Bobby Brown is a partner and real estate business lawyer with Foley & Lardner LLP. His practice includes advising clients with respect to the acquisition, disposition, development, leasing and financing of various asset classes, including multi-family, office, warehouse, retail, timberland, vacant land, various renewable energy projects (solar, wind and geothermal) and energy storage systems. He is a member of the firm’s Real Estate Practice and Energy & Infrastructure Sector as well as the firm’s Veterans and Allies Affinity Group.
Prior to joining Foley, Bobby served as a senior attorney at the Internal Revenue Service’s Office of Chief Counsel. During his time with Chief Counsel, he provided strategic legal counsel to IRS field personnel and the IRS Office of Appeals on federal tax cases involving complex businesses and high net-worth individuals. Bobby effectively litigated 16 cases on behalf of the IRS in the U.S. Tax Court. Some of his docketed court cases involved the adversarial dissolution of an S-corporation, substantiation of basis and amounts at-risk in S corporations to permit flow-through losses, valuation of real property conservation easements, I.R.C. § 469 passive activity loss for alleged real estate professionals, and fraud.
Bobby has a distinguished military career, attaining the rank of Captain and serving more than six years in the U.S. Army. He was an Airborne Ranger and Jumpmaster with the 82nd Airborne Division when he participated in the invasion of Iraq as the executive officer of an infantry company of paratroopers. While in Baghdad, he also served on battalion staff as the battalion’s human intelligence officer, where he interviewed Iraqi informants, interrogated detainees, served as the liaison to local Special Forces units, and acted as the on-ground intelligence adviser for the commanding officer during combat missions. Bobby served two tours in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Representative Experience
- Represented affiliates of Starwood Capital in connection with the $185 million portfolio sale of seven office complexes located in multiple states
- Represented a real estate developer with purchase of land within a master planned unit development for the purpose of constructing an assisted living facility in Florida
- Represented a full-service touring theatrical production company with lease negotiations for a warehouse facility in New York
- Represented a family office in $720+ million of acquisitions of timberland in the southeast U.S.
- Represented a major U.S. financial institution in a $100 million revolving loan and a $75 million revolving loan secured by over 61,400 acres of timberland in the southeast U.S.
- Represented a leading U.S. renewable energy developer in connection with negotiating ground leases and easement agreements and closing on various land acquisitions for a 500 MW solar energy facility in New York
- Represented a major U.S. renewable energy company with negotiating ground leases, easement agreements, and surface waiver agreements with the owners of oil, gas, and mineral rights for a 514 MW solar project in Webb County, Texas
- Represented a major U.S. energy storage developer with the negotiation of option and purchase agreements for a 400 MW battery project in Comanche County, Texas
- Represented a major energy storage developer with the acquisition of land in California for a 150 MW energy storage project
- Represented a major energy storage developer with the negotiation of a ground lease for a 10 MW battery storage facility in Riverside County, California
- Represented a leading U.S. solar developer with negotiating ground leases for a 80 MW solar project (Alabama), a 500 MW solar project (Kansas), a 200 MW solar project (Missouri), a 150 MW solar project (Montana), a 20 MW solar energy facility (Virginia), and a 4 MW solar energy project (Florida)
- Represented a major U.S. renewable energy company in early to mid-stage development of several wind energy projects in Maryland and Michigan
Awards and Recognition
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Corporate and Real Estate Law (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025)
- He has been recognized by Three Rivers Legal Services’ Low Income Taxpayer Clinic for assisting numerous pro bono clients to resolve their cases with the IRS — both administratively and within the U.S. Tax Court.
- During his military career, he was awarded a Bronze Star for superior performance during the invasion of Iraq, the Presidential Unit Citation, Valorous Unit Award, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Ranger Tab and the Senior Parachutist Badge.
Affiliations
- Bobby serves on the Christ’s Church Academy Advancement Team and is in his twelfth admissions cycle as a West Point Admissions’ Liaison Officer.
- Previously, he served on the Board of Trustees of Christ Church Academy, as the West Point Admissions’ Congressional District Coordinator for Florida Congressional Districts 04 and 06, and on the West Point Society of North Florida Board of Directors, chairing the Academic Committee.
- He is a member of the Jacksonville Bar Association.
Community Involvement
- Bobby currently serves as Scoutmaster for his son’s Scouting America Troop (formerly known as the Boy Scouts of America). Bobby has also served as head coach for his sons’ 10U and 12U baseball teams for multiple seasons. Bobby is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Rotary Club of downtown Jacksonville (previously serving as the Classification Committee Chair).