Special Counsel to Local Government

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As attorneys for local governments we have developed a great deal of experience in public election law and government ethics. We draft ordinances and charter provisions for numerous cities creating their municipal election structures and procedures, from single member district systems, to at-large council elections to hybrid systems with geographic residency requirements. We draft ballot questions for referendums and make sure our clients comply with the numerous Florida statutes governing municipal elections.

As local governments are faced with the growing trend toward voter-initiated efforts to curb the authority of local elected officials, we are ahead of the curve in helping our clients to respond and adapt. We strive to ensure that our clients comply with applicable elections laws while being careful to avoid any intrusion into matters of partisan politics

We write and rewrite municipal charters and review the legal sufficiency of charter amendment petitions, initiatives and referendum petitions to be submitted to municipal electors, and we have successfully litigated those issues on many occasions. For example, in the case of Capetta vs. City of Homestead, our attorneys successfully defended the 2003 adoption of an entire new charter for the City of Homestead. We also successfully challenged a state-initiated referendum that would have amended the State constitution to drastically alter the State property tax structure.

We also provide sound advice on government ethics. We advise elected and appointed officials on ethics matters including voting abstention requirements and non-participation requirements, avoiding of conflicts of interest in contracts and other transactional matters, and we provide counsel concerning county and state ethics guidelines.

We are frequently called upon to defend local officials and private individuals and entities in ethics matters and investigations before state and local ethics commissions. Several local governments have adopted our model ordinance providing for the independent but fiscally responsible defense of local officials from ethics charges which arise in the course and scope of their official duties. We help clients avoid even the appearance of impropriety so that they may effectively lead.