Chanae L. Wood is a municipal and land use attorney with a particular interest in issues dealing with First Amendment, medical marijuana and hemp laws. Chanae counsels clients on compliance with public records, sunshine law and ethics, and matters dealing with comprehensive planning, general municipal, procurement, utilities, administrative, and constitutional law. Chanae serves as the Chair of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Program Committee.
A magna cum laude graduate of St. Thomas University School of Law, Chanae clerked for the Honorable Judge Marcia G. Cooke in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. During law school, she was selected as the first black Editor-in-Chief of the St. Thomas Law Review. Her article, “Black and Poor: The Grave Consequences of Utah v. Strieff,” was published in the Review’s “Voice of the Voiceless” Anniversary Issue. As a trial team member, Chanae competed in the 2018 ABA Labor and Employment National Trial Competition. She and her teammates were named National Champions — beating teams from UC Hastings College of Law and Harvard Law School. She also served as President of the Black Law Students Association, during which time the organization was bestowed the coveted Student Organization of the Year Award.
Prior to law school, Chanae worked for Miami-Dade County Commissioner Barbara J. Jordan as a Commission aide and for Florida State Senator Oscar Braynon, II as a legislative aide. She also interned for Congresswoman Federica Wilson in Washington D.C.
Professional & Community Involvement
- Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Bar Association, Group I Director, 2020-2021 Executive Board
- Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association, 2016 – Present
- American Planning Association, Broward Section, 2019-2020 Member At-Large
- St. Thomas University School of Law Young Lawyer’s Division Council, 2019 – Present
- Miami Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Awards & Recognition
- Honoree for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, International Municipal Lawyers Association, 2021
- 2021 DBR Florida Legal Awards Honoree for Diversity and Inclusion
- University of Florida Association of Black Alumni South Florida Chapter, Gator Greats Gator First Award, February 2019
- First Black Law Review Editor-in-Chief, Certificate of Recognition, Miami-Dade County, 2017
Publications
- “Black and Poor: The Grave Consequences of Utah v. Strieff,” St. Thomas Law Review, 2017
Press Mentions
Presentations
- First Amendment Liability Concerns for Disruptive Public Meetings, International Municipal Lawyers Association’s 2022 Mid-Year Seminar, April 11, 2022
- Women’s History Month Luncheon, Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman, March 2022
- A Journey Through Black History, Miami Dade Bar, February 23, 2022
- How to create impactful and sustainable DEI Programs in law firms, International Municipal Lawyers Association, January 25, 2022
- “Virtual Hispanic Heritage Month Presentation with Florida Supreme Court Justice John D. Couriel,” Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman, October 12, 2021
- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity Training Workshop, Florida American Planning Conference, August 31, 2021
- How Do We Mobilize? Understanding Your Right to Protest, Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association, May 2021
- Women’s History Month Conference, Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman, March 2021
- Substantive Law Series: Municipal Law, Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Bar Association, February 2021
- Legal Issues Surrounding COVID-19 Vaccination and Black and Minority Communities, Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman, February 2021
