Overview
Rick Schatz is the Managing Director of the Firm and is a Shareholder in the Real Estate and Corporate & Securities Departments. He also serves on the Firm’s Board of Directors. Rick handles commercial real estate matters, working extensively in the hospitality and restaurant industries on high-profile projects in South Florida and across the state. He also represents public and private companies in a wide variety of complex corporate and securities matters including mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and corporate governance.
Representative Experience
- Represented Metromall Partners, LTD (“Metromall”) in the $14.5 million sale of the Metromall Building in the heart of downtown Miami’s jewelry district. The sale included the assignment of a 99-year ground lease executed in 1945.
- Represented the landlord in the negotiation of a 150,000 square foot lease with an international law firm and a 60,000 square foot lease with an international accounting firm in a new, downtown Miami, Florida mixed use project.
- Represented developer in a $250 million construction loan for a mixed use office, hotel and retail project in downtown Miami, Florida.
- Represented the landlord in the negotiation of a restaurant lease with a celebrity chef. Also, negotiated another restaurant lease for the same development with a high-end restaurant group.
- Represented hotel developers in $300 million restructuring.
- Represented hotel developers in all aspects of new five star hotel resort development.
- Represented owners of a private gaming business in a $200 million cash sale to a public gaming company.
- Represented a privately held construction company in the $60 million sale of company.
- Represents hotel and resort owners in the development, financing, purchase and sale of numerous hotel properties.
- Represents several hotel owners in the first execution of agreements with celebrity chefs for restaurants located in various hotel properties.
- Represents developers in all aspects of mixed use hotel, office, and retail development.
- Represents several restaurant companies in all aspects of their business, including purchases, sales, lease negations, equity and debt financings, licensing and distribution agreements, and franchise issues.
- Represents public and private companies in reverse “blind pool” mergers.
- Represents issuers in public offerings including debt, equity, and 144A offerings.
- Represents owners of commercial real estate companies in all aspects of their businesses including purchase, sales, leasing equity and debt financing, and development.
Professional & Community Involvement
- The Miami Foundation
- Past Chairman
- Past Board of Trustees
- Adrienne Arsht Center Foundation, Inc.,
- Past Chairman
- Past Board of Directors
- Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, Performing Arts Center Trust, Inc.,
- Past Vice President
- Board of Directors and Executive Committee
- Meritas, Firm Representative
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Friends For Sylvester Board of Directors
- University of Miami Citizens Board
Recognition
- South Florida Business Journal, Power Leaders in Law and Accounting, 2015-2017, 2020
- South Florida Legal Guide, Top Lawyers in South Florida - Corporate & Business; Mergers & Acquisitions, 2006-2016
- Florida Super Lawyers, 2006-2008; 2011
- Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition, 2009
- AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Newsroom
In the Media:
South Florida CEO's To Know - Rick Schatz (Stearns Weaver Miller)
iHeartRadio|November 2024
Firm Announcements:
Stearns Weaver Miller Earns Recertification in Meritas, the Leading Global Alliance of Independent Business Law Firms
December 2021
Firm Announcements:
Miamians Raise over $10.1 Million During The Miami Foundation’s 6th Annual Give Miami Day
November 2017
In the Media:
South Florida's 2017 Power Leaders in Law
South Florida Business Journal|May 2017
Firm Announcements:
Stearns Weaver Miller Attorneys Recognized by South Florida Legal Guide 2016
January 2016
In the Media:
Power Leaders in Law and Accounting
South Florida Business Journal|May 2015
In the Media:
Manilow Wows Audience at Adrienne Arsht Center Annual Gala
Haute Living|May 2015
In the Media:
Industry Leaders Will Help Guide The Miami Foundation’s Community Impact And Record Growth
The Miami Foundation News|March 2015