Fred S. Ridley

Partner

Fred S. Ridley is a partner with Foley & Lardner LLP, former national chair of Foley’s Real Estate Practice, a member of the Hospitality & Leisure (former co-chair) and Sports Industry Teams, and a member of the Transactions Practice. He also is a former member of the firm’s Management Committee.

Fred’s practice is focused in the areas of commercial and planned unit real estate development and finance, golf and recreational amenity and resort development, and multifamily/condominium developments.

Representative Experience

Fred has over 25 years of experience in representing developers of single-family and multifamily real estate projects and has been lead counsel to several of the most recognized waterfront developments in Florida. In connection with these projects, he has coordinated all acquisition and financing issues, environmental and coastal permitting, and negotiations of entitlements with local and state governmental entities.

Fred’s experience in acquisition and financing transactions is focused on multifamily and planned-unit and condominium development, office, and retail development, as well as private golf clubs and projects that have golf, tennis, and/or yachting as a primary recreational amenity. He coordinates Foley’s legal work for Starwood Capital Group, MetLife Real Estate Investors, OUE Limited, and Tower Three Partners.

Awards and Recognition

  • Peer-review rated as AV Preeminent®, the highest performance rating in the Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ system
  • Recognized by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers (2004 – 2024)
  • Selected for inclusion in the 2006 – 2017 Florida Super Lawyers® lists
  • Recognized by The Legal 500 in the area of real estate (2010 and 2013 – 2016)
  • Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the fields of Real Estate Law (2007 – 2024) and Leisure and Hospitality Law (2013 – 2024)
  • Named The Best Lawyers® 2021 and 2024 Leisure and Hospitality Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Tampa

Affiliations

  • Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament
  • Past president of the United States Golf Association (2004 – 2005)
06 June 2024 Press Releases

Foley Achieves Top Rankings in Chambers USA 2024

Foley & Lardner LLP is pleased to announce that it is again recognized by Chambers & Partners as one of the leading law firms in the country in the 2024 edition of Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.
08 May 2024 In the News

Foley Real Estate, Hospitality Transactions Highlighted in Golf Inc.

Foley & Lardner LLP served as legal advisor on two of Golf Inc.’s Top 10 Sales of 2023.
09 February 2024 Deals and Wins

Foley Advises Cabot Saint Lucia in Securing $100M Construction Facility for Resort Golf Community

Foley & Lardner LLP served as legal adviser to Cabot Saint Lucia Inc., led by Cabot co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar, in connection with securing its $100 million construction facility from VICI Lendco LLC.
13 October 2023 Deals and Wins

Foley Represents Tower Three in Sale of Champions Retreat Golf Club to Arcis Golf

Foley & Lardner LLP represented Tower Three Golf Champions Retreat LLC, a subsidiary of the private equity firm Tower Three Partners, founded by Bill Forrest, in its sale of the Champions Retreat Golf Club to Arcis Golf LLC.
12 October 2023 Deals and Wins

Foley Advises NEXUS Luxury in Plan to Bring Premium Sports and Entertainment Development to St. Andrews, Scotland

Foley & Lardner LLP served as legal adviser to NEXUS Luxury Collection in structuring the equity investment and transaction for its plans to open T-Squared Social, a premium sports and entertainment gastro pub, in St. Andrews, Scotland.
17 August 2023 Honors and Awards

Foley Attorneys Recognized in 2024 Best Lawyers in America

Foley & Lardner LLP proudly announced today that 236 of the firm’s attorneys across 20 U.S. offices have received recognition in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.