Debbie M. Orshefsky is a shareholder in the Fort Lauderdale office of the international law firm Greenberg Traurig and is Co-Chair of the firm's National Land Development Practice. Her practice is exclusively in the areas of land development and environmental law. Ms. Orshefsky began her career in Washington, D.C. representing developers and local governments before federal administrative agencies in the late 1970s. Upon relocating to Florida in 1980, Ms. Orshefsky gained an intimate knowledge of the land use planning process representing private developers and governmental agencies as special counsel. Ms. Orshefsky's focus in land development and environmental law has given her broad experience in comprehensive planning, zoning, subdivision controls, community redevelopment, infrastructure planning and financing, as well as state, regional and local roles in land use decision-making.
Areas of Concentration
· Large-scale multi-jurisdiction development permitting
· Comprehensive planning
· Zoning
· Subdivision controls
· Community redevelopment
· Land use support in real estate transactions
· Environmental permitting
· Infrastructure planning and financing
· Public finance and obtaining economic development incentives
· Healthcare real estate
Significant Representations
· LARGE-SCALE MULTI-JURISDICTION DEVELOPMENT PERMITTING EFFORTS INCLUDE:
· BROWARD COUNTY
- Cleveland Clinic - Emerald Estates and Park of Commerce DRI
- Country Lakes West (Huntington) DRI
- Deerfield Beach Energy Center
- East Miramar Areawide DRI
- Gulfstream Racetrack Expansion - "The Village at Gulfstream Park"
- Hollywood Harbour DRI
- Lucent Technologies Caribbean and Latin American Headquarters
- New River Center FQD (DRI) - Sun Sentinel Headquarters
- Northport/Broward County Convention Center DRI
- Oakwood Center DRI
- Pembroke Meadows DRI
- Rolling Hills Hotel and Golf Course DRI
- The Diplomat Resort and Country Club
· COLLIER COUNTY
- Marco Shores DRI /Marriott Marco Beach Resort
- Fiddler Creek DRI
· MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
- City of Miami Downtown DRI
- Miami Arena DRI
- Miami Beach Marina/Portofino DRI
· FLAGLER COUNTY
- Hammock Dunes DRI
- Grand Haven DRI
- Matanzas Shores DRI
Professional & Community Involvement
· Member, Urban Land Institute (2002-present)
- Member, National Transit Oriented Development Product Council (2007-present)
- Member, National ULI Program Committee (2012-present)
- Founding Member, Women's Leadership Initiative (2010-present)
· Member, Urban Land Institute Southeast Florida/Caribbean District Council (2002-present)
- Chair of the District Council (2007-2009)
- Member, the District Council's Executive Committee (2002-present)
- Chair, Infrastructure Committee (2008-present)
- Founder and Member, Curtis Program Statewide Transportation Initiative: "Connecting Florida" (2008-present)
· Member, South Florida East Coast Corridor Coalition (2008-2010)
- Chair, Business Community and Local Government Committee (2008-2010)
- Chair, Subcommittee Chairs Roundtable (2008-2010)
· Member, Real Estate Development Advisory Board, Master of Science Real Estate Degree Program, Nova Southeastern University (2010-present)
· Chair, Community Advisory Board, North Broward Hospital District Comprehensive Cancer Center (2004-2006)
· Chair, Downtown Fort Lauderdale Transportation Management Association (1992-1994)
· Former Chair, Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Task Force (1988-1990)
· Member, Executive Council, Environmental and Land Use Law Section of The Florida Bar (1981-1984)
· Former President, Florida Association for Women Lawyers (1981-1983)
Awards & Recognition
· Named, "100 Heavy Hitters in Commercial Real Estate," South Florida Business Journal, May 2011
· Selected, one of 24 "Influential Business Women of 2010," South Florida Business Journal, July 30, 2010
· Selected, one of eight "Women in Law," South Florida Legal Guide, June 2010
· Selected, Top Women in Florida Commercial Real Estate, Florida Real Estate Journal, 2008
· Listed, Chambers & Partners USA Guide, an annual listing of the leading business lawyers and law firms in the world, 2004-2011
· Listed, Legal 500 United States, 2011
· Listed, one of the Lawdragon 3000 Leading Lawyers in America, Lawdragon.com, 2010
· Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate Law, 2006-2012
- Environmental Law
- Land Use & Zoning Law
· Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Florida Super Lawyers, 2006-2010
· Listed, "Top Lawyers," South Florida Legal Guide, 2005-2012
· Recognized, one of 15 "Women of the Year," American Cancer Society's Broward County 1000+ Club, 2005
· Listed, Best of the Bar, the South Florida Business Journal, 2003
· Rated, AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5
Articles, Publications, & Lectures
· Co-Author, "Developing within a CRA; Signs of a healthy CRA should be the focus of a prudent developer," Urban Land, October 2003
· Co-author: "Local Government Comprehensive Planning," Florida Environmental and Land Use Law Manual, 1990, 1993 and 1996 Updates
· Co-author: "Substantive Statutory and Regulatory Requirements State and Local Comprehensive Planning and Land Use," Florida Environmental & Land Use Law Manual, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1986 and 1987 Updates
· "Watson Island DRI: Has the DRI Process Been Changed?" 56 Florida Bar Journal 327, 1982
· Lawyers Handbook, "Practice Guide to Zoning," CLE Bridge the Gap Manual, 1981
· "Florida Wetlands Subdivisions: Protecting the Consumer, The Environment or the Developer?" Florida Environmental and Urban Issues Journal, July 1980
· Frequent lecturer at state and national seminars regarding the land development process, and infrastructure planning and funding