Bricklemyer Smolker & Bolves, p.a.

“No person shall be... deprived of life, liberty, or property,
without due process of law; nor shall private property be
taken for public use, without just compensation.”
Amendment V, Constitution of the United States of America

Peter Baker

Email: peterb@bsbfirm.com

EDUCATION:

J.D., University of Florida Holland Law Center (now Levin College of Law), 1978; President, John Marshall Bar Association, 1977; President, Florida Federation of Student Bar Associations, 1977; President, Environmental Law Society, 1977; Appointee, Florida Supreme Court Permanent Committee on Bar Admissions 1977-78; Florida Blue Key, 1978; Dean's Honor Rolls

M.S., Stanford University (Sedimentary Geology), 1978; National Science Foundation Project Research Assistant Scholarship

B.S. (Geology and Anthropology, magna cum laude), Duke University, 1973; Phi Beta Kappa; President & Founder – Intercollegiate Badminton Team 1971-73; Treasurer and Soloist - Duke Chorale 1972-73; Duke Chapel Choir

EXPERIENCE:

Bricklemyer Smolker & Bolves, P.A., Of Counsel, July 24, 2000 to present
Law Office of Peter Baker, P.A., April 1997 to present
Rydberg & Goldstein, P.A. (formerly Rydberg Goldstein & Bolves, P.A) 1994-1997
Barnett Banks, Inc. (Special Assets and Environmental Counsel) 1992-1994
Holland & Knight (Partner) 1989-1992
Cason Henderson & Baker (Partner – formerly Cason & Henderson) 1982-1989
Powell Goldstein Frazer & Murphy (Associate – Atlanta, GA) 1978-1982
United States Environmental Protection Agency - Region IV (Atlanta, GA) (Clerk/Intern in Office of General Counsel) January – March 1978
Smith Hulsey Schwalbe & Nichols (Jacksonville, FL) (Summer Clerk) June – September 1977
Eastern Water Law Center (Gainesville, FL) (Researcher/Abstractor) November 1976- June 1978

Admitted: The Florida Bar (1982); State Bar of Georgia (1978 – currently inactive)

Mr. Baker has primarily a transactional practice, with emphasis on real estate, environmental, land use development, and commercial transactions, but he also engages in eminent domain and mortgage foreclosure litigation and workouts. He has been a corporate officer of and has represented (and in some cases still does represent) financial institutions, insurance companies, residential and commercial development companies, manufactured home and recreational vehicle resort developers, receivers in foreclosure proceedings, phosphate companies, construction and demolition debris landfill operators, and pulp/paper manufacturers. He has extensive experience in loan closings, refinancing, re-documenting existing or troubled loans, structuring and closing purchase and sale of assets/affiliates, leasing, permitting for development and construction, joint venture coordination, and proceedings involving state insurance and local, state and federal environmental regulatory authorities. He also has been involved in developing an entertainment law practice, primarily involved in film financing documentation. Mr. Baker carries a Martindale-Hubbell “AV” rating.

PUBLISHED WORKS:

Lecturer, National Business Institute Land Use Law Update Seminar/Topics: "Brownfields Initiatives and Owner/Purchaser/Developer/Lender Liability Issues; Environmentally Distressed Property: What Are You Liable For And How Do You Reduce The Impact?; Pollution Control and Permits" (1997)

Co-Author of Article "Congress Enacts New Statute Limiting Lender Liability" published in January/February 1997 Newsletters of The Florida Chamber's Environmental Network and January 1997 Newsletter (Vol. 5/No. 7) of the Florida Environmental Assessor's Association, Inc.

Lecturer, The Florida Bar Environmental and Land Use Section Brownfields Seminar/Topic: "Brownfield Concerns in a Transactional Setting" (1996)

Lecturer, The American Bar Association Section of Business Law (Business and Corporate Litigation Committee) 1996 Review of Developments in Business and Corporation Litigation Seminar/Topic: “Financial Institution Law" (1996)

Co-Author of Articles “Court Rules That National Banks May Engage In Business of Insurance" and "Supreme Court's Ruling on Forfeiture of Personal Property of Innocent Owner Increases Risk of Secured Creditors" - Spring 1996 Newsletter of the Business and Corporate Litigation Committee of the American Bar Association Section of Business Law

Lecturer, Environmental Risks & Opportunities Seminar sponsored by The Florida Bankers Association, The Florida Bar Environmental and Land Use Section, and the Florida Association of Environmental Professionals/Topic: "Managing Problem Loans/OREO"(1995)

Lecturer, National Business Institute Advanced Real Estate Law in Florida Seminar/Topics: "Clarifying The Lien Issues That Affect Real Property; Dealing With Foreclosures - Are There Alternatives?; Evolving Bankruptcy And Creditor's Rights Issues" (1995)

Lecturer, Elmer J. Krause Organization and Rydberg, Goldstein & Bolves, P.A. Seminar/ Topic: "Environmental Due Diligence: Aiming At A Moving Target? (1994)

ORGANIZATIONS/ACTIVITIES:

Hillsborough County Bar Association

The Florida Bar, Environmental and Land Use Law Section, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, and Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Section (Executive Council Member - 1992 to 1995)

Member, Motion Picture, Television and Recording Industry Advisory Council of the Florida Department of Commerce (1990-93)