Raul Perez Ballaga is a founding partner of Ballaga, Freedman & Atkins, LLP. Ballaga is amongst a select number of Florida attorneys that are Board Certified by The Florida Bar as an expert in Real Estate Law. He is actively involved in various real estate industry organizations where he stays informed on recent legal trends, including new legislation and cases affecting real estate clients. Ballaga’s experience, expertise and diligence combine to maximize the optimal results for his clients. Ballaga’s experience includes representation of real estate owners, investors, developers, landlords, tenants and lenders in the acquisition, sale, development, lease and finance of real property. He also has extensive experience in title insurance matters where he has represented title insurance underwriters and insureds in claims involving title defects, boundary disputes, lien priority conflicts, fraud and related matters. Ballaga’s practice also includes representation of businesses and their owners in the formation of business entities, preparation of partnership and joint venture agreements, and negotiation of purchase and sale agreements. Ballaga is fluent in Spanish and uses his bilingual skills to help foreign clients navigate through unique tax and corporate structuring issues they encounter when investing in U.S. real estate.

Education

• St. Thomas University, Juris Doctorate – 2000
• Florida International University, Bachelor of Arts – 1997

Bar Admissions

• The Florida Bar – 2000

Certifications

• Board Certified in Real Estate by The Florida Bar – 2008
• AV® rated by Martindale-Hubbell – 2013

Speaking Engagements

• “Contract to Closing” – Basic Real Estate Course – Young Lawyers Division of The Florida Bar
• “Transaction Analysis” – Advanced Real Estate and Certification Review Course – The Florida Bar
• “Condominium and HOA Lien Priority” – The Fund Assembly – Attorneys Title Fund Services, LLC
• “Title Problems, Pitfalls & Solutions” – Attorney Loan Officer Conference – The Florida Bar
• “Avoiding Title Pitfalls & Fraud Losses” – Stewart Title Insurance Company – TIPS Seminar
• “Purchase and Sale Agreements Including Due Diligence Considerations” – Advanced Florida Real Estate Practice – Florida State University College of Law

Industry & Community Involvement

• Executive Council Member – Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section – 2011 through current
• Miami-Dade Mortgage Fraud Taskforce – 2008
• Florida International University Alumni Association – 2008
• Wish Granter for the Make a Wish Foundation of Southern Florida – 2014