<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 5.1
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LAW OFFICES
STEARNS WEAVER MILLER WEISSLER ALHADEFF & SITTERSON, P.A.
MUSEUM TOWER
150 WEST FLAGLER STREET
MIAMI, FLORIDA 33130
---------
MIAMI (305) 789-3200 o BROWARD (954) 463-5440
FAX (305) 789-3395
WWW.STEARNSWEAVER.COM
<S> <C> <C> <C>
E. RICHARD ALHADEFF LISHA D. HOGUE ELIZABETH G. RICE OWEN S. FREED
LOUISE JACOWITZ ALLEN ALICE R. HUNEYCUTT GLENN M. RISSMAN SENIOR COUNSEL
STUART D. AMES RICHARD B. JACKSON ANDREW L. RODMAN
ALEXANDER ANGUEIRA SHARON LEE JOHNSON KEITH E. ROUNSAVILLE THOMAS J. QUARLES
LAWRENCE J. BAILIN MICHAEL I. KEYES MIMI L. SALL OF COUNSEL
ANA T. BARNETT ROBERT T. KOFMAN NICOLE S. SAYFIE
PATRICK A. BARRY CHAD K. LANG RICHARD E. SCHATZ DAVID M. SMITH
SHAWN BAYNE FRANK J. LOPEZ DAVID M. SEIFER LAND USE CONSULTANT
SUSAN FLEMING BENNETT TERRY M. LOVELL JOSE G. SEPULVEDA
LISA K. BERG JOY SPILLIS LUNDEEN JAY B. SHAPIRO
MARK J. BERNET GEOFFREY MacDONALD MARTIN S. SIMKOVIC TAMPA OFFICE
HANS C. BEYER MONA E. MARKUS CURTIS H. SITTERSON SUITE 2200
RICHARD I. BLINDERMAN BRIAN J. McDONOUGH MARK D. SOLOV SUNTRUST FINANCIAL CENTRE
MATTHEW W. BUTTRICK ANTONIO R. MENENDEZ EUGENE E. STEARNS 401 EAST JACKSON STREET
JENNIFER STEARNS BUTTRICK FRANCISCO J. MENENDEZ THOMAS T. STEELE TAMPA, FLORIDA 33602
PETER L. DESIDERIO ALISON W. MILLER BRADFORD SWING
MARK P. DIKEMAN VICKI LYNN MONROE SUSAN J. TOEPFER (813) 223-4800
DREW M. DILLWORTH HAROLD D. MOOREFIELD, JR. ANNETTE TORRES
SHARON QUINN DIXON JIMMY L. MORALES DENNIS R. TURNER
DINO A. DOYLE JOHN N. MURATIDES RONALD L. WEAVER FORT LAUDERDALE OFFICE
ALAN H. FEIN JOHN K. OLSON ROBERT I. WEISSLER SUITE 1900
ANGELO M. FILIPPI JEFFREY A. NORMAN PATRICIA G. WELLES 200 EAST BROWARD BOULEVARD
ROBERT E. GALLAGHER, JR. KARA E. PLUNKETT MARTIN B. WOODS FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA 33301
CHAVA E. GENET DAVID C. POLLACK
LATASHA A. GETHERS DARRIN J. QUAM (954) 462-9500
PATRICIA K. GREEN JOHN M. RAWICZ
JOSEPH K. HALL PATRICIA A. REDMOND
September 12, 2000
</TABLE>
Alan B. Levan
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer
and President
BankAtlantic Bancorp, Inc.
1750 East Sunrise Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304
Re: BankAtlantic Bancorp, Inc.
Registration Statement on Form S-8
Dear Mr. Levan:
As counsel to BankAtlantic Bancorp, Inc., a Florida corporation (the
"Corporation"), we have examined the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the
Corporation, as well as such other documents and proceedings as we have
considered necessary for the purposes of this opinion. We have also examined and
are familiar with the Corporation's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement"), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to 1,704,148 shares of
the Corporation's Common Stock, $.01 per share par value (the "Common Stock"),
issuable by the Corporation pursuant to the Corporation's 2000 Non-Qualified
Stock Option Plan (the "Plan").
In rendering this opinion, we have assumed, without independent
investigation: (i) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as
originals; (ii) the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted
to us as certified or photostatic copies and (iii) the genuineness of all
signatures. In addition, as to questions of fact material to the opinions
expressed herein, we have relied upon such certificates of public officials,
corporate agents and officers of the Corporation and such other certificates as
we deemed relevant.
Based upon the foregoing, and having regard to legal considerations
which we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that following the issuance and
delivery of the Common Stock by the Corporation under the Plan, against payment
of adequate consideration therefor to the Corporation in accordance with the
terms of the Plan, the Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.
II-2
<PAGE>
This opinion is intended solely for the Corporation's use in connection
with the registration of the Common Stock and may not be relied upon for any
other purpose or by any other person. This opinion may not be quoted in whole or
in part or otherwise referred to or furnished to any other person except in
response to a valid subpoena. This opinion is limited to the matters expressly
stated herein, and no opinion is implied or may be inferred beyond the matters
expressly stated herein. This opinion is rendered as of the date hereof, and we
assume no obligation to update or supplement such opinion to reflect any facts
or circumstances that may hereafter come to our attention or any changes in
facts or law that may hereafter occur.
We hereby consent to the inclusion of this opinion letter as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
STEARNS WEAVER MILLER WEISSLER
ALHADEFF & SITTERSON, P.A.
