Government Relations, Lobbying and Administrative Law

Whether your company operates in just one region, or in jurisdictions across the globe, government relations demands in-depth knowledge of an area's unique economy, political structure, culture, and key stakeholders. You need local expertise that can help your company grow its business while also complying with local laws. Dean Mead's attorneys have extensive experience in governmental representation, much of it gained through public service as elected or appointed officials. The firm is able to provide clients with successful strategies and effective representation based on the priorities and objectives established by the clients. By utilizing a "team approach" to lobbying, the firm ensures that each project undertaken on behalf of the client receives the requisite time, resources, and management attention. The extensive involvement of the firm in the legislative process creates a type of synergy, increasing the firm's effectiveness and, thus, the client's presence in the process. We provide legislative representation to a variety of Florida businesses, Fortune 500 companies, professional and trade associations, and governmental entities before the Florida Legislature, the Governor and Cabinet, executive branch departments and agencies, and local and regional governments. Members of the governmental relations practice area also represent clients during rule promulgation resulting from legislative action, as well as providing monitoring and consulting services relating to legislative filings and governmental initiatives.

Administrative Law

Our firm represents clients in proceedings involving state agencies under Florida's Administrative Procedure Act, including promulgation of rules, rule challenges, development permitting, bid protests, certificates of need, declaratory statement petitions, electric utility territorial disputes, and public utilities regulation. The firm also litigates state and federal constitutional challenges to legislation and administrative agency action. The members of this practice area have represented clients before the Executive Office of the Governor and most of Florida's administrative agencies, including:

• Department of Financial Services
• Department of Business and Professional Regulation
• Department of Environmental Protection
• Department of Economic Opportunity
• Department of Transportation
• Department of Management Services
• Department of Health
• Department of Revenue
• Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
• Agency for Health Care Administration
• Public Service Commission
• Office of Insurance Regulation
• Office of Banking and Securities
• Attorney General's Office of Anti-Trust
• Florida Housing Finance Corporation
• State's Water Management Districts

Condominium, Planned Development and Homeowners Association Law

Our firm provides clients engaged in the condominium and planned development projects with in-depth knowledge and experience in both legal and other professional activities. The firm’s attorneys and have worked with document development for commercial, residential and mixed-use properties. Team member experience includes direct involvement with Architects, Engineers, Surveyors, Contractors and Owners in complex design-build projects, and team members have been able to provide workable solutions for complex development challenges; innovative solutions for operation and management of improved properties; and facilitated the termination of “phantom” condominium units in economically depressed projects. Specific services offered include: development, preparation and filing of condominium documents; advising and assisting with management and operation of community associations; and participation in agency arbitration proceedings, mediation and litigation of disputes involving construction and operation of commercial and community properties.

Growth Management

The firm's experience with growth management issues involves representing both public and private clients in the key elements of Florida's Growth Management System. The firm's attorneys have extensive experience in working with local and regional approval authorities, state regulatory agencies, special districts and real estate development entities (commercial, residential and multi-use developments). By having represented both the public and private perspective, the firm is well equipped to present the highest quality services to its clients, in meeting both strategic objectives and plans for successful implementation. Specific services offered include: applications for local, regional and state government development approvals (especially Developments of Regional Impact); preparation, review and processing of amendments to Local Government Comprehensive Plans; land use planning and zoning approvals; development orders and agreements; formation / implementation of public-private partnerships for real estate development; formation / implementation of special purpose local and regional governmental entities, and negotiations for provision of necessary transportation, water supply, school and utility infrastructure improvements.

Land Use, Environmental & Local Government Law

Our firm represents county and municipal entities, special purpose governmental entities, regional water supply authorities, regional utilities, private citizens, professionals and the development industry in these areas: ordinance drafting pursuant to the state comprehensive planning laws; negotiation and drafting of development agreements; complex development permitting, including Developments of Regional Impact; eminent domain and inverse condemnation activities; growth management and land use; hazardous waste and petroleum contamination cleanup; intergovernmental agreements; negotiation, litigation and administrative proceedings of environmental permitting and enforcement actions; submerged land leases and easements; and water law and consumptive water use.

Our Government Relations, Lobbying and Administrative Law Team provided periodic updates during the 2016 Florida Legislative Session.

Dean Mead hosted the 2016 Florida Legislative Session Update on August 18, 2016.  Click here for full a full video re-cap from this event.

The video from this event as well as an overview may be viewed below:

Dean Mead Capitol Report