Overview

Miguel De Grandy is a partner in Holland & Knight's Miami office and the practice group leader for the South Florida Government Advocacy and Development Group. Mr. De Grandy practices in the area of litigation and dispute resolution with particular emphasis on governmental, administrative, land use and procurement law.

Mr. De Grandy has an in-depth understanding of the governmental, regulatory and administrative processes in the state of Florida as a result of serving as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1989-1994, including being the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee and chairman of the Cuban-American Caucus of State Legislators from 1992-1993. Mr. De Grandy has spearheaded significant legislation, including the Rosewood Claims Bill that recognized the losses suffered by the residents of a small town in Levy County, Florida, due to racial violence in the 1920s, and was rated in the top 10 percent of Florida legislators for four consecutive years by the Miami Herald.

Mr. De Grandy represents clients before governmental, administrative and regulatory agencies at all levels on a variety of matters as well as related litigation before administrative bodies and the courts. For governmental and private entities, he also counsels on redistricting, complex annexation and incorporation issues. Mr. De Grandy has represented clients in some of the largest public procurement processes in Miami-Dade County and has litigated some of the most complex bid protests both locally and at the state level. He has also represented clients in judicial appellate proceedings resulting from bid protests. Routinely, Mr. De Grandy helps to guide his clients through the regulatory issues that affect their business interests.

With more than four decades in the practice of law, and having served as lead counsel in scores of civil and administrative trials, Mr. De Grandy is well versed in high-profile trials and highly contested matters. He has also served in several capacities in disputes dealing with redistricting and the Federal Voting Rights Act. In 1992, while serving as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, Mr. De Grandy became lead plaintiff and co-counsel in De Grandy, et al v. Wetherell, a Federal Voting Rights Act action against the Florida legislature. The successful challenge to the legislature's redistricting plan resulted in creating several Black American majority districts in Florida's congressional delegation. Consequently, for the first time in 100 years, Florida elected three Black Americans to Congress, and doubled Florida's Hispanic representation. Ten years later, during the 2000-2002 redistricting cycle, Mr. De Grandy was appointed by the speaker of the Florida House of Representatives as lead special counsel on redistricting. He managed a dream team of lawyers that successfully guided the House through the redistricting process and was lead counsel for the House in subsequent litigation, successfully defending the legislature in the federal suit challenging the enacted Redistricting Plan.

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Credentials

Education
  • University of Florida Levin College of Law, J.D.
  • University of Florida, B.S., Business Administration, with honors
Bar Admissions/Licenses
  • Florida
Court Admissions
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
Memberships
  • Miami-Dade County Domestic Violence Oversight Board, Chairman, 2018-2024
  • Florida Speakers Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation, 2006-2008
  • Miami-Dade County Charter Review Committee, 2001, 2007
  • State University System of Florida, Florida Board of Governors, 2003-2004
  • Bush-Cheney 2004 Campaign, Legal Regional Chair, 2004
  • State of Florida Energy 2020 Study Commission Member, 2000-2001
  • Florida State Conference of Black Legislators, Honorary Member, 1994
  • The Florida House of Representatives, Cuban-American Caucus, Chairman, 1992-1993
  • The Florida House of Representatives, House Judiciary Committee, Ranking Minority Member, 1992-1993; Cuban-American Caucus, Chairman, 1992-1993
Honors & Awards
  • Holland & Knight Pro Bono All-Star, 2021
  • Most Effective Lawyer Finalist, Lobbying, Daily Business Review, 2014
  • Top Lawyers in South Florida, South Florida Legal Guide, 2010
  • Florida Legal Elite, Florida Trend magazine, 2004
  • Attorney of the Year, Latin Builders Association, 1995
  • The Most Effective Republican Member of the Florida House of Representatives, The Miami Herald, 1990-1994
  • Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated
Spoken Languages
  • English
  • Spanish

Speaking Engagements

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