At KEW Legal®, we are based in Sunny Isles, and we act as outside business counsel for the founders, investors, landlords, and family companies who build and buy along Collins Avenue.
Sunny Isles Beach packs roughly 22,000 residents, dozens of oceanfront towers, and a remarkably international business community into about one square mile of land between the Atlantic and the Intracoastal.
Our work focuses on keeping deals clean and disputes rare by forming the right entity, drafting and negotiating contracts, reviewing commercial leases, clearing local licensing, and documenting purchases, sales, and new partnerships. When a conflict can’t be avoided, we handle it in Miami-Dade circuit court and the Southern District of Florida.
According to an FIU community profile, about 62% of Sunny Isles Beach residents were born outside the United States, one of the highest shares anywhere in the country. That makes cross-border ownership, foreign capital, and multilingual negotiations an everyday part of doing business here, and it’s exactly the kind of work our firm was built around.
You work with the attorney handling your matter from the first call to the final signature.
What Florida Business Owners Say About KEW Legal®
“Rather than feeling like just another client, I felt like a priority.” Rodrigo A.
Business owners want to be heard, not processed. This is what that looks like.
“Their support as general counsel for my small company has been invaluable.” Valeria R.
Ongoing legal counsel that grows with your business, not just one-off fixes.
“Professional and knowledgeable legal team… outstanding legal services that exceeded my expectations.” Marco M.
Clear-eyed guidance that delivers on what it promises.
“As fellow legal professionals, we have consistently referred clients to KEW Legal… thoroughly impressed with their exceptional service.” Igor H.
When other lawyers send their own clients to a firm, that says something.
“Kristina and her team made my closing extremely seamless.” Erika F.
Real estate work handled without the stress, from start to finish.
Business Legal Services We Provide in Sunny Isles Beach
- Business entity formation and structuring (LLC, corporation, partnership)
- Operating agreements, bylaws, and shareholder and partnership agreements
- Contract law
- General counsel
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Commercial real estate
- Employment law
- Trademark clearance, registration, and brand protection
- Regulatory compliance
- Corporate law
- Business litigation
- Business succession
- Equestrian law
- Residential real estate law
Get Trusted Legal Support Today
For straightforward legal advice and representation, contact KEW Legal®. Call (305) 990-2300 to schedule your consultation.
What Sets KEW Legal® Apart for Sunny Isles Beach Businesses
We’re local to the market we serve.
Our Sunny Isles Beach presence means we know how the city’s Code Compliance office works, what condo associations expect from commercial tenants, and how deals along Collins Avenue typically come together. That local familiarity saves time and avoids surprises.
Built for international owners.
A large share of the capital in Sunny Isles Beach arrives from Latin America, Europe, and beyond. We regularly structure U.S. companies for owners who live abroad and draft agreements in both English and Spanish, so every party understands exactly what they’re signing.
Transactional work shaped by litigation experience.
Because our firm also handles disputes, we draft with an eye on how a clause would be read by a judge years from now. The result is contracts, leases, and operating agreements designed to prevent the fight in the first place.
Right-sized legal work.
A two-owner boutique on Collins Avenue and a multi-property investment group have very different needs. We match the depth of the documents, and the fees, to the actual size and stage of your business.
Experience with high-stakes deals next door.
KEW Legal® worked on the $412 million refinance of the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry in neighboring Aventura, and brings that same discipline to a first-time founder’s formation.
Credentials you can verify.
Our lead attorney is admitted to practice in Florida, New York, and Washington, D.C., and was named Bad Ass Woman of the Year in the Law category. You deal with her directly, not a rotating team.
Can a Non-U.S. Resident Own a Business in Sunny Isles Beach?
Yes. Florida does not require LLC members or corporate shareholders to be U.S. citizens or residents, and many Sunny Isles Beach companies are owned entirely from abroad. The practical hurdles are usually banking, taxes, and paperwork rather than eligibility.
Under FinCEN’s March 2025 interim final rule, companies formed in the U.S. are exempt from Corporate Transparency Act reporting. The requirement now applies only to entities formed under foreign law that register to do business in a U.S. state.
If your parent company was organized abroad and registered in Florida, you may still have a filing obligation, and we can confirm where you stand.
The entity choice also affects taxes. A foreign-owned single-member LLC is treated differently by the IRS than a corporation, so we coordinate with your tax advisor before filing rather than after.
Communities We Serve In Sunny Isles Beach
- Golden Shores Ocean Boulevard Estates
- Winston Towers
- Oceania
- Jade Beach
- Jade Ocean
- Turnberry Ocean Colony
- Trump Towers
- Acqualina
- Arlen House
- Plaza of the Americas
- Bayview Point
- Poinciana Island
- Ocean Four
- TDR / Trump Royale area
- Collins Avenue Oceanfront
About KEW Legal® in Sunny Isles Beach
For over ten years, KEW Legal® has counseled entrepreneurs and investors from offices in Sunny Isles Beach and Coral Gables. Our practice centers on business, corporate, real estate, and litigation matters, with a particular depth in transactions that cross borders between South Florida and Latin America.
Sunny Isles Beach clients come to us at every stage. Some are opening their first storefront or restaurant, some own several units and want a cleaner holding structure, and some are acquiring an existing company and need the diligence done right.
What they share is a need for candid advice: what the business truly needs, what it can skip, and where the real exposure lies. We deliver that advice in English or Spanish, whichever you prefer.
Our track record includes a $412 million hotel refinance, bar admissions in three jurisdictions, and industry recognition as Bad Ass Woman of the Year in the Law category.
What Licenses Do I Need to Open a Business in Sunny Isles Beach?
Forming your company with the state is only half the job. Before you open your doors in Sunny Isles Beach, the city requires two local approvals, issued in a specific order.
- Certificate of Use. This is a zoning approval, granted after an inspection, confirming your type of business is allowed at that location. A business with several uses, such as a hotel that also runs a restaurant and a bar, needs a separate certificate for each.
- Local Business Tax Receipt (LBTR). Once the Certificate of Use is in place, the city issues a business tax receipt for each business classification. First-time applications are filed in person at the Government Center, 18070 Collins Avenue, 3rd Floor, with a $10 non-refundable processing fee.
Both city approvals renew online every year by September 30, and late renewals carry penalties. Operating without them can lead to code compliance fines, so we build these steps into every formation and relocation we handle.
What Should I Check Before Signing a Commercial Lease in Sunny Isles Beach?
Much of the city’s retail and office space sits at the base of condominium towers or inside mixed-use buildings. That means your lease is often only one of the documents that controls your space. The association’s declaration and rules can restrict signage, hours, deliveries, noise, and even the type of business allowed.
Before signing, business owners should confirm:
- Permitted use. Do the lease, the condo documents, and the city’s zoning all allow your specific business? A mismatch can block your Certificate of Use.
- Personal guarantee. Many landlords ask owners to guarantee the lease personally, which can undo the liability protection your LLC was supposed to provide. Guaranties can often be capped or phased out.
- Operating costs. Common area maintenance, insurance, and tax pass-throughs can climb quickly in coastal buildings, especially after major structural or special assessment projects.
- Build-out and delays. Who pays for improvements, and what happens if permits or construction push back your opening date?
- Exit options. Assignment and subletting rights matter if you later sell the business, since a buyer will usually need the lease to transfer.
We review the lease alongside the building’s governing documents so there are no conflicts discovered after you’ve already signed.
How We Work With Sunny Isles Beach Businesses
Step 1: Strategy Session
We start by understanding how your business makes money, who owns it, where the owners live, and what you’re trying to accomplish over the next few years. You’ll walk away knowing which legal tasks are urgent and which can wait.
Step 2: Structure and Formation
For a new venture, we recommend the right entity, prepare the Sunbiz filings, and obtain the EIN. For an established company, we audit your current documents for gaps, outdated terms, or missed state filings.
Step 3: Local Approvals
We map out the Certificate of Use, city and county business tax receipts, fictitious name registration, and any state professional license your industry requires, and we calendar each renewal date.
Step 4: Core Documents
We draft your operating agreement or bylaws, customer and vendor contracts, and employment paperwork around the way you actually operate, with Spanish versions where helpful.
Step 5: Leases and Deals
Whether you’re signing space on Collins Avenue, bringing in an investor, or buying a competitor, we negotiate terms and manage the documents through closing.
Step 6: Continuing Counsel
Many clients keep us on an ongoing basis for contract reviews, employee issues, and quick questions, so small problems get handled early. If a dispute develops, we already know the business and can move quickly.
Sunny Isles Beach Business Law FAQs
Are non-compete agreements enforceable in Florida after the CHOICE Act?
For many higher-earning employees, yes, and more strongly than before. Florida’s CHOICE Act, effective July 1, 2025, allows non-competes of up to four years for covered employees who earn more than twice the annual mean wage of the relevant Florida county.
When is my Florida annual report due, and what happens if I miss it?
Every Florida LLC and corporation must file an annual report on Sunbiz between January 1 and May 1. Filing late triggers a $400 late fee for most for-profit entities, and a company that never files can be administratively dissolved, which can create problems with banks, contracts, and leases.
Can I run a business out of my Sunny Isles Beach condo?
Florida law generally limits how much cities can restrict home-based businesses, but your condominium association’s declaration and rules can still prohibit or limit commercial activity in units. Client visits, signage, deliveries, and employees are the usual sticking points, so review your building documents before you register the unit as a business address.
Can I use my own address as my company’s registered agent?
Yes, if you have a physical street address in Florida and are available there during normal business hours to accept legal papers. A P.O. box won’t work. Owners who travel often or live abroad typically use a professional registered agent so a lawsuit or government notice is never missed.
What happens if my business partner wants out and we never signed an operating agreement?
Florida’s LLC statute supplies default rules, but they rarely match what partners assume. The defaults may not require the company to buy out a departing member, and they may not set a price or payment timeline. Putting a buy-sell provision in writing now is far less expensive than resolving the question in court later.
Helpful Resources for Sunny Isles Beach Business Owners
- City of Sunny Isles Beach Code Compliance Department: Issues Certificates of Use and Local Business Tax Receipts and handles annual online renewals. Government Center, 18070 Collins Avenue, 3rd Floor.
- Sunny Isles Beach Planning and Zoning Department: Confirms zoning for a proposed location and administers short-term vacation rental licensing.
- Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz): The state’s portal for forming entities, filing annual reports, registering fictitious names, and looking up other companies.
- FinCEN Beneficial Ownership Information Portal: Filing site for foreign-formed companies that still have Corporate Transparency Act reporting obligations.
- Florida SBDC at FIU: Free and low-cost consulting for small businesses in the Miami-Dade area.
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office: Search and file federal trademark applications to protect your business name and logo.
Talk to a Sunny Isles Beach Business Lawyer
Legal gaps rarely close on their own. An unsigned partner agreement, an unreviewed lease, or a lapsed business tax receipt tends to surface at the worst possible moment, usually when money or ownership is on the line.
KEW Legal® helps Sunny Isles Beach entrepreneurs and international investors form, protect, and grow their companies, with offices in Sunny Isles Beach, Miami, and Coral Gables and service in English and Spanish.
Contact KEW Legal® today to schedule a consultation.