Edgel C. Lester Jr.

Ed Lester has handled numerous types of commercial and real estate transactions, and regularly represents clients in connection with mortgage and asset-based loans, real estate and equipment sales, leases, acquisitions, loan workouts, settlement agreements, purchases, sales of stock and other equity interests, loan securitizations, synthetic leases, and timeshare receivables financing.

Ed is a fellow of the American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers and is past chair of the Real Estate Financing Subcommittee of the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association. He has taught secured transactions at Stetson University College of Law and participated in numerous programs relating to his practice areas. He also serves as a title agent for most of the title companies that write policies in the state of Florida. Ed speaks regularly on topics relating to finance and legal ethics.

• Represented a health care-focused private nontraded real estate investment trust in its $117 million purchase of a portfolio of 20 specialized outpatient treatment centers.

• AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• The Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate Law (2005–2024)
• Chambers USA, Real Estate (2006–2019)
• Florida Legal Elite, Florida Trend Magazine (2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015) 
• Florida Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers Magazine (2007–2020, 2022–2023)
• The Legal 500, Real Estate Transactions and Finance

• American Bar Association
  • Business Law Section
    • Former Chair, Real Estate Financing Subcommittee, Commercial Finance Committee
• American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers
  • Fellow
• American Heart Association, Metro Tampa Division
  • Former President
• Association of Commercial Finance Attorneys
• Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce
  • Board of Directors
• The Florida Bar
• Hillsborough County Bar Association
• H.B. Plant Museum
  • Board of Trustees
• Leadership Tampa Alumni
• Real Estate Investment Council Inc.
• Rotary Club International
• University of Tampa
  • Former Chairman, Board of Counselors
  • Former Member, Board of Trustees
  • Chair of the Advisory Board, Center for Ethics
• Westshore Alliance
  • Former Member, Board of Directors

• Ed has spoken at numerous seminars in the areas of real estate, finance, and legal ethics, including several recent programs regarding Revised Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, due diligence in loan transactions, and Florida title insurance issues.
• He taught Secured Transactions at Stetson University College of Law.
• “Lawyer's Role and Responsibility in Finance Fraud,” Association of Commercial Finance Attorneys Annual Meeting (May 2010)
• “Judicial Erosion of Bankruptcy Remoteness Protections,” ABA Business Law Section Spring Meeting (2010)