Profile
Iris Escarra is Co-Chair of the Firm’s Land Use Practice and practices land use, zoning and procurement law, and is certified by The Florida Bar as an expert in city, county and local government law. She represents land owners and developers in every phase of a property's development and operation, including conducting due diligence regarding the property's development potential, obtaining all local and state entitlements for new construction, redevelopment, and the introduction of new uses or the preservation of existing uses.
Iris also secures local government approvals, including platting, waiver, warrants, major use special permits, special exceptions, variances, special area plans, modifications to ordinances, historic preservation approval, DRI approvals, marina approvals, rezoning and comprehensive plan amendments. Once development occurs, she continues to serve her clients by resolving complex code enforcement matters that may arise.
Concentrations
- Governmental affairs
- Land use representation
- Procurement
- Real estate transactions
- City, county and local government law
- Subdivision law
Capabilities
Experience
- CBS Outdoor Americas, Inc.
- Fuel Miami
- Grand Amherst
- JC Decaux Airport, Inc.
- Outfront Media
- Suffolk Construction
- 747 NW 2nd Ave Residences
- 1000 Biscayne Blvd
- 1111 Brickell Bay Drive
- 2000 Biscayne
- 7880 Biscayne
- Aria on the Bay
- Art Plaza
- Aston Martin Building
- Atton Hotel
- Auberge - 1400 Biscayne
- Baltus House
- Brickell Heights
- Brickell First - Coral Way
- Brickell Flatiron
- Canvas
- Cocowalk renewal
- CVS Stores
- Elysee
- Gables Residences - Milton
- Gran Paraiso
- Grove at Grand Bay
- Grove House Hotel
- Grove Village
- Hyde Midtown
- Iconbay
- Icon Biscayne
- Intown Miami
- Le Parc - 17th and 1st Ave
- Little Farm - El Portal
- Mana Wynwood
- Max Miami
- Miami Art Museum
- Miami Bay Club
- Miami Jewish Home
- Miami Science Museum
- Miami Plaza
- Miami World Center
- Melody
- Milicento
- My Brickell
- Offices on Mary Street
- One Brickell - 444 Brickell
- One Paraiso
- One River Point
- Paraiso Bay
- Paraiso Bayviews
- Park Grove
- Quadro - 3900 Biscayne
- Reflections - 1000 NW 7 Street
- Riverside Wharf
- Science Museum
- SLS Brickell
- SLS Lux
- Square Station
- The Bond
- The Miles
- Vagabond
- Wynwood 26
- Wynwood 29
- Wynwood Bazbaz
- MANA Wynwood Special Area Plan
- Miami Jewish Health Systems Special Area Plan
- Miami World Center Special District
- 7880 Biscayne
- Anchorage Way
- Bayonne Bayside
- Brickell First - Coral Way
- Brickell Flatiron
- Civica
- Center Brickeel
- Cocowalk renewal
- CVS on 57
- District 36 Plat
- Iconbay
- Ican Bay Plat
- Ilana Plat
- Filling Station
- Florence
- Gallery Art
- Gran Paraiso
- Grove at Grand Bay
- Lafayette
- Little Farm - El Portal
- Melody
- Miami Arts
- Miami World Center
- Miami Jewish Health System
- Miami Plaza
- NE Twenty Third Street
- Northwestern Tracts
- Oasis on Biscayne Bay
- One Broadway
- One Paraiso Plat
- Quadro - 3900 Biscayne
- Riverside Wharf
- Sandpiper Villas
- St. Gaudens
- Tabitha Subdivision
- Tigervest
- Tierra Acres
- Tuscon Place
- Villa Patricia
- Versailles
- Versailles West
- YMCA Carver
- National Young Arts Campus
- Assistant City Attorney, City Attorney's Office, Miami, FL, 2002-2004
- Judicial Law Clerk, Judge Eleanor Schockett, Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court, 1999
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Land Use and Zoning Law; Real Estate Law, 2021-2024
- Team Member, a Law360 "Environmental Practice Group of the Year," 2022
- Recipient, "President's Award," Builders Association of South Florida, 2021
- Recipient, South Florida Business & Wealth, Prestigious Women Award, 2020-2021
- Listed, Chambers USA Guide, 2018-2023
- Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use, 2019-2023
- “Up and Coming,” 2018
- Listed, The Legal 500 United States, Real Estate: Land Use/Zoning, "Recommended Lawyer," 2022-2023
- Team Member, Chambers & Partners USA Real Estate Law Firm of the Year, 2013, 2017-2018, and 2022
- South Florida Power Women, Bisnow, 2018
- Listed, South Florida Business Journal, "People on the Move," 2017
- Listed, The Legal 500 United States, Real Estate and Construction - Land Use/Zoning, 2016
- Team Member, U.S. News - Best Lawyers®, Best Law Firms Edition
- "Law Firm of the Year," Environmental Law, 2016 "Law Firm of the Year," Environmental Law, 2016
- "Law Firm of the Year," in Real Estate Law, 2015
- "Government Relations Law Firm of the Year," 2014
- Ranked, Tier 1 - Government Relations, Miami Metropolitan Area
- Listed, South Florida Legal Guide, 2008-2021
- Listed, "Top Lawyer," 2012-2021
- Midyear 2012
- Listed, "Top Up and Comer," 2008-2012
- Team Member, Latin Builders Association, “Law Firm of the Year,” 2017
- Listed, Daily Business Review, Most Effective Lawyers - Government Relations and Regulation, 2016
- Selected, South Florida Business Journal, one of 25 "Influential Business Women," 2015
- Team Member, a Law360 "Real Estate Practice Group of the Year," 2013, 2015, and 2022
- Recipient, "Networking Deal of the Year Award," CREW-Miami, 2014
- Team Member, The Legal 500 United States, "Top Tier" Firm in Real Estate, 2014
- Listed, Florida Super Lawyers, "Rising Star," 2009-2014
- Recipient, "Star Award," CREW-Miami, 2010
- Selected, Real Estate Florida, "40 Under 40," 2009
- Board Member, Latin Builders Association
- Board Member, Friends of The Underline
- Member, Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW)
- Member, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce
- Member, Urban Land Institute (ULI)
- Southeast Florida/Caribbean Advisory Board, 2020
- Participant, United Way Woman's Leadership
- Graduate, Leadership Miami, Class 30, 2008-2009
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Dade County Bar Association, Environmental and Land Use Committee
- Member, Cuban American Bar Association
- Member, The Florida Bar
- Board Certified, City, County and Local Government, Board of Legal Specialization and Education
- Former Member, City, County & Local Government Law Certification Committee
Credentials
Education
-
J.D., St. Thomas University School of Law, 2001
- Who's Who in American Law Students, 2000
- Research Assistant, Legal Writing Department, 1999
- B.B.A., Florida International University, 1997
Admissions
- Florida