Attorneys' Real Estate Council of Miami-Dade County, Inc.

The daughter of a real-estate developer, you could say that real estate runs in Vanessa M. Bertran’s blood – making her a perfect fit for the firm’s Real Estate Department.

In her family’s real estate business, Vanessa played an important role in the success of their projects by focusing on coordinating subcontractors, maintaining good working relationships with the zoning and permitting departments of various local cities and counties, and conducting site inspections. As her interest moved toward the law, she partnered with a title company, learning the important fundamentals of researching chain title history and determining seller history. As an attorney, Vanessa actively handles a significant range of real estate matters, from commercial and residential transactions and closings to real estate operation issues like eviction.

Her background in real estate was a natural transition into Estate Planning, Probate Litigation, and Guardianship. She has the benefit of blending her real estate background with her law degree to add value to her clients' needs and circumstances in order to promote conflict avoidance via a cost-effective approach of Estate Planning. Probate litigation and Guardianships are never an easy process. Vanessa entered the Probate litigation and Guardianship practice in order to help people through one of the most difficult times in their life. She genuinely cares about each client and advocates aggressively to give each of them the ability to move past this difficult time.

IVETTE RODRIGUEZ is the founder of IVETTE RODRIGUEZ, P.A., located in Coral Gables, Florida. The firm was established in 1998 to provide affordable and quality services to clients in a variety of practice areas and disciplines. Ms. Rodriguez’s practice has focused on matters involving real estate secured loans, asset-based loans, commercial and residential real property transactions, including leases and purchases, business and corporate matters, including formation, shareholder and other corporate agreements, purchase and sale of businesses and related interests, construction lien claims, and title insurance matters. Ms. Rodriguez’ practice includes experience in short sale negotiation, Deeds in Lieu Negotiations and Real Estate Owned (REO) properties. Her legal background and title experience allows her to resolve post judgment issues and title defects for Lenders.

Ms. Rodriguez is a title insurance agent with Old Republic National Title Insurance Co., through Attorney’s Title Fund Services, LLC, one of the largest title insurance companies in the State of Florida, and is authorized to issue title insurance policies for owners, lenders and other interested parties.

Ms. Rodriguez was admitted to the Florida Bar and the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida in 1998 after obtaining her law degree from Nova Southeastern University located in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Ms. Rodriguez is a Florida Civil Law Notary appointed by the Florida Department of State. Currently she is involved with “Putting Something Back”, in which she provides Pro Bono legal services to the Guardian ad Litem program in her community. In 1996 Ms. Rodriguez was awarded a Master’s Degree, in the Science of Criminal Justice, with honors, from Florida International University. Her undergraduate studies focused on International Finance and Marketing and she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, in 1993.

CONTRERAS & CAMACHO, P.A. is a firm dedicated to providing its clients, both local and foreign, with the highest quality representation for their legal needs. Ana Maria Camacho, Esquire, a partner of the Firm brings over twenty one (21) years of specialized knowledge and experience into each client’s transaction and case and provides the kind of personal attention required and expected earning each client’s confidence and respect.

Ana Maria began her legal career by working in the Legal Department at Continental National Bank of Miami, a national banking association, while attending law school. During her employment with the Bank, she assisted Bank’s counsel with all aspects of commercial transactions. Ana Maria had a unique opportunity to work “hands-on” and participate in all phases of the real estate transactions. Upon receiving her J.D. from St. Thomas University School of Law in 1994, Ana Maria continued to work in the real estate arena and in 1996 became a partner at Lorenzo Capua Caballero Camacho, P.A. where she was able to establish a client base comprised of local residential and commercial developers.

During her 10 years with the Firm, Ana Maria gained extensive knowledge in real estate development and institutional lending, and practiced in the areas of transactional real estate, finance, condominium law, probate law, and general corporate practice. In July 2005 Ana Maria teamed up with Gilbert A. Contreras and Jonathan Jonasz to form Contreras, Jonasz & Camacho P.A. which in 2014 became Contreras & Camacho, P.A., solely for organizational documentation purposes.

As an attorney in the Firm’s real estate department, Ana Maria applies her extensive experience in assisting clients with their transactional, real estate, probate and litigation matters in order to provide her corporate, business, institutional, local developers and individual clients with the professionalism and quality representation required to advance their cause and achieve the results required in today’s volatile economic environment. She prides herself on being in tune with the needs of clients in today’s economic setting and strives to achieve their goals. Ana Maria also assists clients in the acquisition, development, leasing, and sales of residential and commercial properties as well as providing guidance to financial institutions with loan workouts, loan modifications and foreclosures. As a partner in this full service firm, Ana Maria negotiates acquisitions and sales contracts, including Section 1031 tax deferred exchanges, short sales and leases, drafts development, loan and construction financing documents for the Firm’s clients, assists them with title issues, provides the title insurance policies and fully participates in the closing of the transaction. Representation of financial institutions includes the preparation of all related loan documents required to fully protect the client’s interest. In addition, Ana Maria handles real estate litigation matters including residential and commercial evictions, lease preparation and negotiations, contract disputes, mortgage litigation and deposit disputes.

Ana Maria is able to apply the knowledge she has gained over her years of practice to a broad range of transactions ranging from the routine customary transaction to the more complex forms of real estate transactions including current trends in the market such as short sales, modifications, forbearance agreements, lease agreements and other transactional work directly resulting from the economic changes that have been experienced in the real estate area.

Professional Affiliations include: The Florida Bar, admitted 1994; Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section; Attorney’s Real Estate Council (President 2010-2012); Old Republic Title Insurance Company-Attorneys’ Title Fund Services, LLC.; Probate and Guardianship Wheel and Attorney Ad Litem for the Foreclosure Wheel. The Firm has been a recipient of the President’s Circle Award - Attorneys Title Insurance Fund, Inc. (2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013 & 2014). Ladies of Harley Davidson 2009-2012.

Personal Accomplishments include: Director of Continental National Bank f/k/a Continental National Bank of Miami, 2011 - Present. Member of the Advisory Team 11th Circuit Fund, 2011 - Present. Speaker at the “Put Something Back” seminars in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Participant on the panel of experts for “Title Teasers” at The 2008 and 2010 Fund Assembly in Orlando, Florida. President of the “South Dade Real Estate Council” (AREC) from 2010 – 2012 & Secretary 2012-Present. Participant at “Round Table” discussions encompassing the real estate arena. Judge for “Moot Court” Competitions sponsored by local law schools and high schools. Founder of the “HH” Networking Group which has been successful in bringing business opportunities together. Delegate for the State of Florida “Presidency III, IV and V”. Miami Advance Team - former president George H.W. Bush. On her free time, Ana Maria serves as a Sunday school teacher and participates as a member of the “First Impressions” team at a local church. She works in our community with the “Habitat for Humanity” program and with Agape House and provides her services as a Guardian Ad Litem in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

Mr. Zimmett’s practice focuses on residential and commercial real estate transactions, as well as will preparation.

Zimmett joined his father, the late Blair I Zimmett, in 1994 and formed the firm Zimmett & Zimmett, P.A. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida in 1982 and Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law in 1985. Mr. Zimmett is Past President of Attorneys’ Real Estate Council of Miami-Dade County and Past Director of the South Miami Kendall Bar Association.

Cristina M. Pelaez focuses her practice on representing individuals, corporate entities and financial institutions in commercial real estate, asset-based and other secured commercial transactions.

Ms. Pelaez has represented and advised national and community banks with respect to business practices and procedures with the FDIC, Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) and Regulation X, TILA and Regulation Z and other applicable state and federal laws. She has represented residential and commercial buyers and sellers with respect to the acquisition and sale of land as well as representing lenders in domestic and international banking transactions, including real estate, secured finance and working lines of capital. Ms. Pelaez also counsels real estate investors and developers in land acquisitions and sale transactions, drafted and successfully filed residential condominium documents for developers.

Peleaz received her Juris Doctor from the University of Florida, Fredric G. Levin College of Law in 2002 with Honors. She is a member of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of The Florida Bar and is fluent in English and Spanish.