Practice Areas

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    An attorney for more than 25 years in Florida and the Virgin Islands, including 10 years with Fletcher Fischer Pollack, P.L. (formerly Fletcher and Fischer P.L.), Leigh Fletcher retired from the practice of law on December 31, 2022. 

  • Leigh Kellett Fletcher practiced land use, environmental, real estate law and business law since 1997 and regularly represents clients acquiring, developing and selling real estate in Florida and the U. S. Virgin Islands. She has been involved in the purchase, sale and redevelopment of multi-family residential projects, office, commercial and mixed use properties and has worked with clients to obtain land use entitlements and environmental permits to develop and expand commercial development. She frequently works with clients acquiring environmentally contaminated properties and assists them with obtaining brownfield designations and completing remediation and development of those properties.Leigh worked with developers, lenders and government agencies structuring public/private partnerships and obtaining entitlements and environmental permits to facilitate redevelopment of contaminated properties, installation of renewable energy projects and return of distressed property to economically productive use.  She worked with manufacturers and other businesses permitting and implementing new technology into their operations and managing environmental compliance. Ms. Fletcher also assisted clients with due diligence, land acquisition, land use entitlement and development infrastructure financing.

Representative Experience

    • Represented clients in redevelopment and sale of coastal property
    • Represented clients in negotiation of master agreements, development agreements, purchase and sale agreements, tax increment and other funding agreements related to brownfield, redevelopment, and infill projects
    • Represented clients in the establishment, acquisition and sale of businesses
    • Represented small business borrowers obtaining SBA guaranteed loans
    • Represented clients in negotiations and hearings before local governments, state, and federal agencies related to environmental and land use permitting and development approvals
    • Represented clients in federal and state courts defending Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, NEPA and permit violation claims
    • Represented clients in administrative hearings concerning land use and permitting matters
    • Represented clients completing environmental remediation projects in connection with ongoing industrial operations and redevelopment projects
    • Assisted clients in obtaining land use, environmental and operations permits for landfills, renewable energy projects, mines and oil and gas operations
    • Served as developers’ counsel for establishment of and bond issuance by community development districts to fund public infrastructure
    • Negotiated forbearance agreements and restructuring of community development district debt for landowners, bondholders, and lenders
    • Represented clients in acquisition and sale of industrial, commercial and residential property
    • Represented clients in due diligence associated with acquisition of land for industrial, commercial and residential development
    • Represent clients completing residential, resort, commercial and mixed-use projects
    • Served on client development teams for LEED projects

Recognition and Awards

    • President’s Award, Commercial Real Estate Women of Tampa Bay 2017
    • Selected by her peers for inclusion in the 22nd Edition of The Best Lawyers in America© 2016 in the field of Real Estate Law
    • Selected to participate in Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business National Cohort 2016.
    • Super Lawyer, 2015-present
    • Legal Leaders of Tampa, 2015-present
    • CEO Direct Leadership Program, Tampa Bay Partnership, Graduate, 2014
    • Listed among “Florida Rising Stars” in the annual publication of Super Lawyers, Florida Edition 2012
    • Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW NETWORK) “20 Under 40” National Award Winner, 2010
    • Business Woman of the Year Finalist, Tampa Bay Business Journal, 2010
    • Gulf Coast Business Review “40 Under 40” 2007 Award Winner, 2007
    • Tampa Connection Graduate, 2002

Related Publications

    • “Caribbean:  The World’s First Climate Smart Zone?” Natural Resources and Environment Magazine (ABA,Winter 2019)
    • “Costs and Benefits of Green Construction – Is National Regulation Warranted?” –Natural Resources and Environment Magazine, (ABA, 2009)
    • “Year in Review” ABA Section of Environment Energy and Resources, Contributing Author, 2008-2011
    • “Environmental Issues”, Chapter 11-B Florida Real Property Litigation, (Florida Bar, 2005)

Volunteer Experience

    • GEOAquawatch, (Global Practice Group on Water Quality) Chair, Steering Committee, 2018-2019
    • Emerging Leaders Program, U.S. Small Business Administration, St. Croix USVI 2017
    • Sprat Bay Homeowners’ Association, Water Island, USVI, Board of Directors 2016-present
    • CREW Network (Commercial Real Estate Women National), Industry Research Committee, 2014-2015
    • Urban Land Institute (ULI Tampa Bay), Chair, Sustainability Initiative 2012; Advisory Board Member, 2009-Present
    • Urban Land Institute (Florida), Community and Housing Development Product Council, 2014 – 2017
    • Urban Land Institute (National), Urban Revitalization Council, 2011-Present
    • American Bar Association, Section on Energy & Environment, 2007-Present
    • Endangered Species Committee, Vice Chair, 2014-2017
    • Public Service Committee, Vice Chair, 2014-2017
    • Tampa Museum of Art, Board of Trustees; Co-President Friends of the Museum, 2010-2015
    • CREW Tampa Bay Commercial Real Estate Women, President, 2013-2019; Board Member, 2010-2015; Executive Council Member 2015-present
    • Glazer Children’s Museum, Board of Directors, 2004-2009;