Proudly serving clients throughout Niceville and the Florida Panhandle
Biography
The practice is focused on real property transactions, land planning and development, construction litigation, foreclosures, corporate business transactions for financial institutions, consulting, related litigation, and as a Florida Supreme Court Circuit Civil Certified Mediator. I represent two local banks and act as local counsel for several institutional banks dealing primarily in foreclosure litigation and collections. I act as General Counsel for two nonpublic large corporations. In representing one of the largest family owned restaurant franchises in the Southeast, I manage all areas of business transactions and planning, including finance, leasing and acquisition, employment and healthcare legal issues. In representing a large real estate development corporation, I act in the same manner. Legal consultant and advocate for technical firms in drafting of complex and advantageous contractual transactions. I am an authorized signatory for title commitments, riders, and title insurance, performing real closings regularly. Implement complex finance transactions known as Regulation D, as well as Private Placement Memorandums. Act on behalf of developer as Developer Counsel for large landowners and Community Development District Counsel, a political organization and method of bond financing for new development infrastructure. On behalf of the Collins Center, in conjunction with the Florida Department of Financial Services, act as Mediator for dispute resolution regarding Hurricane Ivan related property loss issues between real property owners and insurance companies and as for the current foreclosure crisis. In dealing with clients, employees and professional colleagues, I developed valuable diplomacy and people skills while offering client consulting as well as professional direction.
Education
- Oklahoma City University School of Law, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Juris Doctorate - 1993
- Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
- B.S., Bachelor of Science - 1990
- Major: Economics & Political Science
Bar Admissions
- Florida
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court Northern District of Florida
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court Southern District of Alabama
Practice Areas
- Real Estate Law
- Business Transactions-Corporate and Commercial Law
- Estate/Trust/Probate
- Litigation and Appeals
- Housing and Construction
- Business Organizations
- Employment
- Foreclosure & Alternatives
- Housing & Construction Defects
- Insurance Defense
- Landlord - Tenant
- Trucking Accidents
- Wills
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Banking & Finance
- Car Accident
- Construction
- Contracts
- Government Contracts
- Personal Injury
- Probate & Estate Administration
- Animal Bites
- Bankruptcy
- Elder Law
- insurance
- Land Use & Zoning
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Securities
- State, Local & Municipal Law
Current Employment Position
- Law Offices of Richard S. Johnson Attorney at Law, 1994
- Allure Title LLC Owner, 2014
- JP Silver Creek Inc.lKGM Development LLC Owner, 2004
Professional Associations
- The Collins Center-Hurricane & Foreclosure Mediator (Florida Department of Financial Services)
- Okaloosa/Walton Bar Association; President
- Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator
- Architectural Planning and Review Committee; New Judicial Annex, Okaloosa County
- Mental Health Association, Board Member
- Big Brothers and Big sisters, Vice Chair
- Niceville Rotary
- School Advisory Committee, Bluewater Elementary