Land Development & Government Relations
Guiding Landowners, Developers, and Investors through Florida’s Complex Regulatory Landscape
Our Land Development & Government Relations practice guides developers, investors, and landowners through Florida's regulatory landscape. Our team specializes in complex strategies requiring a combination of land use entitlements, environmental permitting, and property rights protection. We create opportunities through strategic government engagement—whether through negotiations with staff, developing new policy and legislation, or when necessary, litigation to protect property rights.
Core Services:
Local Development Approvals & Entitlements – Comprehensive plan amendments, rezonings, variances, special exceptions, conditional uses, development agreements, Developments of Regional Impact (DRIs)
Affordable & Workforce Housing Development – Statewide Live Local Act implementation and applications, and affordable and workforce housing incentives including local programs and statewide affordable housing ad valorem property tax exemptions
Strategic Land Planning – Master planned communities, large-scale developments, agricultural land conversion, and highest-and-best-use analysis
Economic Development Incentives – Ad valorem tax abatements and exemptions, statutory and local density bonuses, brownfields incentives, and economic development and job creation incentives
Public Policy Development & Legislative Affairs – Growth management legislation, comprehensive plan policy, and regulatory reform initiatives
Land Development Business Counseling – Sales and acquisitions, entity formations and structuring, labor and employment counseling, human resource compliance
Our Unique Approach: What sets our practice apart is our comprehensive understanding that successful development requires more than legal expertise—it demands strategic orchestration of law, policy, and politics. We serve as both legal counsel and strategic advisors, ensuring our clients' projects succeed in Florida's complex development landscape. Our experience, combined with our deep relationships within government agencies and local planning departments, enables us to anticipate regulatory changes, identify emerging opportunities, and position clients advantageously in Florida's evolving development environment. We don't just navigate existing regulations—we help shape the regulatory framework itself.
Notable Results:
Lead counsel for numerous landowners in large-scale comprehensive plan amendments, including securing one of the first significant expansions of the Hillsborough County Urban Service Boundary in decades, resulting in 2,204 potential dwelling units
Represented master developer in the Westshore Marina District, the largest recent master development project on the waterfront of Old Tampa Bay—a $600 million mixed-use project
Lead land use and environmental counsel for three of the largest affordable housing redevelopment projects in Tampa today—West River, Rome Yard, and Robles Park—with total construction value anticipated to surpass $1 billion
Obtained entitlements and permits for the 152-acre headquarters in unincorporated Hillsborough County for one of Tampa Bay’s largest companies, including a rezoning, complex wetland permitting, and brownfield designation
Secured one of the City of Tampa’s first Live Local Act approvals for a 408-unit multifamily project
Land Planning & Regulatory Consulting
Unlocking Value Through Integrated Legal and Planning Expertise
Our Planning & Regulatory Consulting practice delivers a unique competitive advantage: certified professional planning expertise integrated seamlessly with legal counsel. This powerful combination creates extraordinary value for clients by identifying opportunities and solutions that traditional firms overlook. The synergy between legal analysis and professional planning creates comprehensive strategies that maximize development potential while minimizing regulatory risk.
Core Services:
Integrated Legal-Planning Analysis – Comprehensive development feasibility studies combining legal constraint analysis with professional planning assessment
Value Creation Strategies – Highest-and-best-use optimization, regulatory pathway identification, and development program enhancement
Due Diligence Excellence – Land use entitlement review, environmental constraint analysis, and regulatory compliance assessment with planning perspective
Master Planning & Visioning – Long-term strategic land planning, community engagement, and stakeholder coordination with legal implementation strategy
Regulatory Navigation & Relationship Management – Permit coordination, agency relationship development, and approval timeline optimization
Expert Planning Testimony – Land planning expertise with real courtroom experience
Our Unique Approach: Our planning expertise enables us to speak the language of government staff and understand the technical aspects of comprehensive plans, land development codes, and regulations. This creates opportunities to identify creative solutions, build stronger government relationships, and develop more effective advocacy strategies. The combination of professional planning credentials with legal expertise allows us to participate in policy development, serve on technical advisory committees, and engage in community planning processes that position our clients advantageously for future development opportunities.
Notable Results:
Lead planner for Eagle II EC-MPUD, a 321-acre light industrial/employment center project approved for 2,000,000 square feet of development
Lead planner for Cross Park PD/MPUD, a 280-unit multifamily/mixed use project with integrated medical office and retail components
Lead planner for millions of square feet of industrial, warehouse, and logistics space across Tampa Bay
Affordable Housing & Live Local Act
A Pioneering Practice Dedicated to Solving Florida's Housing Crisis
Our Affordable Housing Development practice represents a groundbreaking approach: a dedicated practice area focused exclusively on addressing Florida's housing crisis through innovative legal strategies and policy development. We recognize that affordable housing developers demand specialized expertise and creative solutions that only a focused practice can deliver.
Core Services:
Live Local Act Mastery – Comprehensive implementation strategies for Florida's landmark housing legislation, including statewide due diligence, entitlements applications, complex local government negotiations, and litigation
Housing Crisis Innovation – Partnering with legislators, nonprofits, and think tanks to develop new legal frameworks, policy initiatives, and regulatory strategies specifically designed to increase housing supply and affordability
Mixed-Income Development – Sophisticated integration of workforce housing, affordable housing, and market-rate components to create sustainable communities
Community Redevelopment & Revitalization – Urban redevelopment, Community Redevelopment Agency advocacy, and comprehensive neighborhood transformation strategies, and complex public private partnerships
Tax Exemptions – Tax exemptions under the Live Local Act, including the “Missing Middle” tax exemption, brownfield tax credits, brownfield sales tax refunds on building materials for affordable housing
Affordable Housing Developer Business Counseling – Sales and acquisitions, entity formations and structuring, labor and employment counseling, human resource compliance
Our Unique Approach: Florida's housing crisis demands more than traditional real estate lawyering—it requires deep understanding of housing policy, innovative financing mechanisms, complex regulatory frameworks, and the political dynamics surrounding housing development. Our dedicated focus enables us to stay at the forefront of rapidly evolving housing legislation, develop relationships with key housing policy stakeholders, and create legal strategies specifically designed to navigate the unique challenges of affordable housing development.
Notable Results:
Lead land use and environmental counsel for three of the largest affordable housing redevelopment projects in Tampa today—West River, Rome Yard, and Robles Park—with total construction value anticipated to surpass $1 billion
Intimately involved in legislative updates to the Live Local Act, including SB 328 (2024) and SB 1730 (2025), and collaborating with local governments statewide
First Live Local Act application submitted in numerous jurisdictions statewide, including successful approval in Hillsborough County and the first anticipated Live Local Act groundbreaking in Tampa
Property Rights Advocacy & Public Policy
Shaping the Landscape Through Strategic Advocacy and Policy Development
Our Property Rights Advocacy & Public Policy practice provides comprehensive solutions that extend far beyond traditional litigation, combining legal advocacy with proactive policy development to create lasting change. We work with think tanks, industry organizations, and advocacy groups to effectuate meaningful public policy change through legislation drafting, amicus briefs, and strategic white papers that advance long-term interests across entire industries. Our practice emphasizes creative problem-solving, strategic dispute resolution, and innovative legal theories to protect property rights and secure development approvals.
Core Services:
Comprehensive Strategic Planning & Legislative Affairs – Multi-pronged advocacy campaigns combining legal, political, public relations, and community engagement strategies
Florida Land Use and Environmental Dispute Resolution – FLUEDRA proceedings, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution as primary tools for efficient conflict resolution
Creative Property Rights Litigation Strategies – Bert J. Harris Jr. Private Property Protection Act claims, regulatory takings, inverse condemnation, and constitutional challenges protecting property rights and civil rights
Legislative Drafting & Policy Development – Crafting legislation that becomes Florida law, policy framework development, and regulatory reform initiatives
Think Tank & Industry Organization Counsel – Policy research support, white paper development, strategic communications, and amicus briefs for advocacy organizations
Co-Counseling Statewide – Assisting civil litigators and appellate counsel statewide as land use and environmental specialists, and assisting local land use counsel in preparing their cases for anticipated challenges and litigation
Our Unique Approach: We don't just navigate existing regulations—we help write the rules of the game. When the laws aren’t working for our clients, we work to change the law. Rather than defaulting to costly litigation right away, we combine legal advocacy with policy development, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communications to create comprehensive solutions that benefit entire industries. We lobby for solutions and use alternative dispute resolution tactics like FLUEDRA. When litigation becomes necessary, it's pursued as one part of a coordinated strategy.
Notable Results:
Resolved dozens of property rights disputes through FLUEDRA, both as an advocate and as a special magistrate
Assisted in defending oceanfront property rights in Stop the Beach Renourishment v. FDEP, 130 S.Ct. 2592 (2010), and authored successful amicus brief in Koontz v. St Johns River Water Management District, 133 S.Ct. 420 (2013)
Land use counsel in a groundbreaking property rights case establishing that Tampa City Council lacks authority to conduct rezonings, with past zoning actions declared void ab initio
Environmental & Natural Resources Law
Sustainable Development Through Natural Resource Conservation
Our Environmental & Natural Resources Law practice provides comprehensive counsel for complex development and redevelopment projects while ensuring environmental stewardship and regulatory compliance. We excel in matters requiring sophisticated environmental permitting, brownfield redevelopment, natural resource protection, and climate resilience planning, helping clients navigate complex environmental challenges with practical, cost-effective solutions.
Core Services:
Environmental Permitting & Compliance – Wetland permitting, stormwater management, environmental resource permits, and federal Clean Water Act Section 404 compliance
Brownfield Redevelopment – Environmental due diligence, contamination assessment, brownfield designation and cleanup, and liability management
Natural Resources Planning – Conservation easements, wetland mitigation banking, endangered species compliance, and ecosystem services planning
Environmental Due Diligence – Counseling on Phase I and II environmental site assessments, regulatory compliance audits, and environmental risk evaluation
Water Resources & Wetlands – Water use permitting, wetland delineation and mitigation, surface water management, and aquifer protection
Climate Resilience & Adaptation – Sea level rise planning, coastal resilience strategies, and sustainable development practices
Our Unique Approach: Our environmental practice combines deep technical understanding of environmental regulations with practical development experience, enabling us to identify creative solutions that achieve environmental compliance while supporting project feasibility. We work closely with environmental consultants, engineers, and regulatory agencies to streamline permitting processes and minimize project delays while ensuring comprehensive environmental protection.
Notable Results:
Obtained entitlements and permits for the 152-acre headquarters in unincorporated Hillsborough County for one of Tampa Bay’s largest companies, including a rezoning, complex wetland permitting, and brownfield designation
Successfully navigated complex wetland permitting and mitigation requirements for major waterfront development projects
Lead counsel for dual-flag hotel development adjacent to Tampa City Hall, managing site acquisition, development approvals, environmental remediation, and $1M FDEP cleanup grant
Agricultural Law
Protecting Florida's Agricultural Heritage Through Legal Innovation
Our Agricultural Law practice comes from over six generations of experience and provides specialized counsel for agricultural landowners, farming operations, and agribusiness enterprises seeking to preserve and enhance Florida's rich agricultural heritage. We understand the unique legal challenges facing modern agriculture, from traditional farming operations to innovative agritourism ventures, and provide comprehensive support for agricultural land preservation, operational compliance, and economic diversification.
Core Services:
Agricultural Property Rights Protections – Right to Farm Act protection, Agricultural Lands and Practices Act, agricultural exemptions for buildings and fences, operational permitting, and regulatory compliance for farming operations, and greenbelt tax classifications and challenges
Conservation & Environmental – Agricultural water use permitting, water rights protection, environmental compliance, best management practices, and conservation easements, agricultural easement, agricultural land preservation programs, and wetland mitigation banks
Agricultural Development & Transition – Agritourism development, agricultural land conversion planning, rural development projects, and agricultural enclave designations
Strategic Generational Planning – Counseling for long-term planning to balance conservation and development opportunities, partnering with tax professionals for conservation and generational planning goals
Agricultural Business Counseling – Farm sales and acquisitions, entity formations and structuring, labor and employment counseling, human resource compliance
Our Unique Approach: Our agricultural practice is grounded in deep understanding of Florida's agricultural heritage and the evolving challenges facing modern farming operations. We help agricultural landowners balance evolving best management practices with new economic opportunities, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations while protecting agricultural exemptions and preserving the viability of working lands for future generations.
Notable Results:
Successfully defended numerous commercial agricultural and agritourism operations in agricultural tax classification appeals, including in litigation in a case of first impression confirming that even unusual agricultural uses must be allowed greenbelt classification
Assisted agricultural landowners statewide in negotiating conservation easements with the state, water management districts, and local governments that provide income and tax benefits while maintaining agricultural productivity
Executed generational plan for family’s timber farm that includes preserves forestry uses for a maximum period; income generation through a wetland mitigation bank, gopher tortoise recipient site, and state forestry grants; and uses agricultural protections to position some land for future development