Statement of Qualifications

I have been a member of the Florida Bar since 1974 and currently serve on the Bar's Steering Committee for the revision of Florida's Construction Law and Practice. I began my legal career as an Assistant County Attorney for Hillsborough County and later held the post of Deputy County Attorney. While serving the County I led the recodification of The Hillsborough County Code of Ordinances and Laws, which provided me with an extensive background in units of local government.

As an adjunct professor, I taught Construction Law at Stetson College of Law. I was an instructor in Environmental Law at Golden Gate University's MacDill AFB facility. I have lectured extensively on construction contract claims and avoiding litigation, and I am a guest lecturer in Construction Law at the University of Florida's School of Building Construction. I have also lectured for Cambridge Institute, the National Business Institute, and Federal Publications.

I served on the Consultants' Competitive Negotiation Act selection committee for Hillsborough County. The Florida Bar's Florida Construction Law and Practice includes a chapter that I wrote titled Bids, Bid Disputes, and Competitive Negotiations Involving Public Entities. I also revised and updated the chapters The Public Works Contract and Construction Liens in the Florida CLE (Continuing Legal Education) publication Legal Forms & Worksheets Manual. I was the principal drafter of a standard architect/owner contract prepared for community colleges such as Hillsborough Community College.

I am co-author of Rights and Remedies Against Other Parties To Process in Wiley & Sons' Contractor's Handbook; and the chapter on Contracts To Construct Sewerage and Water Treatment Plants in Wiley & Sons' Construction Project Form Book.

I worked with Dean Frank E. Maloney of the University of Florida in writing the rules for the South Florida Water Management District, the Water Resources Act of 1972.

Following is a partial list of legal matters within the scope of my practice:

I have represented the following governmental entities while a partner in my previous firm: The School Board of Hillsborough County, the Clerk of the Circuit Courts of Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, the City of Tampa Water and Sewer Departments, Lee County Board of County Commissioners, the School Board of Polk County, and the Tax Collector of Hillsborough County. Thus, I have seen the operation of government from several public-counsel aspects.

I have been involved with the Bakas Equestrian Center for Handicapped Children, Friends of the Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation Department, OASIS (Older Adult Services, Inc.), the Kiwanis Club of Tampa, Leadership Tampa, and Junior Achievement.