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Howe with Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
to build a big condo building in Miami
and needed to close a loan in four
days. The deal went so fast that the
commitment letter wasnʼt signed until
after the loan closed.
“The loan was $23.5 million and the
Miami Herald and radio stations came to
cover it because it was the largest loan
ever closed in Florida,” he said. “My fee
was $28,000, which was more than I used
to bill in a year as a young lawyer.”
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He represented many of the worldʼs
largest financial institutions and
prominent real estate developers, and
played a role in financing numerous
Florida landmarks, including the
Wachovia Financial Center (originally
the Southeast Financial Center)
and most recently the Loews Miami
Beach hotel.
After the Mershon firm closed in
1995, Howe eventually joined with Wes
Robinson (JD 81) and Nic Watkins to form
Howe, Robinson & Watkins. He remains
an active member of the prestigious
American College of Real Estate Lawyers
and has long been listed as a member of
the Best Lawyers in America.
A trustee of the UF Law Center
Association and founder of the collegeʼs
prominent Dunwody Lecture, Howe
spends a great deal of time serving the
community he has helped grow.
One organization that has brought
immense satisfaction is the Community
Partnership for Homeless, which has
been recognized as a national model
for dealing with homelessness. Howe
has served as general counsel since
its inception and was responsible for
resolving a complex contract with the
county that has not been changed in 14
years.
“At the time we were negotiating
that contract, it appeared hopeless.
Osmond stepped in and said ʻLet me see
what I can do.ʼ He handled everything,
protected the organization and got
through all that bureaucracy,” says
founding Chairman Alvah Chapman,
also the former CEO of Knight Ridder
and one of South Floridaʼs most
influential business and civic leaders
over the past four decades.
“Osmond is deeply interested in the
homeless and his commitment to service
is very real,” Chapman adds. “I have a
lot of confidence in him.”
In his waterfront office filled with
informal photos of family and people
like Dick Cheney, John Templeton
and the Saudi Royal family, Osmond
Howe is still a man looking for the next
adventure.
“You donʼt get rich by hanging
around the rich. While being on a
retainer provides a stable income, you
donʼt make money while you sleep,
which is what the rich do,” he says. For
that reason, he is contemplating joining
forces with an affluent Malibu client in a
new international joint venture that will
require him to live in Asia for a while as
a co-owner and general counsel.
“I was never in practice to get rich,
and I realize I have paid more attention
to enjoying the moment than taking
advantage of it,” he reflects. “Iʼve spent
years keeping clients profitable and out
of legal trouble and itʼs been exciting.
My client wants me to get into this
business, but now I have to decide what
is right for me.”
“The very rich have very few people
they feel comfortable with and who they
trust,” Howe says. “Sure, there may be
better lawyers, but for some reason they
want me.” ■
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