
Overview
Daniel "Danny" Diaz Leyva is chair of the Florida real estate practice and also chair of the firm's LATAM practice. A trusted advisor with a broad range of transactional experience, Danny represents owner-operators, investors, family offices and developers in real estate and business matters.
Danny also represents bank and non-bank lenders in loan transactions. Danny supports clients in structuring business and joint ventures. He represents them in the acquisition, financing, leasing, development and sale of real estate.
In addition, Danny also operates as outside general counsel, advising clients on legal matters across their daily business affairs. He has extensive experience in government relations, counseling clients with issues before local and state government.
Experience
Represented a Florida-based bank in connection with closing an $80 million loan facility secured by a four-property office portfolio in Miami-Dade County
Represented an asset management company in connection with the acquisition of several dozen single-tenant retail properties leased to Dollar General across multiple states from multiple owners
Represented an asset management company in the acquisition of over 600 distressed single family homes in Miami-Dade County, including, multiple refinances of the portfolio before its sale to an institutional investor
Represented a joint venture between a retail developer and a Colombian family office in the acquisition of several single and multi-tenant retail properties in Florida, including, but not limited to McDonald's, Tire Kingdom, Pasteur Medical Center, United Rentals
Represented an asset management company in connection with its national triple-net, credit quality tenant leases including, but not limited to, 5/3 Bank, JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Diamonds Direct, and RaceTrac Petroleum
Represented a publicly traded homebuilder with its land acquisitions for single-family home developments across the State of Florida
Represented a multifamily developer in the acquisition of multiple properties for the development of multifamily apartment communities in Florida
Represented a family office in its direct equity investments in real estate with a multifamily developer in Florida
Education and Credentials
Education
- St. Thomas University School of Law, J.D., 2004
- University of Miami, B.S., with Honors, 2001
Admissions
- District of Columbia
- State of Florida
Languages
- Spanish
Recognition and Community
No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the highest court of any state. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. See Awards Methodology.
Recognitions
Named to The Fund® President’s Circle, which recognizes the top 100 member firms based on policies remitted, 2022
Selected to the Latino Leaders Magazine's Top Latino Lawyers list nationally, Real Estate and Business Transactions, 2021-2022
AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell (LexisNexis), 2018-2022
Selected to the list of Florida Super Lawyers Rising Stars (Thomson Reuters), Real Estate, 2020
Selected to the list of Florida Trend's Legal Elite Honorees in Real Estate, 2020
Recipient of the Palmer Trinity School's Head of School Alumni Award, 2016
Recipient of The Miami Foundation's Ruth Shack Leadership Award, 2012
Community Involvement
Palmer Trinity School, Board of Trustees, 2022-Present
Walking Mountains Science Center, Board of Directors, 2022-Present
Palmer Trinity Alumni Association, Board of Directors, 2018-2022
Miami Dade College, Board of Trustees, 2015-2018
Florida Health Choices, Board of Directors, 2014-2017
University of Miami Institute for Cuban and Cuban American Studies, Board of Directors, 2011-2016
Anthem Bank & Trust, Board of Directors, 2015
CHARLEE Homes for Children, Board of Directors, 2004-2013
Latin Builders Association, Board of Directors, 2009-2012
News & Insights
Thought Leadership
- Generations Newsletter - Winter 2024 , December 30, 2024
- Innovative Solutions to South Florida's Housing Crisis: How the Private Sector is Leading the Way , September 24, 2024
- City of Miami Proposes Administrative Site Plan Review Ordinance to Streamline Permitting Process , July 25, 2024
- Florida Sales Tax Rate Imposed on Rentals, Leases, or Licenses to Use Commercial Real Property Reduced to 2 Percent (Effective June 1) , May 31, 2024
- Governor Signs SB 328, Reinforcing Florida’s Live Local Act To Spur Mixed Income Housing Development , May 17, 2024
Events
- "Oro De Ley," 50th CABA Gala, January 27, 2024
- "Real Estate Investing: Challenges and Opportunities in a Turbulent Environment," Day Pitney, November 9, 2023
- "Family Office Real Estate Investing: Challenges and Opportunities in a Turbulent Environment," Day Pitney, November 9, 2023
- "State of Real Estate Transactions in Today's Economy with Day Pitney," HNBA Corporate Counsel Division, August 16, 2023
- Day Pitney Hosts Thought-Provoking Palm Beach Family Office Forum, May 19, 2023
News
- Day Pitney Secures Three Awards at the 2025 Family Wealth Report Miami, Latin America, and Caribbean Awards, January 17, 2025
- Day Pitney Secures Solutions for International Americans Award at the Family Wealth Report Awards 2024, May 6, 2024
- Indigo Properties and Linkvest Capital Acquire Eight-Acre Development Site in Hialeah Gardens, August 23, 2023
- Day Pitney Miami Real Estate Team Closes Approx. $20M in South Florida Commercial Real Estate Loans in Two Weeks, July 14, 2023
- Day Pitney Miami Real Estate Team Closes Approx. $6.8M Deal for Private Client, June 16, 2023
In The Media
Media Mentions
- Top Latino Lawyers 2024, September - October
- Wealth Migration Leading to Surging Retail Demand in Florida, GlobeSt.com, September 9, 2024
- Successfully Serving Families of Wealth for Generations, Acclaim Magazine, May 2024
- Clouds Rising Over Banks?, Sun Sentinel , June 24, 2024
- Palm Beach’s Buccan Restaurant to Open in Coral Gables, Commercial Observer, May 16, 2024
- Chef Clay Conley's Buccan to Make Coral Gables Debut in New 10,000 SF Space, South Florida Real Estate News, May 1, 2024
- How Debt Funds View The Market, GlobeSt.com , February 8, 2024
- What They're Saying About South Florida Real Estate, Law360 , December 21, 2023
- 'Playing with the House's Money': How Buyers, Sellers Are Closing Deals, The Real Deal, November 20, 2023
- How Aldi’s Acquisition of Winn-Dixie Impacts CRE, Forbes, October 10, 2023
- Day Pitney Attorney Daniel Diaz Leyva Facilitates $6.44M Bulk Condo Deal in Miami-Dade, CityBiz, October 4, 2023
- News & Notes, Tampa Business Observer, October 1, 2023
- NY’s Highpoint JV Buys South Florida Site for Townhouses, Law360, September 28, 2023
- Portion of Tyrone Square Mall Sells for $37.8 Million, Tampa Bay Business Journal, September 25, 2023
- NYC Developer Bets on Pompano Beach with First South Florida Acquisition, CRESources, September 25, 2023
- NYC Developer Enters South Florida Market with Acquisition in Pompano Beach, CityBiz, September 25, 2023
- Day Pitney Real Estate Partner Facilitates $16M Loan for $38M Retail Acquisition in St. Pete, CityBiz, September 25, 2023
- Shopping Center at Tyrone Square Mall Sells for $37.8 Million, Tampa Bay Business & Wealth, September 22, 2023
- Shopping Center at Tyrone Square Mall Sells for $37.8 Million, The Star News Today, September 22, 2023
- Tyrone Square Mall Retail Center Sells in $37M+ Deal, The St. Pete Catalyst, September 23, 2023
- Part of Tyrone Square Mall Sells for $37.8M, Tampa Bay Times, September 22, 2023
- JV Acquires 8-Acre Site in Hialeah Gardens For Development of Mixed-Use Project, CRESources, August 30, 2023
- Indigo, Linkvest plan mixed-use project in Hialeah Gardens, The Real Deal, August 24, 2023
- News and Notes, Florida Bar News, May 1, 2023
- Diverse Lawyers Network: Industry News, Diverse Lawyers Network, March 24, 2023
- On the Move, Florida Bar News, March 1, 2023
- Zoo Miami Foundation Proudly Announces Addition of New Board of Directors, Coral Gables Community News, February 8, 2023
- CRE Career Move Roundup - Florida, ConnectCRE, February 2, 2023
- On the Move, Florida Bar News, February 1, 2023
- Movers & Shakers, The Real Deal, January 16, 2023
- The Daily Docket Moves, Thomson Reuters' The Daily Docket Industry Moves, January 11, 2023
- Bloomberg Law's Lawyers, Law Firms, Bloomberg Law's Lawyers Law Firm, January 11, 2023
- Day Pitney Brings On Boutique CEO as Fla. Real Estate Head, Law360, January 9, 2023
- Diverse Lawyers Network: Industry News, Diverse Lawyers Network, January 13, 2023
- Major Combinations in Nashville and Carolinas Signal Southeast's Emergence as Merger Hotspot, The American Lawyer, January 11, 2023
- Coral Gables Law Firm Joins Day Pitney, South Florida Business Journal, January 10, 2023