David Befeler, ADR Attorney in Tampa, Florida

David was born and raised in the international melting pot that is Miami Beach, Florida. Experiencing a diverse range of cultures allowed him to foster a creative and expanded mindset at an early age. David attended The University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. Following his time in Gainesville, David returned to South Florida where he spent some time gaining valuable experience in the local real estate market. David then attended The Shepard Broad College of Law at Nova Southeastern Universitywhere he made the Dean’s List and expanded his legal horizons by interning at various law firms focusing on insurance litigation, estate planning and probate litigation, and international business law. David has always been attracted to international topics and was fortunate enough to attend a rigorous study abroad program through The University of Miami School of Law. Through the program, he traveled throughout the European Union and developed an understanding of how European Union law is applied in coordination with the laws of The United States of America in a wide range of cases. Hands on seminars and workshops in several European countries covered international business law, international sales, human rights, international adoptions, immigration and complex, transnational family law. While in law school, David also became a Supreme Court certified mediator as a part of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Clinic. Finding that mediation is a legitimate alternative to litigation, David went on to mediate disputes in multiple areas of the law and further developed his abilities to facilitate resolutions in creative manners.

After being admitted to practice law in Florida, David began his career at one of Florida’s largest creditor’s rights law firms based out of Tampa, Florida. Here, he handled cases involving real property litigation, mortgage banking, title related issues, residential and commercial foreclosures, bankruptcy, evictions, and civil trial work on contested matters. As a part of the Freddie Mac unit, he worked directly with The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, during the peak of the late recession. David then worked at two Tampa Bay area law firms that focused on representing Homeowners (HOA) and Condominium Associations. Common issues encountered assisting Community Associations involved the interpretation of governing documents, assessment collections, litigation and covenant enforcement. During this time, David worked hand in hand with property management companies, real estate developers and boards of directors to assist them in resolving legal issues and disputes within their communities.

In 2016-2017, David was selected as a part of the Hillsborough County Bar Association’s Bar Leadership Institute, a program that aims to identify and develop young attorneys of diverse backgrounds who have the potential to grow to be future leaders. In addition to his full-time positions, David has made it a point to give back to the community and has volunteered, providing pro bono legal services for numerous organizations such as: Bay Area Legal Services, Inc., Hillsborough County Bar Association, Wills for Heroes Program and Legal Aid Service of Broward County, Inc. David is a member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Pro Bono Committee and the Hillsborough County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Professionalism and Ethics Committee. Through his various endeavors he has helped individuals in the areas of family and divorce law, real estate and property law, immigration, business law, and estate planning. Outside of his professional life, David enjoys spending time with his wife, traveling, playing and watching sports, photography, music, film, technology, art, and exploring new cultures and places.