Practice Areas & Industries: Akerman Senterfitt

Practice/Industry Group Overview

In general, our clients come into contact with government when they are seeking a permit or approval, or when action is being taken against them. Whether the relevant body is a city, county, school board, commission, or any of the administrative arms of the state government, we are equipped to help our clients.

Our work may begin when an organization requires a permit, zoning variance, or license. We will help to prepare the application and represent the organization in appearances before the appropriate administrative body. Should a client be wrongfully denied at this level, our next step, according to Florida's Administrative Procedures Act, will be to seek all applicable rights and remedies in an administrative law proceeding before the Department of Administrative Hearings (DOAH). Finally, we can bring the matter for judicial review, usually in the District Court of Appeal.

At every step in this process, our lawyers are well connected through years of practice and often through their own prior service within local or state government. And often, in a firm as large as ours, one of our attorneys will know the individuals and personalities involved in the matter at the administrative as well as the judicial levels.

Services Available

The matters we handle are extremely varied and involve just about every industry in the state, as well as a range of clients from individuals to Fortune 500 companies.

When an organization is under review or investigation by the Department of Insurance, for example, or the Economic Crimes Division of the Attorney General's office, it is important to have experienced and highly regarded counsel. Akerman Senterfitt is able to provide counsel from our Administrative Law Practice who will defend such a matter effectively in court should that be necessary.

Related practice areas include:

Government

Few facets of life are not touched in some way by the institutions of government and the people who constitute its bodies. Our clients, by virtue of their size or the broad public impact of the projects they undertake, are certainly no exception. In order to represent their interests properly, and to facilitate the progress they seek to initiate, Akerman Senterfitt has built a large and highly effective Legislative and Government Affairs Practice with points of entry into almost every governmental or quasi-governmental body in the state of Florida, and to many in Washington as well. It is a point of pride that we are as effective in our lobbying and dialog with them as we are in our administrative proceedings or litigation against them.

Additionally, since governments themselves are subject to special laws, restrictions, and processes that often differ from those applicable to the private sector, they require specialized counsel in their own affairs. We represent their interests effectively, not only in litigation, but also in negotiations, intra-governmental affairs, and administrative proceedings.

Legislative and Governmental Affairs

With an active, properly registered lobbying team in Tallahassee, a savvy and generous internal political committee, and an involved Federal PAC, Akerman Senterfitt is able to provide government relations clients with an enviable level of access.

A full-time presence in the state capital means that we are constantly available to those who influence or make decisions within our state government. Our relationships are deep, and reach high up within the power structure.

In legislative matters, we can monitor bills that may impact your company or your industry, attend committee meetings, and, where appropriate, testify (or arrange for you to testify) for or against a proposed action.

On the executive level, we lobby the governor on veto matters and work with the state's six departments and 24 agencies to enact, repeal, or amend rules in a manner that optimizes their potential effect on your business.

We know what makes a lobbyist effective and we apply these principles on a daily basis to influence the development of public policy.

Our experience as attorneys gives us an invaluable edge because of the legal issues often involved. Simply put, we can go further than a lay person, to seek judicial remedy if necessary and to prepare our arguments during all phases of the process in a manner that will enhance our chances in a judicial arena.

Local Government

Cities often require their own representation in dealing with counties, counties with the state, and other governmental units with counterparts at all levels of administration. Therefore, we have developed a substantial practice providing specialized counsel to dozens of different governmental entities in a broad range of legal circumstances.

It may be a matter requiring our expertise on regional impact matters, or on election laws with charter amendment implications. The circumstances may involve public records laws or complex issues based on labor and employment law, or environmental policy. Whatever the scenario, whether the matter involves litigation, negotiation, or simply experienced legal counsel, we stand ready to help.

In addition to managing issues related to administrative procedures for licenses, permits, variances, and other requirements, we also work on behalf of our clients to help them procure contracts with local government for services or supplies.

By law, the lowest and best bid is usually the winner. Identifying the low bid is easy. It is the "best" part that often tries our system. That is where Akerman attorneys can help. It may come down to the way bids are graded. If the criteria are unfairly or inappropriately applied, we have a demonstrated ability to work with staff and appear before commissioners to make sure that any oversight is reconsidered.

Municipal Representation

The attorneys in our Government Practice also represent municipalities around the state of Florida in a wide variety of matters. The litigators defend municipalities, law enforcement officers, and other municipal employees in civil rights suits, all actions involving allegations of police or official misconduct, wrongful arrest cases, and other cases directed against municipalities and their employees. We defend against tort and contract claims brought against municipal entities and their employees. We evaluate and litigate constitutional issues including constitutional challenges to rules, regulations, ordinances, and laws. We also evaluate and defend zoning, bid, and environmental disputes.

Clients:
Reliant Energy, Engineered Homes of Orlando, Windermere Properties Holding, Inc., CenterLake Properties, Inc., Pinelock Management, Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida, Professional Educators Network of Florida, Motorcycle Industry Council, Alliance for Equity in Educational Services, Association of American Publishers, Catholic Archdiocese of Miami, ClaimResolver.com, Florida Association of Academic Nonpublic Schools, Florida Council of Independent Schools, The St. Joe Company, St. Joe Hospitality Development, Inc., Arvida Company, WCI, Avatar Property Holdings, Inc., Terrabrook, DeLuca Homes, Inc., Four Seasons Hotel, St. Lucie West Development, Inc., Florida State Univeristy Medical School, Florida Department of State, New College of Florida, Family Law Section (Florida Bar), Association of American Publishers, Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Miami, Florida Trail Riders, Inc., Professional Educators Network of Florida, Inc., Florida Council of Independent Schools, Honeywell International, Inc., Direct General Insurance Company, University of Miami, Boca Raton Community Hospital, Advance America, National Cash Advance Centers, GulfPak Banking Solutions, Southwest Florida Water Management District