Government Relations & Lobbying
Bringing Client Goals to Fruition with Substantial Relationships and Deep Knowledge Our Government Relations & Lobbying team blends strong knowledge with impactful relationships. In fact,…
Martha J. Edenfield
About Martha J. Edenfield
For over three decades Martha Edenfield has represented clients with wide-ranging interests before the Florida Legislature and state executive agencies in Tallahassee. Using her skills as a lawyer and lobbyist, Martha excels at finding creative legislative solutions to complex legal problems. In her Administrative Law practice, she guides her clients through the maze of government regulations to achieve successful results.
Martha Edenfield focuses her practice on governmental affairs, environmental, land use and administrative law. She is in her 37th year of private law practice in Tallahassee and has gained a wide variety of experience representing clients before the Florida Legislature, the Governor, the Cabinet and state agencies. Martha utilizes her political leadership skills to advocate for her clients and coordinate a legislative team. She has extensive experience as legal and governmental counsel for agricultural trade groups, industrial associations, medical professionals and local governments.
Experience Highlights
Successfully passed Chapter 662. Florida Statutes, authorizing the establishment of Family Trust Companies in Florida.
Passed comprehensive statutory rewrites to modernize the Florida Trust Code, the Uniform Principal and Income Act and the Florida Land Trust Act.
- The Florida Bar - Environmental and Land Use Law Section
- The Florida Bar - Administrative Law Section
- The Florida Bar - Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
- The Florida Bar - Health Law Section
- The Florida Bar - Government Lawyers Section
- Tallahassee Bar Association - Member
- Tallahassee Women Lawyers – Past President, Past Vice President, Board Member and Current Member
- Florida Association for Women Lawyers – Member
- Leadership Tallahassee – Member, Class XII
- Capital Women’s Network - Member
- J.D.: Florida State University College of Law, Tallahassee, Florida, 1984
- Undergraduate Degree: B.S. in Finance, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 1981
- Named an Outstanding Government Relations Lawyer in The Best Lawyers in America, 2023-2024
- 2011 Recipient of the Robert C. Scott Memorial Service Award from the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar
- Successfully worked to pass a nationally recognized statutory protection of private property rights requiring "just compensation" for outdoors advertising property interests.
- Served on the Governor's Administrative Procedure Act Review Commission championing the statutory authorization to rule variances and waivers.
- Martha’s projects have included significant involvement in the drafting and passage of legislation including:
- Statutory rewrites to modernize the Florida Trust Code, the Florida Probate Code, the Florida Uniform Principal and Income Act, the Florida Uniform Disclaimer of Property Interest Act, the Florida Power of Attorney Act, and the Florida Land Trust Act. Expanding the courts power to appoint a court monitor and creating emergency court monitors.
- Enactment of public records exemptions for court monitors and estate inventories.
- The Patient Self-Referral Act of 1992.
- The 1996 Administrative Procedure Act rewrite.
- The Florida Brownfield Redevelopment Act of 1997.
- Reorganization and rewrite of Part VII of Chapter 373, F.S.,Water Supply Policy Planning, Production and Funding (2010).
- Reorganization and rewrite of Part III of Chapter 479, F.S., Sign Removal (2010).
- Innovative funding options for local governments for improved transportation infrastructure, new sports and recreational venues, stormwater treatment facilities, economic development incentives, brownfield remediation and preservation of conservation lands.
- The nationally recognized statutory protection of private property rights requiring just compensation for outdoor advertising property interests.
- Grandfather provisions for private interests and governmental entities.
- Exemption from regulation under the Florida Insurance Code for private entity.
- Local bills on behalf of governmental entities.
- Agricultural tax exemptions.
- “Attorney Fees and Costs”, Florida Bar Journal, March 1997
- Ms. Edenfield frequently writes articles for statewide business publications on environmental and administrative law issues
- Florida Bar
- Named and Outstanding Government Relations Practice Attorney in The Best Lawyers in America®, 2018-2022
- Recognized among the Top Florida Lawyers in Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, 2007, 2009, 2013, 2016 and 2019-2020
- Martindale Hubbell: Preeminent AV® Rating
- Junior League of Tallahassee - Past Board Member (Bylaws and Parliamentariana0
- Junior League of Tallahassee - Committee Chair (You and the Environment)
- Junior League of Tallahassee - Current Sustaining Member
- Keep Tallahassee-Leon County Beautiful – Past Chair
- Keep Tallahassee-Leon County Beautiful – Board Member
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