Charles B. Costar III

Charles B. "Chuck" Costar III is a partner in the Orlando office of Shutts & Bowen LLP, where he is Co-Chair of the Real Estate Practice Group.

Chuck represents public and private commercial real estate owners, developers, builders and investors, and other types of clients involved in complex real estate transactions, including community church and ministry lender institutions. Chuck focuses his practice on real estate acquisitions, dispositions, development and financing, as well as land use and related real estate matters. He represents clients throughout the full life cycle of real estate projects, from acquisition, land use and development through financing, disposition and, when necessary, restructuring, workouts and other distressed real estate matters.

Chuck has deep experience representing homebuilders in the acquisition and development of land.  His primary roles include the drafting of purchase and sale agreements, review of title, survey and entitlement related matters, interacting with engineering and environmental consultants consulting on such matters with the client, resolving title, survey and entitlement challenges, drafting agreements and resolving competing interests among neighboring property owners and developers and closing deals.  He has experience representing homebuilders at public hearings before local government elected officials and interacting with local government staff to negotiate favorable development related terms.   

Chuck also has deep experience representing owners, operators and developers in senior housing and multi-family housing transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, development and real estate financing. His work in senior housing spans a range of senior living assets, including independent living, assisted living and memory care facilities, as well as senior housing portfolios. He regularly handles acquisition, disposition and financing related matters and advises borrowers and developers on the real estate issues associated with these specialized assets.

Chuck also represents financial institutions, including credit unions, in church and ministry lending transactions. His experience includes construction, expansion and permanent financing, refinancing, workouts and restructurings. He works closely with lenders on transactional structuring, due diligence and lender-side documentation while addressing the distinctive title, collateral, governance and authorization issues that can arise in connection with church and ministry properties.

Chuck is a current member of the Advisor Board of Urban Land Institute – Central Florida Chapter, past member of Orange County's Florida Board of Zoning Adjustment, former board member of Lifework Leadership, a graduate of Leadership Orlando and Lifework Leadership, and is consistently recognized for his legal experience and professional standing.