Overview
Florida is a highly regulated state, with unique procedural and substantive rules governing its state agencies, their authority and the ability to challenge their actions. We have experience helping clients navigate through state actions, as well as actions taken at the local and federal levels.
Rule Challenges and Rule Making
We represent clients affected by a government agency’s rules or policies. Our team routinely engages with federal, state, and local government offices throughout Florida to help effectuate a non-litigated resolution. Our Tallahassee attorneys, with a physical presence near state agency decision-makers, routinely assist in developing preventative and proactive measures to help mitigate our clients’ complex business problems. In the event an informal resolution cannot be found, our administrative litigation team has experience challenging agency rules and policies.
Contesting Agency Action
Our administrative litigation team assists clients after an agency or local government has taken, or intends to take, action affecting the client’s interests. We have experience representing clients in matters involving licensure and discipline, bid protests and procurement, zoning challenges, Medicaid overpayment disputes, permitting, and enforcement, among other issues.
Range of Services
- Administrative Litigation and Appeals
- Administrative Complaints and Disciplinary Proceedings
- Business, Professional and Facility Licenses Proceedings
- Environmental Permitting, Compliance and Enforcement
- Government Contracts, Bid Protests and Procurement
- Government Investigations and Audits
- Non-Profit and Trade Association Formation, Compliance and Management
- Regulatory Compliance
- Rulemaking and Rule Challenges
- Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Investigations and Enforcement Actions
- State and Local Taxation
- Sunshine Law, Public Records Act and Open Government Laws Litigation
What Makes Us Different
Experience Across Entities
- 16 federal agencies, commissions and boards
- 50+ Florida agencies, offices, board and commissions
- All 5 Florida water management districts
- Countless local government entities – cities, counties, county constitutional officers, and school districts
Administrative Litigation Experience
- State – Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH) and District Courts of Appeal
- Federal – District court, Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
- Defended a permit all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court
Former High Level Positions
- Chief Deputy, Florida Attorney General’s Office
- Managing Attorney for a Florida Water Management District
- Senior Attorney for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
- Senior Assistant Attorney General for Florida’s Economic Crimes Antitrust Division
- Special Procurement Counsel and Senior Attorney for the Florida Department of Management Services
Participation In Development of State Regulatory Programs
- Clean Air Act Title V Permitting Program
- State Wastewater Permitting Program
- Imperiled Species Management Plan
- Imperiled Species Conservation and Permitting Guidelines
- Wellhead Protection Program
- Water Quality Standards
- Mine Reclamation Program
- Statewide Environmental Resource Permitting Program
Certifications
- Susan Stephens – Florida Bar Board Certification in State and Federal Government and Administrative Practice
Notable Experience
- Successful defense of multiple state permits against attacks by third parties, including driveway permits, air curtain incinerator permits, phosphate mine permits and reclamation plans, limestone mine permits, commercial development permits.
- Successful defense of licensures and permits in disciplinary and enforcement actions ranging from security services to stormwater violations.
- Successful bid protests and appeals at the municipal level involving multimillion-dollar contracts for global technology company.
- Provide advice and counsel to multinational corporations regarding municipal procurement responsive strategies and related compliance aspects.
- Successful defense of multimillion-dollar Medicaid overpayment claim.
- Successful defense of billion dollar healthcare procurements.
News & Insights
Interim Committee Week 5 | November 13-17, 2023
Rotunda Report Week 5 | April 3-7, 2023
Rotunda Report Week 1 | March 6-10, 2023
Crème de law Admin | Summer 2022
Two New Laws Immediately Impact Florida Healthcare Providers
Appellate Case Notes
Rotunda Report Week 7 | February 21-25, 2022
Appellate Case Notes
Appellate Case Notes
Appellate Case Notes
Agencies Continue to Adjust to The New Normal
COVID Legal Compass | Edition 25
COVID Legal Compass | Edition 24
COVID Legal Compass | Edition 23
COVID Legal Compass | Edition 22
COVID Legal Compass | Edition 21
COVID Legal Compass | Edition 20
COVID Legal Compass | Edition 19
COVID Legal Compass | Edition 18
COVID Legal Compass | Edition 17
COVID-19 Legal Compass | Edition 16
COVID-19 Legal Compass | Edition 15
COVID-19 Legal Compass | Edition 14
COVID-19 Legal Compass | Edition 13
COVID-19 Legal Compass | Edition 12
COVID-19 Legal Compass | Edition 11
Appellate Case Notes
COVID-19 Legal Compass | Edition 10
COVID-19 Legal Compass | Edition 9
COVID-19 Legal Compass | Edition 8
COVID-19 Legal Compass | COVID-19 Updates | Edition 7
COVID-19 Legal Compass | COVID-19 Updates | Edition 6
COVID-19 Legal Compass | COVID-19 Updates | Edition 5
COVID-19 Legal Compass | Timely and Significant COVID-19 Updates | Edition 4
COVID-19 Legal Compass | Timely and Significant COVID-19 Updates | Edition 3
COVID-19 Legal Compass | Timely and Significant COVID-19 Updates | Edition 2
$2 Trillion CARES Act – What You Need To Know
COVID-19 Legal Compass | Timely and Significant COVID-19 Updates
Appellate Case Notes
Election season is here, and these are the dates you need to know …
Crème de law Admin | Winter 2020
Appellate Case Notes
2015 Waters of the United States Rule Repealed, with a New Rule Expected this Winter
Closed primaries disenfranchise 3.7 million Florida voters. Let all voters vote. | Opinion
Appellate Case Notes
Five Steps to Handle an Administrative Complaint or Notice of Proposed Action from a Florida Agency
Appellate Case Notes
Permit Applicants May Need to Reevaluate Strategies Following New Constitutional Amendment Prohibiting Agency Deference
Appellate Case Notes
Upcoming Vote on Amendment 10 Ensures Florida’s County Constitutional Officers Are Elected Locally
Appellate Case Notes
Upcoming Vote on Amendment Two Has Significant Tax Implications for Non-Homestead Property Owners
Recent Supreme Court Decision Overrules
Appellate Case Notes
Appellate Case Notes
Statement of Glenn Burhans to the Ethics & Elections Committee
DOAH Recommended Order Clarifies ERP Public Interest Criteria
Who Runs The World?
This Is Not My Beautiful House … How Did I Get Here?
Party Affiliation Should Not Be Issue in St. Petersburg Mayoral Race
Is That Legal? Paying Expenses With Campaign Funds
2017 Legislative Round-Up: What’s New in Election & Political Law?
#CashMeOutside – Another Florida Pol Tripped Up By Campaign Finance Laws
Amendment 4 Could Spur Solar Energy Investment and Development in the Sunshine State
Florida Campaign Contribution Guidelines for Private Employers
Florida Voters Deserve Say in Meaningful Elections
Ethical Best Practices for 2024 Elections
Symposium to look at ‘Social Media and the 1st Amendment’
2022 FACO Virtual Summer Conference
Condo Gaggle: Legislative Lay of the Land going into the 2022 Regular Session
Administrative Law Appellate Case Law Update
Appellate Case Law Update (Part III of the Series)
Licensure – Disciplinary Proceedings/Compliance
Social Media and Government Communications: Legal and Ethical Considerations
Ready to Run: Launching Your Campaign
Dark Money and Florida Political Committees
“The Future of Florida’s Electorate – How will Florida Respond to the Rising Independent Voters?”
Open Primaries What Would It Mean For Florida?
Florida Appellate & Administrative Law Update
Dark Money and Florida Political Committees
Introduction of City of Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber
Election Law Primer for Candidates, Campaign Consultants and Staff | Free Webinar
Introduction of Michelle Suskauer, Florida Bar President-Elect
Launching Your Campaign | Women Can Run
Election Law: Rules, rules and more rules
The Florida Constitution Review Commission: Three Election Law Reforms
The Accidental Lobbyist: Florida Lobbyist Registration Requirements and Applicable Public Records Act Provisions
Stearns Weaver Miller Lawyers Recognized in Florida Super Lawyers 2019
News and Notes
Movers: New Arrivals
Amendment radically reshaping Florida primaries gets spot on ballot pending judicial approval
Democracy in Florida needs a reset. Let all voters vote in primary elections. | Editorial
Florida Supreme Court asked to approve proposal to let all voters vote in primary
Florida Supreme Court reviews ballot initiative to open state primaries
Florida Supreme Court weighs opening state’s closed primaries
Winner and Loser of the Week in Florida politics — Week of November 25
Briefcase: Nov. 3
Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics — 10.3.19
Welcome to the jungle: Should Florida have open primaries?
Florida Attorney General calls open primaries amendment ‘misleading’
All Voters Vote claims open primaries court challenge based on fear
All Voters Vote Ballot Initiative Looks to End Florida’s Closed Party Primary System
Florida economists, open primary supporters clash over projected costs
6 Big Fights Against Voter Suppression That Neither Party Wants You To Know About
Mystery money boosts campaign to limit Florida ballot measures
Ballot measure would temper both parties | Bill Cotterell
Florida healthcare executive funding campaign to open primary elections to all voters
All Voters Vote’ Initiative Looks To Overhaul Florida Primaries. Would It Change Campaigns, Too?
State Estimators Weigh Fiscal Impact Of ‘All Voters Vote’ Ballot Proposal
Tryon: Open-primary initiatives reflect voting trends
Here are the Florida citizen ballot measures you just might get to vote on in 2020
Paid petition-gatherers says Florida registration website plagued with problems
Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics — 7.11.19
‘Open primaries’ effort has now raised more than $6 million for initiative campaign
Ballot Initiative Pushes For Jungle Primaries In Florida
Brent Batten: Phantom candidates will continue to haunt election season
Off to court: Open primaries amendment reaches judicial review threshold
Election, assault weapon proposals ready for court
At a glance: A look at some of the petition drives seeking changes to Florida’s constitution
Another $2.25M raised in May for ‘All Voters Vote’ amendment
Why Florida’s Crackdown On Ballot Initiatives Is Such A Blow For Democrats
Seven state ballot initiatives to watch in the coming months
Election supervisors, petition sponsors brace for major changes to ballot initiative law
Nikki Fried taps Miami Democrat Barzee Flores for Deputy Commissioner
Sunburn – The Morning Read of What’s Hot in Florida Politics – 3.14.18
News 13: Ybeth Bruzual hosts ‘Town Hall: Crossing Party Lines’
The high cost of losing for the football capital of Florida
Democrat? Republican? Nope. Youngest voters reject the parties
Supreme Court case argues Florida’s ban on openly carrying weapons violates US Constitution
With options limited, legislators remain silent about redistricting plans
With options limited, Florida legislators remain silent about redistricting plans
Team
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