Government Affairs

Practice & Industry Groups Government Affairs

Overview

In Florida’s dynamic economic landscape, where state legislation and regulation wield significant influence across industries, our Government Affairs team acts as a strategic ally for businesses seeking to navigate Florida’s intricate regulatory terrain. We help guide clients through the complexities of governmental policies, proactively advocating for their interests before decisions are made, and pursuing change when new obstacles arise.

Our primary mission is to empower clients to pursue their policy goals by crafting solution-driven advocacy plans and executing targeted legislative and executive initiatives. By monitoring emerging developments in the legislative and executive branches, we can advise our clients on new opportunities and provide insights to help mitigate risks.

Our team understands the policy-making process at federal, state, and local levels. Through our established professional relationships with legislators, agency staff, and industry associations and stakeholders, we help clients navigate political, legislative, and regulatory obstacles to support their business priorities.

Operating statewide, our group facilitates engagement with government agencies and local authorities.

Our Tallahassee office, situated in the heart of Florida’s capital, provides convenient access for regular and immediate interaction with the legislature and all state agencies.

Recognizing that government affairs impacts virtually every sector, we collaborate closely with other strategic practice areas within the firm, utilizing our collective knowledge to develop individualized solutions tailored to our clients’ needs. We collaborate frequently with the below attorneys in their respective areas of specialization:

Affordable Housing & Tax Credit – Brian McDonough & Brooke Perlyn
Antitrust – Trish Conners
Energy – Brooke Humphrey
Environmental & Natural Resources – Susan Stephens
Land Use & Zoning – Reggie Bouthillier & S. Elise Batsel
Live Local Act – Brian McDonough, Brooke Perlyn & Kevin Reali

Range of Services

Legislative branch lobbying before The Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate
Executive branch lobbying before The Governor, Cabinet and State Agencies
State budget appropriations
Legislative bill drafting and monitoring
Legislative issue management

What Makes Us Different

Memberships With Industry Organizations

Association of Florida Community Developers (AFCD)
Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA)
Florida Association of Professional Lobbyists (FAPL)
Florida Tax Collectors Association (FTCA)
The Florida Bar Governmental & Public Policy Advocacy Committee and Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section (RPPTL)

Thought Leadership

Rotunda Report – Weekly update of noteworthy bills and issues during Florida’s Legislative Session
Interim Committee Weeks Updates – A summary of significant highlights during Florida Interim Committee Weeks

Notable Experience

Represented developers across the State of Florida in successfully advocating for the extension of various hurricane-related preemptions ensuring that communities and businesses could rebuild after the 2024 Hurricane Season.
Represented developers and homebuilders in successfully passing legislation streamlining the final platting process.
Represented a statewide non-profit that serves as the administrator of the Telecommunications Access System successfully passing legislation modernizing TASA, allowing for the distribution of more modern equipment and technology.
Represents one of the largest 55+ retirement communities before the legislative and executive branches of Florida state government. With two communities in the state that encompass both single-family homes and condominium buildings, this client has several legislative issues that we manage such as land development, environmental, ethics, association management and other issues that could potentially be impacted by state legislation.
- During the 2024 Legislative session, we worked closely with members in the Senate and the House, the Governor’s office and the Department of Environmental Protection to secure client’s existing stormwater regulatory scheme and ensure favorable statutory language.
Represented various clients on affordable housing issues during the 2024 and 2025 legislative sessions by advocating for changes to the land development provisions in proposed affordable housing legislation.
Represented the Florida Aquatics Swimming and Training (FAST) Center before the legislative and executive branches of state government as well as the local Marion County government. The Foundation funded and constructed a $38 million dollar elite aquatic center in Ocala, Florida that is equipped to train, host, and engage in recreational and competitive swimming at the local, state, national and international levels. The team monitored and advocated on behalf of FAST legislation creating a statewide swimming voucher program. Currently coordinating with the Department of Health on implementation of the program in Marion County, Florida.