Karen D. Walker serves as Executive Partner of the Tallahassee office. She practices in the firm's Public Policy and Regulation Group and along with Former Governor Bob Martinez leads the firm's Florida Government Advocacy Team.
Ms. Walker's practice encompasses all aspects of Florida administrative law, and she has a broad range of experience in Florida state and local procurement matters and public utility law. Ms. Walker also regularly counsels clients on Florida ethics and election law issues. She practices before the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings, the Florida Legislature, various state agencies, local governments, and trial and appellate courts.
Ms. Walker's state procurement experience includes representation of clients in contracting issues with the Florida Department of Management Services, the Florida Department of Education, the Florida Department of Transportation, the Florida Department of Health, the Florida Department of Children and Families, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Department of Corrections, the Florida Department of State, the Agency for Health Care Administration, the Agency for Workforce Innovation, the Florida Department of Financial Services, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the South Florida Water Management District, the Florida House of Representatives, the Florida Senate, school boards, and various early learning coalitions. Ms. Walker assists clients in preparing responses to invitations to bid, requests for proposals and invitations to negotiate, and in protesting specifications, where necessary. She also represents clients in bid protests and in negotiating contracts with Florida state agencies and local governments.
Ms. Walker regularly advises clients on Florida ethics and election law issues including campaign finance, gift laws and lobbying laws. She also represents clients in proceedings before the Florida Elections Commission and the Florida Commission on Ethics.
In addition, Ms. Walker has experience representing clients before the Florida Public Service Commission in complex utility regulatory matters. Ms. Walker's public utility law experience includes telecommunications, electric and gas, and water and wastewater regulatory issues. She has represented utility clients in certification proceedings, rulemaking proceedings, enforcement proceedings, and administrative litigation and appellate proceedings.
Ms. Walker has held leadership positions in the firm including Deputy Section Leader of the Government Section and Deputy Practice Group Leader of the firm's Public Policy and Regulation Practice Group. She has also been a member of the firm's Directors Committee.