James Soble

Overview

Jim Soble is a commercial real estate attorney who represents developers, lenders, and investors in complex real estate transactions across the United States. With over four decades of experience, Jim has been involved in a wide range of high-value projects, including shopping centers, multi-tenant retail developments, hotel properties, warehouse facilities, and large-scale commercial financing arrangements.

Jim’s practice is centered on structuring and negotiating transactions. He works with clients through all phases of a deal, including acquisition, financing, development, construction, and leasing. His experience spans both regional and national matters, and he regularly advises clients on transactions involving significant capital investment and multiple stakeholders.

He is particularly focused on representing developers and lenders in the retail and commercial real estate space. His work includes negotiating acquisition and construction financing, advising on leasing strategies, and guiding projects from initial concept through completion. He also represents private investors in the purchase and sale of single and multi-tenant properties across multiple states.

Jim’s approach to practicing law is grounded in direct communication and practical problem-solving. He is known for being a strong negotiator who is willing to engage directly with counterparties to resolve issues efficiently. In many situations, he will meet face-to-face to work through deal points, which often leads to faster resolutions and better outcomes for his clients.

Over the course of his career, Jim has been involved in many significant development projects and transactions. His experience includes work on major developments in Florida as well as shopping center and commercial projects throughout the Southeast and beyond. His background also includes time spent running a real estate development company, which gives him a practical understanding of how deals come together from both a legal and business perspective.

Representative Matters

• Shopping Center Development and Leasing. Represented multiple shopping center developers in the acquisition, development, construction, and leasing of large-scale multi-tenant projects ranging from 150000 to 800000 square feet across the Southeast United States, including structuring parcel sales and coordinating complex development components.

• One Billion Dollar Corporate Refinancing. Served as Florida counsel in a one-billion-dollar corporate refinancing for a multi-state waste services company, handling state-specific real estate and financing considerations as part of a larger national transaction.

• Lender Representation in Multi-Family and Commercial Financing. Represented multiple out-of-state lenders in financing more than 750 million in multifamily and commercial projects throughout Florida, including loan structuring, documentation, and closing.

• Multi-State Acquisitions and Dispositions. Represented private investors in the acquisition and sale of single and multi-tenant commercial properties across Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Texas, New Mexico, and Missouri, managing transactions across multiple jurisdictions and asset types.

• Development and Construction Financing. Represented developers in acquisition and construction financing for projects ranging from single site developments to large scale shopping centers exceeding one million square feet.

Outside the Office

Outside of his practice, Jim enjoys traveling with his wife and has visited destinations across the world. He is an avid golfer and enjoys spending time outdoors. His travels have taken him across multiple continents, including trips to Istanbul and Africa, reflecting a long-standing interest in exploring different cultures and experiences.

Bar Admissions:

• Florida
• Illinois (Inactive)
• United States Court of Appeals (Seventh and Eleventh Circuit)
• United States District Court (Northern District of Illinois)

Education:

• Northwestern University, J.D., 1966
• Grinnell College, B.A., Political Science and Economics, 1963

Awards & Recognition:

• The Best Lawyers in America Real Estate Law, 2013 to 2026
• International Bar Association Whos Who Legal USA
• Florida Trend Legal Elite
• The Legal 500 US Florida, Real Estate and Construction

Community & Professional Organizations

• American Bar Association
  • Member
• St. Petersburg Bar Association
  • Member
• Hillsborough County Bar Association
  • Member
• International Council of Shopping Centers
  • Member
• Neighborhood Lending Partners, Inc.
  • Board of Directors, 2013 – Present
• Florida Bar, Standing Committee on the Unlicensed Practice of Law
  • Vice Chair, 2002 – 2003
• Menorah Manor, Inc.
  • President, 1997-2001
  • Chair, 2001 – 2002
• Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Mental Health Services
  • President, 1985 – 1988
• Jewish Federation of Pinellas County
  • President, 1989 – 1991; 1993-1995
• Georgetown University Law Center, Advanced Commercial Leasing Institute
  • Member