Mr. Friedman is the shareholder in charge of the Firm's Government Law and Lobbying Practice Group. He represents a wide variety of businesses, non-profit organizations, developers, and trade associations before local governments in South Florida, the Florida Legislature and Executive Agencies in Tallahassee. He has helped public and private sector clients secure millions of dollars in government grants, procurements, concessions and contracts. An experienced lawyer-lobbyist, he provides strategic advice and guides clients through the complex governmental procurement process, including responding to Requests for Proposals (RFP) from the early stages of team building through project submittals and presentations to final selection and negotiation.
Recognized by the Sun-Sentinel as one of the area's most influential lawyer-lobbyists, his 30+ years of political experience, knowledge of the government, and access to key decision makers are extremely valuable to his clients. An active and visible political figure, Mr. Friedman has addressed the Democratic National Convention, testified before U.S. Congress, and appeared on programs including "Good Morning America", “The O'Reilly Factor” and “Larry King.” Prior to practicing law in Florida, he spent ten years working on Capitol Hill as Chief-of-Staff to a U.S. Congressman.
Activities & Memberships
Mr. Friedman serves as the Chairman of the Economic Development Advocacy Action Team for the Broward Alliance, Broward County's Economic Development organization. He is a past President of the David Posnack Jewish Community Center, which serves thousands of people throughout Broward County. He is an Ambassador of the United Way of Broward County Campaign Cabinet, on the Board of Directors of the Florida Impact-Campaign to End Childhood Hunger and has also served on the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs. Mr. Friedman has twice served as Chair of the Jewish Federation of Broward County's Community Campaign Celebration with noted speakers Alan Dershowitz in 2004 and Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel in 2007.
Mr. Friedman was selected as a “Florida Super Lawyer” by Law & Politics magazine which named Florida’s top lawyers as chosen by their peers. He was recognized as a “Power Broker of Broward County” by the Sun-Sentinel, and “King of the City Hall” by The Miami Herald.
He and his wife, Marta, received the coveted Jewish National Fund “Tree of Life” Award, in recognition of their outstanding dedication and service to the community. Additionally, Mr. Friedman was honored by the Jewish Federation of Broward County with the Board Chair Award (1988), Lilyan and Jack Mandel Human Resource Development Award (2004), Hy and Belle Schlafler Leadership Award (2007), and the (2011) Special Recognition Award for Outstanding Leadership.
Other awards include: Marti Huizenga Boys and Girls Club Devotion to Helping Children Award; Holocaust Documentation and Education Center Award for Passage of the Holocaust Education Mandate in Florida; Sister Cities Appreciation Award by the City of Hollywood; U.S. Council of Jewish Federations Lifetime Achievement Award; the David Posnack Community Day School Leadership Award; Advocate of the Year Award by Jewish Community Services of South Florida; and Adocacy Award for Passage of the Iran Divestiture Legislation by the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County.
Notable Client Accomplishments
- Helped secure millions of dollars in dozens of line items State Appropriations for human service agencies and nursing homes affiliated with the Florida Association of Jewish Federations during 23 years of representation. Helped pass mandatory Holocaust Education legislation and other legislation related to Hate Crimes and the divestiture of State pension funds from certain countries, such as Iran and Sudan and Legislation to allow for investment in Israel Bonds.
- Represent the City of Hollywood and helped secure millions of dollars of State funds for senior center programs, beach nourishment, park improvements, museums, and public safety during 22 years of representation. Helped pass substantive legislation regarding Home Rule Power, Annexation, Community Re-Development Agencies (CRA), Municipal Elections, and coastal construction and development.
- Supervised the $20 million successful statewide political campaign of and the local referendum on behalf of Isle of Capri Casinos and The Isle Casino and Racing at Pompano Park. Helped pass enabling legislation and Agency Rules to govern slot machine gaming and cardrooms. Worked on hundreds of permit approvals in the design, construction and operation of the new $182 million Isle Casino and Racing at Pompano Park. Helped pass legislation to reduce the tax rate and expand hours of operation and types of games.
- Helped devise the winning strategies for concessions and contracts for numerous clients at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Miami Airport: Duty Free Americas, Secure Wrap, Smart Carte, Paradies Shops, Delaware North Food and Hospitality, Inc., Fuel Facility Management, Travelex Financial and Business Services, Go Airport Shuttle, Supershuttle, Master Concessionair Seattle’s Best Coffee Concession, SH&E-Concession Consulting, Limousines of South Florida, Sunshine cleaning Services, and Air-IT.
- Helped clients win various hotly contested engineering and design projects at Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport such as: Exit Roadway Design Criteria Package, High Speed Taxiway/ Airfield Modification and General on-call aviation Engineering for Reynolds Smith Hill, the award winning design for the Rental Car Garage – Spillis Candella-DMJM-AECOM, the design of new $600M South Runway PBSJ-RSH and Balfour Beatty- James A. Cummings JV for the construction of the new Terminal 4.
- Quarterbacked a coalition lead by the Florida Retail Federation and hundreds of national and local retailers and shopping center owners in opposition to an Ordinance that would have required mandatory security cameras in all retail parking lots in Broward County.
- Lead lobbyist for Seawood Builders/Catalfumo – H.J. Russell on the hard fought right to design and build Broward County's new $50 million Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill. Negotiated significant change orders, code interpretations, and design criteria issues with County and City officials.
- Represented Embraer Aircraft, Inc. in its successful efforts to secure long term lease extension for aircraft maintenance, and parts distribution center adjacent to the North Runway at Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
- Worked on behalf of Ocean Harbor Insurance Company during a Special Session of the Florida Legislature to successfully reenact PIP (Personal Injury Insurance) as a mandatory insurance in Florida. Worked with the Governors Office, House and Senate leaders, the Insurance Commissioner, and many others to reform and re-enact no fault insurance.
- Successfully entitled with land use and zoning one of the first Transit Oriented Developments, Sheridan Stationside Village for developers Pinnacle Housing and RAM Development. The $500 million project includes over 1050 residential units, 599,000 square feet of commercial/office/hotel/retail space.