Overview

Steve is a Board Certified Real Estate Attorney who handles commercial and residential property transactions. He consistently helps new and established businesses find ways to enhance their market share, navigate legal obstacles, and protect their interests. He likewise helps individuals and families plan for their respective futures to reduce taxes, preserve wealth, and transition to the next generation.

Representative Engagements

Real Estate: negotiation, drafting and closing of commercial and residential property contracts, representation of condominium and homeowners’ associations, representation of contractors and subcontractors.

Business: formation and representation of limited liability companies, for profit and not for profit corporations, partnerships, joint ventures and sole proprietorships; mergers and acquisitions; business planning; franchises and business opportunities.

Probate and Estates: probate and trust administration; guardianships; drafting wills, trusts and estate planning.

Litigation: commercial contract cases, lien and mortgage foreclosures, partition actions, probate and trust litigation.

Courts & Bar Associations

• The Florida Bar (Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section; Business Law Section)
• Orange County Bar Association; Real Property Committee (1995-1996); Vice Chairman (1992-1993); Chairman - Realtor Relations Committee; Estate, Guardianship and Trust Committee
• Christian Legal Society
• Central Florida Real Estate Attorneys Council, Board member (2008-2012, 2017-2019), Vice President of Membership (2009-2010), President (2010-2011)
• United States District Court-Middle District of Florida
• Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association, Board member (2011-2013)
• National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Co-Chair Real Estate Committee (2022-present)

Professional Honors & Awards

• Florida Super Lawyers™ (2012 - 2017)
• Martindale-Hubbell “AV” Rating (1994 – Current)
• Certified Kingdom Advisor (2009 – Current)
• Community Service Award, Asian American Chamber of Commerce (1995)
• Vision Award, Downtown Orlando Partnership (1994)
• Board Certified in Real Estate Law (1994 – Current)

Professional & Civic Affiliations

• Christian Legal Society, Board of Directors (2024-present)
• National Christian Foundation Orlando, Advisory Board Member (2024-present)
• St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Member and Elder (2022 - present)
• St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Member (2020 - 2022)
• Lake Sherwood Orthodox Presbyterian Church
  • Member (1982 - 2020)
  • Elder (1986 - 2020)
  • Sunday School Teacher, Trustee, Committee Chairperson
• Wolf River Presbyterian Church, Elder (2017 - 2020)
• Christian Conciliation Service of Central Florida, Inc., Mediator (1982 - 1992)
• Orthodox Presbyterian Church
  • Trustee (2015 – 2021)
  • Vice President (2019 - 2021)
  • Moderator for Presbytery of the South (1998 – 1999)
  • Presbytery Visitation Committee (2011- 2020)
• Asian Real Estate Association of America – Central Florida Chapter, Board Member and Legal Advisor (2013 - 2017)
• Asian American Chamber of Commerce
  • Member (1990 - 2017)
  • Director (1990 - 1993)
  • President (1993 – 1994)
• Kingdom Advisors, Certified Member (2009 - Present)
• Guardian ad Litem for abused and neglected children (1987 - 1999)
• Calvin Alumni Association, International Board Member (1991 - 1994)
• City of Orlando Nominating Board
  • Member (1993 - 1998)
  • Chairman (1996 - 1997)
• Orlando Science Center Cultural Diversity Committee (1993 - 2000)
• Naval Training Center Reuse Commission Area Business Committee (1994 - 1995)
• WMFE - TV/FM Community Advisory Board (1994 - 1995)
• Central Florida Family Advisory Board (1994 - 2000)
• Calvin University
  • Presidential Search Committee (1994 - 1995)
  • Board of Trustees (1999 – 2009)
  • Vice Chair (2008 - 2009)
• Minority/Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance, Inc. Founding Board of Trustees (1994 - 2000)
• Volunteer Income Tax Assistant (1996 – 2009)
• Christian Legal Society of Central Florida
  • Director (1998 - 1999)
  • President (1999 - 2000)
• Ocoee Little League Coach (2000, 2001)
• Windermere Little League Coach (2002)
• Orange County Public Library Director Screening Committee (2001)
• Economic Development Commission of Mid-Florida, Inc. Director (2001 - 2003)
• Florida Bar Ninth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee Member (2002 – 2004)
• Children’s Home Society of Florida Board Member (2003 - 2007)
• Orlando Citizen Corps Council Member (2003 – 2005)

Presentations & Publications

• “Basic Estate Planning in Florida” Young Lawyers Division, The Florida Bar (2020)
• “Probate and the Transfer of Real Property,” Attorneys Title Insurance Fund Affiliate Assembly (2020)
• “Stewarding Clients with Declining Capacity,” Kingdom Advisors Annual Conference (2020)
• “Analysis of a Business Acquisition,” Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (2019)
• “Analysis of a Business Acquisition,” Christian Legal Society National Conference (2018)
• “The Why and How of Family Meetings,” Kingdom Advisors Annual Conference (2018)
• “Probate and the Transfer of Real Property,” Real Estate Law Summit, Orlando Regional Realtor Association and the Central Florida Real Estate Attorneys Council (2017)
• “Probate and the Transfer of Real Property,” Real Estate Law Summit, Orlando Regional Realtor Association and the Central Florida Real Estate Attorneys Council (2016)
• “Real Estate Potpourri,” Estate, Guardianship and Trust Committee of the Orange County Bar Association (2016)
• “Final Accounting and Closing the Estate,” National Business Institute (2015)
• “Taking Title: Options and Implications for Foreign Investors,” Ocala Marion County Association of Realtors (2015)
• “Estate Planning for Christian Clients,” Christian Legal Society National Conference (2015)
• “Analysis of a Business Acquisition,” Christian Legal Society National Conference (2013)
• “What to do about Entities in Real Estate Transactions,” Orlando Regional Realtor Association (2013)
• “Like Everything Else, the Old Has Become New Again, Alternatives to Traditional Financing,” Orlando Regional Realtor Association (2012)
• “Questions and Answers on the Mortgage Assistance Relief Services Rule,” Orlando Regional Realtor Association (2011)
• “You be the Judge: Case Law and Federal/State Legislative Updates,” Orlando Regional Realtor Association (2010) 
• “Tenant’s Rights When the Apartment is Converted to a Condominium,” Florida Legal Services, Inc. (2007)
• “Recent Developments in Homestead Law in Decedents’ Estates,” Orange County Bar Association (2004)
• “When the Thrill is Gone” or “What Happens When the Deal Goes Sour,” Orlando Regional Realtor Association and the Orange County Bar Association (2001)
• “An Overview of Franchising,” Lorman Educational Services (1998)
• “Mergers and Acquisitions” July 15, 1997, International Franchise Association 
• “Home Inspections in Residential Real Estate Transactions,” Greater Orlando Association of Realtors (1997)
• “Risk Reduction and Professionalism,” Real Estate Law Symposium, Greater Orlando Association of Realtors and the Orange County Bar Association (1996)
• “Florida’s New Private Property Rights Protection Act,” Greater Orlando Association of Realtors (1996)
• “Property Management Update,” Real Estate Law Symposium, Greater Orlando Association of Realtors (1995)
• “How to Analyze a Franchising Opportunity,” Orange County Bar Association (1995)
• "Estate Planning Issues," Merrill Lynch (1995)
• "Mortgage Law Update," Real Estate Law Symposium (1994)
• "The New Mortgage Foreclosure Law," Real Estate Law Symposium (1993)
• "Probate Estate Administration and the Transfer of Real Property," Real Estate Law Symposium (1992)
• "Living Wills," Rosemont Rotary Club (1992)
• "Special Rules Apply for Nonresident Aliens," Realtor Report (1992)
• "Is Time of the Essence? - Here's What the Courts Say," Realtor Report (1992) 
• Co-author, "Petroleum Contamination Site Cleanup," Florida Truck News (1991) 
• "Using the FAR/BAR Contract," ERA Realty of Central Florida (1991)
• "Protecting Your Business from Lawsuits," International Special Events Society (1991)
• "Shareholders' Agreements," BDO Seidman (1990)