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 – 2025)
- 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)