2014 Winter Newsletter
Volume 15, Issue 1
In This Issue:
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New Faces at LLW
Matthew B. Taylor
Tampa Bay Office
Associate
Mr. Taylor practices in the area of complex construction, commercial, contract and real estate litigation matters. An experienced civil litigation attorney, he has handled hundreds of cases from start to finish in both a plaintiff’s and defendant’s capacity over the past 13 years. Taylor is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an organization reserved for those attorneys winning one million dollars or more in verdict or settlement. A sixth generation native of Manatee County, Florida, Taylor received his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Stetson University College of Law in 2000, where he served as Senior Justice of Honor Court and President of the Environmental Law Society. He received his Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of South Florida College of Business Administration in 1994. He can be reached at mtaylor@llw-law.com or at (941) 708-4040.
Rachael M. Bruce
West Palm Beach Office
Associate
Ms. Bruce received her Juris Doctorate from the University Of Florida Levin College Of Law and earned a Bachelor of Liberal Arts & Sciences degree, with honors, from the University of Florida. Ms. Bruce holds an Environmental and Land Use Law Certificate from the University Of Florida Levin College Of Law. She can be reached at rbruce@llw-law.com or at (561) 640-0820. For more information, visit www.llw-law.com.
Jennifer S. Bissette
Tampa Bay Office
Paralegal
Ms. Bissette is a Certified Paralegal at Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A. She has assisted attorneys in the areas of Real Estate and Litigation for more than 10 years. Ms. Bissette is an active member of the National Association of Legal Assistants, Manatee County Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals and the Attorneys’ Title Insurance Fund. She can be reached at jbissette@llw-law.com or at (941) 708-4040.
LLW welcomed John L. McWilliams to the firm in October., click here to see the information about him in our fall newsletter.
Lewis, Longman & Walker Celebrates its 20th Anniversary
This year we are celebrating 20 years as a firm.
In terms of a person’s life, 20 years is just getting started, but in business life, 20 years is a real accomplishment. It reflects the duration of relationships among colleagues and with clients and trusted service providers.
The world has changed a lot in 20 years.
In some ways, it’s as if we just started while in others it’s as if these relationships have always been in place.
Our clients are friends.
Our friends are colleagues.
Our colleagues are family.
It might seem odd to talk about relationships and friends and families in the context of a 20th anniversary celebration for business, but we’re a different kind of law firm.
We recognize that our relationships have made it possible for us to do what we do (and to do it for as long as we have).
In 1994, a few friends left their jobs and formed Lewis, Longman & Walker. Those friends brought more than their law degrees and their experience in government and private sector practice to the new firm. And, we’ve continued to develop the kind of culture where former engineers and planners and other professionals who have become lawyers bring a fresh perspective to the challenges our clients face.
We started with the Tallahassee and West Palm Beach offices. In 1996, we added the Jacksonville office and in 2004 we added the Tampa Bay office.
We grew. Even so, we remained committed to providing big firm service with boutique style. We remain a firm focused on environmental practice, but today that includes ports, airports and infrastructure, and water resources. Our water and related environmental practices have led us to provide other services to our public and private clients, for example legislative and government affairs, intellectual property and business, public pension, labor and employment, and others.
We’ve expanded our services and we’ve grown but we haven’t changed who we are. We are lawyers, but we are so much more.
We are friends and colleagues and clients and we have been so for 20 years. No matter what the future brings, we will always be so.
Celebration events are planned at each office this summer.
Check out our 20th Anniversary Video here: http://vimeo.com/84692274
Legislative Session Preview
By: M. Christopher Lyon
As we steam towards the 2014 Legislative Session (begins March 4, 2014), economic indicators and trends across the state show steady signs of improvement. Florida employment and revenue numbers are up, with projections indicating more than a $1 billion surplus for the next fiscal year. The improvements in the state budget may lead to renewed efforts for legislative “special projects” funding back to the local level. Governor Scott recently released his recommended budget totaling $74.2 billion, which includes more than $500 million in tax cuts and an increase to K-12 education funding. Policy issues which are sure to dominate discussion include environmental issues, Common Core education standards, healthcare, gaming and pension issues.
Environmental issues will be a focal point for the 2014 Legislature. The Senate created a select committee to study problems in the Indian River Lagoon and Lake Okeechobee. Legislation is being drafted to address issues relating to springs and funding to protect springs. There has also been legislation filed revising various aspects of environmental regulation. All the while, the Florida Water and Land Amendment (now known as Amendment 1 on the November 2014 ballot), which if approved provides $19 billion over the next 20 years to acquire and restore conservation lands, is casting a giant shadow.
Many legislators are reacting to their constituents’ negative opinions of the Common Core standards by filing legislation seeking withdrawal from the Common Core standards and asking for Florida standards that do not include any federal involvement. This debate will likely consume a significant amount of legislative time and effort.
The Legislature will continue to discuss implementation of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) as Floridians begin enrolling in the federal health insurance marketplace. Last year, the decision not to expand Medicaid prompted the House Democrats to use a procedural move requiring each bill be read in its entirety and causing an almost complete lockdown on the House floor in the final week of the 2013 Session. We expect to see more debate, discussion and dissension relating to this issue.
Gambling will also take center stage again as both the Senate President and Speaker of the House have continued to discuss and highlight this issue as one of great importance. The Senate Select Committee on Gaming toured the state during the summer and fall and held a number of town hall meetings. These meetings drew a vast number of public participants and allowed the Committee to hear from a cross-section of Floridians with differing viewpoints. Recently, the Speaker and President discussed the option of placing an amendment to the Florida Constitution on the 2014 ballot pertaining to gambling in Florida.
Speaker Weatherford has again prioritized his desire to reform the state pension plan. He views the current retirement plan as a significant liability looming over Florida. There are numerous plans proposed regarding changes to the state pension plan. Ideas range from Weatherford’s proposal last year, which would require new state employees to enter into a 401(k) style retirement plan, to offering employees the option of taking a lump sum payment or an annuity. Speaker Weatherford sees this as one of his priority goals during the upcoming session.
The Lewis, Longman and Walker Legislative and Governmental Affairs Practice Group, Lori Killinger (Chair), Terry Lewis and Chris Lyon, seamlessly combine substantive legal experience with an in-depth knowledge of legislative and regulatory processes. Considered one of the most trusted political advisors in Florida, we thrive on helping our clients navigate the maze of Florida’s legislative and political arenas.
FIRM NEWS
LLW will sponsor the 10th Annual Leadership Excellence Award on April 25, 2014 in West Palm Beach, Florida. The event is hosted by Leadership Palm Beach County. Click here for more information about Leadership Palm Beach County.
LLW will sponsor the Love of Literacy Luncheon held March 7, 2014 in West Palm Beach, Florida. The Love of Literacy Luncheon is hosted by the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County. Click here for more information about the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County.
Jim Linn and Glenn Thomas spoke at the Florida Public Employer Labor Relations Association annual conference in Orlando in February. The presentation addressed topics such as recent changes to the Florida Retirement System, the 2014 legislative session and pension reform options for local governments.
Michelle Diffenderfer was recognized on February 25, 2014 with the Alumni Achievement award from University of Miami School of Law. The Alumni Achievement award honors alumni who have excelled in their chosen professions and in service to the University of Miami. The recipient is selected by the Executive Committee of the Law Alumni Association.
The Northeast Florida League of Cities Dinner will be held February 20, 2014 in Green Cove Springs, Florida. LLW is a proud sponsor of the event. Click here for more information about the Florida League of Cities.
LLW Sponsored A Pair to Remember event held February 20, 2014 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The event is hosted by Easter Seals Florida, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing exceptional services, education, outreach and advocacy for people living with autism. Tara Duhy serves on the Easter Seals Board of Directors and is a member of the Event Committee. Click here to read more.
Wayne Flowers participated in a panel discussion at the Public Interest Environmental Conference titled “Thirty Agriculture, Thirsty Springs: Who Gets to Drink from the CUP?” The Public Interest Environmental Conference was held February 20-22, 2014 at the University of Florida College of Law in Gainesville, Florida. Click here for more information about the conference.
LLW sponsored the Florida Brownfields Association Legislative Days at the Capitol event held February 18-19, 2014 in Tallahassee, Florida. The Florida Brownfields Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the cleanup and redevelopment of Brownfields in Florida. Click here for more information about the event.
LLW sponsored the Manufacturers Association of Florida’s “Manufacturing Days at the Capitol” event held February 4-5, 2014 in Tallahassee, Florida. The Manufacturers Association of Florida is an advocacy organization that serves to improve the business climate for manufacturers in Florida. Click here for more information about the event.
Bob Diffenderfer and Sean Alveshire attended the Florida Airports Council State Summit held February 3-5, 2014 in Tallahassee, Florida. The Florida Airports Council is the largest airport-specific organization in Florida. Click here to read more about the FAC State Summit.
Al Malefatto and Sean Alveshire attended the International Marina & Boatyard Conference (IMBC) held January 29-31st in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The IMBC conference is hosted by the Association of Marine Industries. Al Malefatto presented “Approaching Your Marina’s Federal Permitting Project under the Corps’ Expansion of the Consultation Process” at the conference. Click here for more information about the IMBC conference.
LLW sponsored the Paralegal Association of Florida’s Annual Holiday Charity event held December 11, 2013 in West Palm Beach, Florida. All proceeds from the event went to support the nonprofit organization Families First of Palm Beach County. Click here for more information about the Paralegal Association of Florida’s Palm Beach County Chapter.
LLW sponsored the 10th Annual Manufacturers Summit & Marketplace held December 4-6, 2013 in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Manufacturers Association of Florida is an advocacy organization that serves to improve the business climate for manufacturers in Florida. Click here for more information about the event.