Florida Government Advocacy

Activities in Tallahassee and at local levels of government impact all companies doing business in the state of Florida. You need a team of experienced government advocates on your side that is committed to helping you navigate through often complex governmental regulations and procedures, use government to the advantage of your business, strategize on how best to improve your company's standing and prevent the adoption of laws or regulations that could be detrimental to your business.

A Long History Advocating for Clients

Our team of public policy advisors and lawyers applies its depth of experience, relationships and substantive political and legal know-how to advocate on your behalf to resolve any issues of concern impacted by Florida government.

Members of the firm's Florida Government Advocacy Team (FGAT) are dedicated to assist you by:

• monitoring legislative activity
• drafting bills or amendments
• seeking sponsors of bills or amendments
• advocating for appropriations
• testifying before legislative committees
• supporting legislation that is favorable to your company
• opposing legislation that could be harmful

The policy advisors and lawyers that comprise Holland & Knight's Florida Government Advocacy Team have vast knowledge of Florida's governmental processes – and professional relationships with key governmental decision-makers that have been developed over more than three decades. The team includes lawyers and seasoned professionals who have served in elected and appointed positions in Florida state government:

• Bob Martinez, co-chair, Florida Government Advocacy Team; 40th governor of Florida; former U.S. drug czar under President George H.W. Bush and former mayor of the city of Tampa
• Eric Eikenberg, co-chair, Florida Government Advocacy Team; served as chief of staff and deputy chief of staff to Governor Charlie Crist and chief of staff to former U.S. Rep. E. Clay Shaw, Jr.
• Martha Barnett, current member of the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission; former chair of the Florida Commission on Ethics and former member of the Florida Constitution Revision Commission
• Fred Dudley, former 16-year member of the Florida Senate and House of Representatives; former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee
• Garrett Blanton, former chief of staff of the Florida Department of Management Services and Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
• Mia McKown, former general counsel to the Florida Department of Citrus and former hearing officer for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
• Richard Perez, former general counsel to the Florida Department of State

Recent Engagements:

• Represented the nation's largest telecommunication company in a contested Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC) proceeding involving the client's merger with Florida's largest local telecommunications company. The FPSC's order approving the merger was appealed to the Florida Supreme Court and affirmed.
• Represented one of the nation's largest telecommunications companies before the Florida Legislature in passing legislation to provide for statewide video franchising.
• Eliminated a multimillion-dollar sales tax exposure for a client through the combination of an administrative protest to resolve the past liability and lobbying the Legislature for the adoption of a prospective tax exemption.
• Represented a large electric utility in obtaining a need determination from the FPSC for a 283 MW integrated gasification combined cycle power plant and a 633 MW combined cycle plant.
• Represented one of Florida's largest landowners in obtaining water and wastewater utility certificates from the FPSC for a 38,535 acre development.
• Provided an international IT company with representation in a bid dispute and provided subsequent procurement counsel and advice that helped result in our client obtaining a significant state contract.
• Negotiated an amendment to a bill on behalf of a major healthcare client that, as originally drafted, would have significantly affected the customary business practices of the provider's pay procedures, leading to increased administrative costs and possible lost revenue.
• Ensured, through negotiations with House and Senate leadership during a tough budget year, that funding for a hospital association would be held harmless, thus allowing these medical facilities to avoid cutting services or closing clinics that provide essential healthcare services to lower income residents of the state.
• Negotiated on behalf of a national bookstore company an amendment to a bill that, as originally drafted, would have placed overly burdensome new notification requirements on the stores.
• Prevented, through coordination with the governor's office and legislative leadership, the introduction of legislation that could have completely disrupted a company’s ability to continue providing services to executive branch agencies.
• Represented a statewide association in urging passage of a measure amending Florida's Administrative Procedure Act (APA). This effort also involved negotiations with representatives of the governor's office.
• Represented entertainment companies in connection with proposals that would have prohibited or restricted their amusement arcade games. These measures were not enacted.
• Represented a major communications company in clarifying a section of the Florida Building Code regarding the required wind-load designs of their facilities. After getting mixed signals from the Florida Building Commission on a proposed Petition for Declaratory Statement, we negotiated a statutory change with the commission, which we lobbied for as an amendment onto an issuing bill during the last few weeks of the 2008 regular session. The bill passed and was signed by the governor. Pending similar adverse actions by other counties were avoided.

Political and Public Participation

The Florida Government Advocacy Team is well-positioned to assist and advise clients on a political issues impacting Florida. FGAT members are active in the political process. Our support for statewide candidates, as well as candidates for the Florida Legislature, provides FGAT opportunities to maximize opportunities for clients.

We also provide advice and counsel to clients on Constitutional amendments, public policy issues and local ballot referendums. Our Holland & Knight election lawyers are well-positioned to assist clients in forming political campaign committees and stand ready to answer and advise on Florida's campaign finance laws.

Members of FGAT have successfully campaigned for statewide and local office. Other members of our team have worked on numerous campaigns and the statewide political parties, providing political strategy and implementation for candidates.

Our Reach Goes Beyond the Legislature

The support you receive from our Florida Government Advocacy Team is not limited to representation before the Florida Legislature – we also have a long-standing and extensive executive branch lobbying and state administrative law practice.

Our administrative law practice includes representing clients before the governor, the Florida Cabinet and all state agencies. This practice provides our clients with direction in:

• rulemaking
• permitting
• negotiations
• administrative litigation
• compliance and enforcement proceedings
• business and professional licensing
• rate making

Our team is strategically positioned to provide you and your company with a wide range of services to advance your goals and vision. Our access to Florida officials at the state and local level is second to none.