Steven W. Zelkowitz focuses his practice on the laws governing business and transactional matters, including real estate, financial services, infrastructure & development, hospitality, and public/private partnerships.
Steven’s practice includes complex real estate, land use and zoning matters for public and private clients including the sale and purchase, development, and financing of commercial and residential properties, leasing, lending, and title insurance. Steven’s 30+ years of experience has allowed him to represent an array of foreign and domestic clients, including condominium and hotel developments and other major infrastructure construction projects, such as airports and sports complexes. He also has significant financial services representation for institutional and private lenders and borrowers. Additionally, Steven handles public/private partnership transactions that include large-scale transportation and public works projects, and businesses establishing in, and relocating to, Florida in leveraging tax and other financial incentives.
As part of his government relations work, Steven serves as general and special counsel to an assortment of Community Redevelopment Agencies in South Florida, including the North Miami CRA, Hallandale Beach CRA and Naranja Lakes CRA. Moreover, he represented a number of municipalities in South Florida, including Bal Harbour Village, Village of Key Biscayne, City of Aventura, City of Homestead, Town of Miami Lakes, City of Miramar, City of Weston, City of Dania Beach, City of Boca Raton, Islamorada, Village of Islands, and the City of Marathon.
Steven also provides the additional benefit of his law firm managerial experience, having previously served as Managing Partner of the Miami offices of Am Law 100 and Am Law 200 law firms. He serves as Managing Partner of Spiritus Law.
Prior to joining Spiritus Law, Steven was the Managing Partner at Fox Rothschild’s Miami Office, where he also served on the firm’s Executive Committee and was Co-Chair of the Infrastructure & Development Industry practice team.
In addition to Steven’s professional endeavors, he is a supporter for his home communities. He previously served as Vice Mayor and Councilman for Miami Shores Village.
- Top Lawyers, South Florida Legal Guide, 2006-2020
- The Book of Law, South Florida Business Journal, 2010-2020
- Rated AV Preeminent™, Martindale-Hubbell, 2019
- Florida Trailblazer, Daily Business Review, 2019
- Ranked in the Category of Real Estate, Chambers & Partners USA, 2012-2018
- Power Leaders in Law, South Florida Business Journal, 2014-2017
- Dealmaker of the Year Finalist, Daily Business Review, 2014
- Dealmaker of the Year Finalist, Daily Business Review, 2012
- Legal Elite, Florida Trend, 2012
- Best of the Bar, South Florida Business Journal, 2003
- Featured in Miami Today on Appointment to MISO Board of Directors
- Featured in "Spiritus Law Managing Partner Steven Zelkowitz Appointed to the Board of Directors of Miami Symphony Orchestra," South Florida CityBiz, March 22, 2021
- Quoted in “Meet the Reubens, the Mysterious U.K. Family Taking the Wynwood Restaurant Kyu Global," The Miami Herald, February 3, 2021
- Featured in "Movers & Shakers," The Real Deal, February 1, 2021
- Webinar Presentation on "Hospitality and Bankruptcy: A New Normal," Co-Hosted with LSAS Attorneys, January 28, 2021
- Featured in "Senior-Level Hires and Promotions for the Week of Jan. 25, 2021," The Miami Herald, January 25, 2020
- Quoted in "Downtown Miami’s Security Building — and WeWork Site — Faces $46M Foreclosure Lawsuit,” The Miami Herald, January 23, 2021
- Featured in "Law Firm News and Updates for January 2021: Law Firm Merger, Diversity in Legal Industry and Law School News," The National Law Review, January 21, 2021
- Featured in “Steven Zelkowitz Joins Spiritus Law as Managing Partner in Miami,” Connect Florida: CRE, January 20, 2021
- Featured in Weekly "People" Section, MiamiToday, January 20, 2021
- Featured in Q&A “Spiritus’ Zelkowitz Talks Hospitality, Rejoining Old Colleagues,” Law360, January 14, 2021
- Featured in "Spiritus Law Snaps Up Fox Rothschild Partner," Law360, January 13, 2021
- Featured in "Spiritus Law Grows Hospitality, Retail Services," CoStar News, January 12, 2021
- Panelist, Invest: Miami 2020 Conference, December 2020
- Quoted in “In Tiny City With 6 Trump-Branded Towers, Real Estate Execs Trade Jabs Over Its Future,” Bisnow, September 18, 2019
- Speaker at “The Future of North Miami Beach, Aventura & Sunny Isles,” Bisnow, September 12, 2019
- Quoted in “Hollywood Wins Push for Arbitration in Lawsuit Filed by Margaritaville Developer,” Daily Business Review, June 12, 2019
- Q&A (Page 130), Invest: Miami 2019, May 30, 2019
- Speaker at “Innovation in Infrastructure,” Capital Analytics Associates, May 23, 2019
- Panelist, Invest: Miami 2019 Conference, May 2019
- Florida Fiduciary Forum
- Florida Redevelopment Association
- Risk Management Association (RMA) Southeast Florida Chapter
- Miami Symphony Orchestra, Board Member
- Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Trustee
- North Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, Trustee
- North Miami Chamber of Commerce, Trustee
- Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, Trustee
- Hallandale Beach Chamber of Commerce, Trustee
- Miami Shores Village
- Councilmember, 2017-2019
- Vice Mayor, 2015-2017
- Planning and Zoning, Board Member, 2013-2015
- Historic Preservation Board, Chair, 2002-2006