Overview
Elena “Eli” Otero has a dual practice advising both real estate developers and investors and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families and family offices in a broad range of real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, land development, construction, leases, venture capital-backed projects and joint ventures, across all asset classes. She also advises ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families and family offices on their real estate investments and portfolios, including direct and indirect investing and development, with an emphasis on luxury residential and high-end commercial properties.
Elena works closely with her clients to evaluate opportunities and navigate the ever-changing, dynamic real estate market. She helps clients integrate their real estate investments and assets into their overall tax, wealth-management and succession-planning strategies, whether such transactions are connected to family-owned or privately held businesses, are designed to achieve personal, multi-generational objectives or both. Elena understands the unique sensitivities that arise in conjunction with such deals, and when appropriate, draws on her experience in structuring purchases and implementing post-closing asset management strategies that can help protect a client’s identity.
She recognizes the tight timelines facing such projects and works swiftly to address known and unexpected contractual, zoning, approval and related issues. Elena also helps clients with day-to-day matters, both involving the management of family offices, real estate projects and related considerations and real estate assets and contracts, including subleases, licenses and assignment agreements.
Elena also represents local, national and international financial institutions and lenders in the full spectrum of real estate-related commercial lending transactions, including construction and permanent real estate financing, healthcare real estate finance, commercial and industrial loans and asset-based lending. She has also represented institutional and private lending clients with licensing, regulatory and compliance matters.
A prolific writer and speaker on real estate matters, Elena has been a featured presenter at conferences, seminars and other events across the country. Named a top legal provider in the Daily Business Review, South Florida Legal Guide, Florida Super Lawyers and other publications, she also has been profiled and highlighted in a number of legal and business journals and magazines.
Committed to creating opportunities and building stronger communities, Elena serves in a variety of leadership positions for legal advocacy and charitable organizations. She also provides pro bono legal services to underserved individuals and families.
Recognitions
- Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate Law, 2025
- Connect CRE, Lawyer in Real Estate Awards, Florida & Gulf Coast, 2023
- Daily Business Review, Florida Legal Awards, On the Rise, 2021
- Consumer Discretionary, Deal of the Year, 18th Annual M&A Advisor Award
- South Florida Legal Guide, Top Up and Comer, 2019 and 2021
- Super Lawyers, Rising Star, Florida, 2016-2018
Community
- Champions for Justice Award, 2022
- The Florida Bar, Eleventh Circuit Grievance Committee I Chair, 2022-2024; Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
- United Way of Miami-Dade, Member, Board of Directors, 2023-Present
- United Way of Miami, Women Executive Committee
- United Way of Miami Tocqueville Society
- Leadership Florida Connect Class VIII
- Leadership Florida Regional Council, 2018-2020
- Leadership Miami, 2016-2017
- CREW, Miami Chapter; Fall Connections, Co-chair, 2017; Legal Counsel, Board of Directors, 2018
- Children’s Home Society of Florida’s Southeastern Division (Miami-Dade County), Board of Directors Vice Chair, 2019-2020; Co-chair, 2020; Chair, 2020-2022
- Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami Women’s Leadership Council
Credentials
Education
University of Miami School of Law, JD, cum laude, 2008
University of Miami, BA, 2005
Admissions
Florida
Languages
English
Spanish
