George Powell serves as managing partner of Akerman’s Naples office. George protects real property rights and focuses his practice on real property taxation, eminent domain/property condemnation, land use and entitlements, and real estate transactions. His clients include financial institutions, developers, and other private property owners. He also counsels the outdoor advertising industry in condemnation, amortization, property tax, and permitting matters nationwide. Leveraging the firm’s presence in key markets throughout the United States, he has one of the few national practices in this sector.
George holds the MAI professional designation from the Appraisal Institute. Prior to his law career, he led a regional real estate valuation firm that provided litigation support in complex eminent domain and real property tax matters and consulted on real property loan workouts and repositioning for failed development projects.
A former U.S. Army counterintelligence officer, George devotes his pro bono practice to representing veterans before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans' Claims to secure denied service-related benefits.
People
George W. Powell Jr., MAI
Office Managing Partner
Notable Work
Eminent Domain:
Represents a leading automotive aftermarket chain with more than 800 locations in all 50 states and Puerto Rico in eminent domain matters. Leverages in-depth knowledge of the company’s products and business operations to provide creative, cost-efficient solutions in every market it serves.
Real Property Taxation:
Represents regional and national entities, including the nation’s third-largest outdoor advertiser and a leading luxury homebuilder, in valuations and assessments, exemptions, filing, and appeals, among others.
Florida Homestead Protection:
Represents clients on all Homestead-related issues, including unintentionally fraudulent exemptions. Strong track record of securing swift, successful removal of homestead liens.
Published Work and Lectures
- 35th Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School, Speaker, "The Keys to Success for the Practicing Engineer," July 20, 2021
- Akerman's Guide to Doing Business in Florida: A Legal Guide for Out-of-State and Foreign Businesses, Author, "Eminent Domain," 2013 and 2016
- Florida Chamber of Commerce 28th Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School, Speaker, "Board Laws and Rules for Engineers," July 2014
- Guide to Doing Business in Florida, Co-Author, "Real Estate Regulation," August 2011
Affiliations
- Appraisal Institute, National Client Advisory Board, Member
- The Counselors of Real Estate (CRE), Past Board of Directors
- National Association of Realtors (NAR), Commercial Legislation and Regulatory Advisory Board, Member
- Florida Outdoor Advertising Association, Member
- Outdoor Advertising Association of America, Member
- International Council of Shopping Centers, Member
- Collier County Bar Association, Member
- The Florida Bar, Eminent Domain Committee, Member
- United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Bar Association
- Florida Association of Property Tax Professionals, Member
- International Association of Assessing Officials - Florida Chapter, Member
- Florida Sport Shooting Association, Director and Treasurer
- Serafina at Tiburon Homeowners Association, Director and President
- Continental Bank of New Jersey, Past Director
- Rutgers University, Real Property Appraisal II, Former Adjunct Instructor
- The American Red Cross, Florida's Southern Gulf Region, Former Director
Honors and Distinctions
- The Legal 500 2011, Recommended for Real Estate
- Certified Mediator, Florida Supreme Court
- Qualified Arbitrator, Florida Supreme Court
- Certified General Real Estate Appraiser, New Jersey, 1992-2005
- Licensed Real Estate Broker, New Jersey, 1982-2005
- Certified Tax Assessor, New Jersey, 1982-2011