Government law and lobbying have been a core practice for the firm since its founding in 1973. The team of lawyers and lobbyists includes several who have served in high-level government positions and have distinguished themselves in the political, legislative and local governmental arenas. The Government team includes former and current City attorneys, former and current elected officials, former Legislative Aides to Florida Legislators, former Chiefs of Staff to US Congressmen in Washington, DC, and campaign managers for a myriad of elected officials. This first-hand working knowledge of government, at every level, provides clients with valuable insights and understanding of the legislative, administrative, and regulatory processes, and helps clients navigate the maze of government.
The Team Founding shareholder, Alan Becker, served in the Florida Legislature before running for statewide office and U.S. Congress. He the past chair of the Miami Dade Beacon Council and is on Executive Board of Enterprise Florida.
Bernie Friedman, the practice group's Chair is a former Chief of Staff to a U.S. Congressman. He was named a leading “Powerbroker” in Broward County by the Sun-Sentinel. Yolanda Cash Jackson, the group's State Government team leader, uses her “deep community roots” and “personal ties to influential personalities” (Miami Herald, May 11, 2010) to advance client’s interests with the Legislature, Executive Agencies, and Governor. Mario Bailey, a former Legilslative Aide in the Florida House and active member of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, is a lobbyist on our Tallahasse lobbying team.
Based in Washington, DC, Omar Franco and Clarence Williams, each of whom is a former Chief of Staff in the U.S. House of Representatives (Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) and former Congressman Kendrick Meek (D-FL), respectively) lead the Federal lobbying effort in Washington, D.C. along with Helena Ramirez. Jennifer Diaz, one of the youngest attorneys to become Board Certifed in International Law by the Florida Bar, heads our growing Customs and Trade practice.
In Miami Dade County, former Miami Dade County Manager George Burgess, long time lobbyists Jose Fuentes and Richard Candia, and local government attorney, Dan Espino, a former Miami Springs Councilman, assist clients throughout South Florida. Jose and Richard also represent clients in Tallahassee including several South Florida municipalities.
Alan Koslow is one of Florida’s leading gaming attorneys and has also been called a “King of City Hall” and one of South Florida’s top Gaming Law Attorneys by the Miami Herald. Bill Cea is one of South Florida's leading procurement attorneys and has successfully won or defended dozens of multi-million dollar bids, RFP, RLI, IFB and RFQ along with Mark Stempler. Marcie Oppenheimer Nolan, a certified land planner, former Town of Davie Development Services Director and FAU Professor of Urban and Regional Planning Studies, and Michelle Klymko represent developers and other clients before local governments. Neil Schiller leads our rapidly growing Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie County local government practice. Our local government practice is active throughout Florida and in particular in Collier, Sarasota/Manatee, Lee, Pinellas and the Tampa Bay region including attorneys Mark Trank, Sarah Spector, Michael Boutzoukas and Greg Steube, a member of the Florida House of Representatives.
Representative Clients Public sector clients: Palm Beach County (Federal Lobbying), Broward County School Board (Construction), Miami Dade County, Cities of Hollywood, Opa-Locka, Lauderdale Lakes, Pompano Beach, Miami Gardens, West Park, Cape Coral, Homestead, Miami Lakes, Medley, Miami Springs, Miami, Sweetwater, Virginia Gardens, Parkland (special counsel), Hialeah (Federal), plus special districts such as the Miami Dade Expressway Authority, the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach, Miami-Dade County School Board (Construction, Lobbying), Collier County (Procurement).
Private sector clients: TD Bank, Wal-Mart, AT&T, Plantir, Algenol BioFuels, Baltimore Orioles, Bethune Cookman College, Florida Association of Jewish Federations, Florida Memorial University, T-Mobile, Gulf Power, The Isle Casino and Racing at Pompano Park, Duty Free Americas, Reynolds Smith and Hill, RAM Development, Westin-Diplomat Hotel, Pinnacle Housing, Trump Hollywood, Fortune Development, Embraer Aircraft, Inc., Stiles Development and Construction, James A. Cummings, Balfour Beatty, PB Americas, HMS Host (MIA), Bergeron Emergency Services, Bergeron Land Development, and Bergeron Environmental-Recycling, U.S. Legal, American Traffic Solutions (ATS), Go Transportation, Ocean Properties, Intuit Health, Delaware North Food and Hospitality (FLL), Travelex Financial Services, Secure Wrap, ORACLE, Arrow Cargo, Fraport, Outdoor Resorts, CIBER, Advance Auto Parts, Florida Stevedoring, Malcolm Pirnie, Southern Waste Systems, Sunshine State Health Plans, Paradies Airport Shops, AECOM Water, The Carrie Meek Foundation, Coventry Health Plans. Master Concessionair, Seattle’s Best Coffee, FoodTown, Tutor-Perini-Baker Concrete J.V., HNTB, Gresham Smith, Vertical V, All Year Cooling and Heating, Gate Gourmet, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints, Equity Residential, Ben Gamla Charter Schools, Advantage Academy Charter School, Dade Medical College, Ryder Transportation Services, Kronos (Enterprise Time and Attendance), FPL, Brown & Caldwell, FCCI Insurance Group, RYO Cigar Association, RealAuction.com, and Safety Net Hospitals.
For Federal lobbying, Becker & Poliakoff also represents Franco Government Relations, whose clients include: Florida Gulf Coast University, Town of Miami Lakes, Hialeah, Hialeah Gardens, and North Bay Village.
Becker & Poliakoff also represents the Fuentes Rodriguez Consulting Group whose clients include Miami Dade County municipalities: Homestead, Miami Springs, Cutler Bay, Miami Lakes, Virginia Gardens, Medley and Sweetwater.