
Profile
David J. Butter is a real estate attorney in Greenberg Traurig’s Miami office, where he focuses his practice on land use and zoning law. Mr. Butter represents developers and property owners in securing permits and entitlement approvals. Mr. Butter works with development teams and interacts with municipal staff and elected officials on zoning district boundary changes, site plan approvals, Comprehensive Development Master Plan (CDMP) amendments, as well as handling variance applications and other matters throughout Miami-Dade County.
As President of the Miami Country Day School Alumni Association, Mr. Butter has delivered several keynote speeches to donors, trustees, and graduating students. Mr. Butter serves on the Board of Directors of Touching Miami With Love, a nonprofit organization serving children and youth in the communities of Overtown and West Homestead. Outside of the office, Mr. Butter volunteers with organizations such as Feeding South Florida, Miami Food Rescue, and The Little Lighthouse Foundation.
Mr. Butter’s proven track record of leadership goes back to his days as an undergraduate student at Florida State University, where he received the university’s highest honors, including IFC Man of the Year, The Tallahassee Democrat Volunteer of the Year Award, the College of Public Policy Academic Leadership Award, and was a campus finalist for the Harry S. Truman Fellowship. Mr. Butter was quoted and featured in various university publications and media outlets, including the campus newspaper.
Greenberg Traurig’s South Florida Land Use Team has made an impact throughout the state. View a map of the team’s work on Miami’s skyline.
Capabilities
Experience
- Legal Intern, Hon. Cory J. Ciklin, Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal, 2018
Recognition & Leadership
- Team Member, a Law360 "Real Estate Practice Group of the Year," 2023
- Volunteer of the Year, The Tallahassee Democrat, 2017
- Silver Knight Award Honoree, The Miami Herald, 2013
- President, Miami Country Day School Alumni Association (2024–Present)
- Vice President (2022–2024)
- Co-Chair, Community Service (2019–2021)
- Board Member, Touching Miami With Love (2025–Present)
- Member, Urban Land Institute, Young Leaders Group
- Fundraising Committee (2025–Present)
- Young Leadership Division, Greater Miami Jewish Federation (2024–Present)
- Graduate, Anti-Defamation League, Glass Leadership Institute (2023)
- Member, Miami-Dade County Bar Association, Environmental & Land Use Committee
- Volunteer, Miami Food Rescue U.S., Feeding South Florida, Little Lighthouse Foundation
Credentials
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J.D., Florida International University College of Law
- Dean’s Scholar
- Senior Staff Writer, FIU Law Review
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B.S., magna cum laude, Florida State University
- Candidate, Truman Scholarship
- Florida
- Spanish, Conversational