What is the difference between commercial and residential real estate law in Florida?
Commercial real estate transactions involve business properties — office buildings, retail spaces, industrial facilities, and investment properties — and are governed almost entirely by contract terms negotiated between sophisticated parties. Florida law provides fewer statutory protections for commercial buyers and tenants than for residential ones. Residential real estate transactions involve more consumer protection provisions but still carry meaningful contractual risk. Both benefit from attorney review, particularly when the transaction involves a significant asset or complex terms.
Can Linnes Finney Jr. handle a real estate dispute that goes to litigation?
Yes. Linnes is Florida Bar Board Certified in Civil Trial Law and has litigated commercial disputes in more than 20 states. If a real estate transaction or lease dispute requires courtroom representation, he handles it — clients do not need to find separate litigation counsel.
Simmons, Finney & Winfield, LLC handles commercial and residential law matters for clients across St. Lucie County and the Treasure Coast from our Port St. Lucie, Florida office. Lead attorney Linnes Finney Jr. is Florida Bar Board Certified in Civil Trial Law, the 64th President of the National Bar Association, and has litigated commercial disputes in more than 20 states. Learn more about the firm on our
Our Firm page.