Our Legal Practices
With a dedicated team of experienced attorneys, Godbold, Downing, Bill & Rentz, P.A. knows that the best way to address our clients’ legal issues is to understand their business and industry. Your case is important to us — read on to learn about our areas of expertise.
REAL ESTATE LAW
Godbold, Downing, Bill & Rentz, P.A., advise on a variety of Real Estate Law matters and are involved in some of the most innovative and sophisticated deals in the Orlando area. We specialize in commercial transactions, land-use deals and construction matters.
LITIGATION
Our litigation team expertly advises and readies cases for trial. The research arm is extensive, and depositions are professional and effective, resulting in a high percentage of settlements and verdicts favoring our clients.
BUSINESS AND
CORPORATE LAW
We’ve been practicing Business and Corporate Law for 25 years. Our clients count on our attorneys and litigators to manage the legal process as smoothly and efficiently as possible to achieve positive results.
Attorneys
We have the knowledge and experience to meet and exceed your expectations and offer a variety of services customized to fit your specific needs. Learn more about what we offer below.
Gene H. Godbold
(Not pictured) Originally from South Carolina, Gene Godbold received his undergraduate degree from Furman University and earned his Bachelor of Laws from Tulane University. He was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1963. Gene is listed in Who's Who in American Law. He is a member of the Orange County Bar Association for which he served as President from 1971-72 and on the Executive Council for four years.
Grant T. Downing
A native of Washington, D.C., and raised in Miami, Grant Downing earned his Bachelor's Degree from Florida State University and his Juris Doctorate from Loyola University in New Orleans. He was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1983. Grant chaired the East Orange County Task Force in 1998, served as chair and vice-chair for the Orange County Planning and Zoning Commission and was a member of the 1999 Orange County Charter Review Commission. He is a member of The Orange County Bar Association and The Florida Bar. Grant's practice focuses on Real Estate and Land Use and Development.
John H. Bill
Born in Keene, New Hampshire in 1956, John H. Bill was educated at Phillips Exeter Academy, and then received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University, did graduate work at McGill University and earned his law degree from the University of Miami in 1984. In the same year John Bill was admitted to the Florida Bar, was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar in 1985, and the Massachusetts Bar in 1990. He was a member and former chair of the Florida Bar Ethics Grievance Committee. John Bill is also certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Circuit Civil Mediator and has an active mediation practice. John H. Bill focuses his practice on commercial litigation, construction litigation, contract litigation, creditor and debtor rights, landlord/tenant litigation and probate and trust litigation. In his career, John H. Bill has tried dozens of cases and has had many published appellate opinions (see list below). John H. Bill holds the Martindale-Hubbell “AV Preeminent Rating,” the highest rating offered by Martindale-Hubbell which is the most recognized peer review national directory for attorneys. John Bill is fluent in French. He is a hereditary member of the New Jersey Chapter of the Society of the Cincinnati. Published appellate court opinions in which John Bill represented either the appellant(s) or appellee(s); Anderson v. Willingham Realgrowth Inv. Fund, Ltd., 593 So.2d 253 (Fla. 5th DCA 1992); Century Group, Inc. v. Premier Financial Services East, L.P., 724 So.2d 661 (Fla. 2d DCA 1999); Department of Revenue, State of Fla. v. Seminole Clubs, Inc., 745 So.2d 473 4 (Fla. 5th DCA 1999); Deutsche Bank v. Alaqua, 190 So.3d 662 (Fla. 5th DCA 2016); Elder v. Islam, 869 So.2d 600 (Fla. 5th DCA 2004); Greenhorne & O'Mara, Inc. v. Trammel Webb Partners, Inc., 727 So.2d 946 (Fla. 5th DCA 1988); International Fidelity Ins. Co. v. Prestige Rent-A-Car, Inc., 715 So.2d 1025 (Fla. 5th DCA 1998); Jayshire Enterprises, Inc. v. M.B.N.I., Inc., 679 So.2d 1236 (Fla. 5th DCA 1996); Jim Macon Bldg. Contractors, Inc. v. Lake County, 763 So.2d 1223 (Fla. 5th DCA 2000); Kinder Mobile Home Sales, Inc. v. Clemens, 794 So.2d 677 (Fla. 5th DCA 2001); Lochrane Engineering, Inc. v. Willingham Realgrowth Inv. Fund, Ltd., 552 So.2d 228 (Fla. 5th DCA 1989); Lochrane Engineering, Inc. v. Willingham Realgrowth Inv. Fund, Ltd., 563 So.2d 719 (Fla. 5th DCA 1990); Marine Midland Bank, N.A. v. Mollon, 160 B.R. 860 (M.D. Fla. 1993); McCarthy v. Southern States Utilities, 698 So.2d 590 (Fla. 5th DCA 1997); In
re: Mollon, 205 B.R. 321 (M.D. Fla. 1996); Plapinger v. Eastern States Properties Realty Corp., 716 So.2d 315 (Fla. 5th DCA 1998); Prestige Rent-A-Car, Inc. v. Advantage Car Rental and Sales, Inc., 656 So.2d 541 (Fla. 5th DCA 1995); Reynolds v. State, 20 Fla. Supp. 2d 109 (1986).
R. Travis Rentz
Admitted to the Florida Bar in 2003, Travis Rentz hails from Albany, Georgia. He received his Bachelor's Degree from Presbyterian College and his Juris Doctorate from Stetson University. A member of The Florida Bar, Travis was named to the Florida Super Lawyers Rising Stars Edition in 2010. Travis practices Real Estate Development, Land Use Regulation, Finance and Leasing, General Business and Corporate Transactions and Condominium Law Community Development.
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Janet M. Lower
Janet Lower was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1987 after earning her Bachelor's Degree with high honors and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, she is the recipient of Legal Research and Writing Honors and Appellate Advocacy Honors. A member of The Florida Bar and the University of Florida Law Review (1985-1987), Janet published Regional Banking: An Equal Protection Analysis," Volume 37, Number 5, with the University of Florida Law Review in 1985. She was a Fellowship Instructor and Legal Research and Writing for the University of Florida College of Law. Janet practices Real Estate and General Commercial law.
Kristen K. Idle
Born in Stuart, Florida, Kristen Idle graduated cum laude from Florida State University and received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida College of Law. She was admitted to The Florida Bar in 2004. Kristen is a member of the Orange County Bar Association and The Florida Bar. Her practice focuses on Real Estate and Land Use and Development.
Attorneys
We have the knowledge and experience to meet and exceed your expectations and offer a variety of services customized to fit your specific needs. Learn more about what we offer below.
Gene H. Godbold
(Not pictured) Originally from South Carolina, Gene Godbold received his undergraduate degree from Furman University and earned his Bachelor of Laws from Tulane University. He was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1963. Gene is listed in Who's Who in American Law. He is a member of the Orange County Bar Association for which he served as President from 1971-72 and on the Executive Council for four years.
Grant T. Downing
A native of Washington, D.C., and raised in Miami, Grant Downing earned his Bachelor's Degree from Florida State University and his Juris Doctorate from Loyola University in New Orleans. He was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1983. Grant chaired the East Orange County Task Force in 1998, served as chair and vice-chair for the Orange County Planning and Zoning Commission and was a member of the 1999 Orange County Charter Review Commission. He is a member of The Orange County Bar Association and The Florida Bar. Grant's practice focuses on Real Estate and Land Use and Development.
John H. Bill
Born in Keene, New Hampshire in 1956, John H. Bill was educated at Phillips Exeter Academy, and then received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University, did graduate work at McGill University and earned his law degree from the University of Miami in 1984. In the same year John Bill was admitted to the Florida Bar, was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar in 1985, and the Massachusetts Bar in 1990. He was a member and former chair of the Florida Bar Ethics Grievance Committee. John Bill is also certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Circuit Civil Mediator and has an active mediation practice. John H. Bill focuses his practice on commercial litigation, construction litigation, contract litigation, creditor and debtor rights, landlord/tenant litigation and probate and trust litigation. In his career, John H. Bill has tried dozens of cases and has had many published appellate opinions (see list below). John H. Bill holds the Martindale-Hubbell “AV Preeminent Rating,” the highest rating offered by Martindale-Hubbell which is the most recognized peer review national directory for attorneys. John Bill is fluent in French. He is a hereditary member of the New Jersey Chapter of the Society of the Cincinnati. Published appellate court opinions in which John Bill represented either the appellant(s) or appellee(s); Anderson v. Willingham Realgrowth Inv. Fund, Ltd., 593 So.2d 253 (Fla. 5th DCA 1992); Century Group, Inc. v. Premier Financial Services East, L.P., 724 So.2d 661 (Fla. 2d DCA 1999); Department of Revenue, State of Fla. v. Seminole Clubs, Inc., 745 So.2d 473 4 (Fla. 5th DCA 1999); Deutsche Bank v. Alaqua, 190 So.3d 662 (Fla. 5th DCA 2016); Elder v. Islam, 869 So.2d 600 (Fla. 5th DCA 2004); Greenhorne & O'Mara, Inc. v. Trammel Webb Partners, Inc., 727 So.2d 946 (Fla. 5th DCA 1988); International Fidelity Ins. Co. v. Prestige Rent-A-Car, Inc., 715 So.2d 1025 (Fla. 5th DCA 1998); Jayshire Enterprises, Inc. v. M.B.N.I., Inc., 679 So.2d 1236 (Fla. 5th DCA 1996); Jim Macon Bldg. Contractors, Inc. v. Lake County, 763 So.2d 1223 (Fla. 5th DCA 2000); Kinder Mobile Home Sales, Inc. v. Clemens, 794 So.2d 677 (Fla. 5th DCA 2001); Lochrane Engineering, Inc. v. Willingham Realgrowth Inv. Fund, Ltd., 552 So.2d 228 (Fla. 5th DCA 1989); Lochrane Engineering, Inc. v. Willingham Realgrowth Inv. Fund, Ltd., 563 So.2d 719 (Fla. 5th DCA 1990); Marine Midland Bank, N.A. v. Mollon, 160 B.R. 860 (M.D. Fla. 1993); McCarthy v. Southern States Utilities, 698 So.2d 590 (Fla. 5th DCA 1997); In
re: Mollon, 205 B.R. 321 (M.D. Fla. 1996); Plapinger v. Eastern States Properties Realty Corp., 716 So.2d 315 (Fla. 5th DCA 1998); Prestige Rent-A-Car, Inc. v. Advantage Car Rental and Sales, Inc., 656 So.2d 541 (Fla. 5th DCA 1995); Reynolds v. State, 20 Fla. Supp. 2d 109 (1986).
R. Travis Rentz
Admitted to the Florida Bar in 2003, Travis Rentz hails from Albany, Georgia. He received his Bachelor's Degree from Presbyterian College and his Juris Doctorate from Stetson University. A member of The Florida Bar, Travis was named to the Florida Super Lawyers Rising Stars Edition in 2010. Travis practices Real Estate Development, Land Use Regulation, Finance and Leasing, General Business and Corporate Transactions and Condominium Law Community Development.
Janet M. Lower
Janet Lower was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1987 after earning her Bachelor's Degree with high honors and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, she is the recipient of Legal Research and Writing Honors and Appellate Advocacy Honors. A member of The Florida Bar and the University of Florida Law Review (1985-1987), Janet published Regional Banking: An Equal Protection Analysis," Volume 37, Number 5, with the University of Florida Law Review in 1985. She was a Fellowship Instructor and Legal Research and Writing for the University of Florida College of Law. Janet practices Real Estate and General Commercial law.
Kristen K. Idle
Born in Stuart, Florida, Kristen Idle graduated cum laude from Florida State University and received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida College of Law. She was admitted to The Florida Bar in 2004. Kristen is a member of the Orange County Bar Association and The Florida Bar. Her practice focuses on Real Estate and Land Use and Development.