Work Experience


Attorney

Certified Public Manager

CITY OF NORTH PORT, FLORIDA                                                        North Port, Florida
Assistant City Attorney                                                                                  October 2017 – Present

  • ​As the Assistant City Attorney for the City of North Port, Florida, I have daily interactions with the City’s elected officials, management, and staff to analyze, research and advise on legal issues facing the City and its departments. I review, edit and draft all contracts prior to the City’s execution, and work closely with vendors in order to negotiate terms. I serve as counsel for the Police Department, interacting directly with the Chief of Police to advise on the department’s legal needs. I regularly advise the City Manager and Office of Human Resources on personnel, employment and potential civil rights issues.
  • Represent the City’s Police Department in circuit court when requesting the granting of Risk Protection Orders; was the first in the County to successfully have such an order granted.
  • Serve as counsel for the City’s Planning and Zoning Advisory Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and represent the City at Code Enforcement Hearings.
  • Conduct training on Florida’s Sunshine Law, Florida’s Public Records Law, and ethics for public officials for the City’s appointed boards and committees.


​FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY        Tallahassee, Florida                 

Deputy Chief: Bureau of Human Resources                                           September 2016 – October 2017

  • ​Manage employee relations for the Department, including disciplinary actions for approximately 2000 employees
  • Regularly provide advice, analysis, and explanation, to the Department's Executive Management Team, General Counsel, and Division Heads
  • Supervisor of the Department's internal Training Unit
  • Regular job duties require a working knowledge of the State Personnel System (SPS),  Administrative Procedure Act Ch. 120, Florida Administrative Code Chapter 60L, and various State and Federal labor and employment laws

Assistant General Counsel                                                                                        January 2012 – September 2016

  • Supervising Attorney for Personnel/Human Resource Litigation: review, analysis, and litigation of employee disciplinary actions, review of issues concerning the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Florida Civil Rights Act, and the Florida Public Records Law 
  • Review, analysis, and litigation, concerning allegations of Civil Rights violations made against the Department before the Florida Commission of Human Relations (FCHR) and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) 
  • Supervisor of three Senior Attorneys regarding Personnel, Human Resource Litigation, and Administrative Rulemaking
  • Regularly provide legal advice, analysis, and explanation, to the Department's Executive Management Team, General Counsel, and Division Heads
  • Practice in the Florida First District Court of Appeal, Florida Circuit Courts, before the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH),  and the Florida Public Employee's Relations Commission (PERC)
  • Responsible for drafting and responding to legal pleadings, including discovery, motions, and recommended orders; as well as the collection and evaluation of evidence and witness statements for legal sufficiency
  • Coordination and participation in mediations, negotiations, and settlements  
  • Preparation of witnesses for trial, deposition, and discovery responses 
  • Coordinate Department-wide policy and administrative rule review, drafting, interpretation, and defense
  • Regular litigation practice requiring a firm knowledge of the Administrative Procedure Act Ch. 120, Florida Administrative Code Rule 73A, 73B and 73C, et al, Whistleblower’s Act, Florida Public Records Law, Etc
  • Supervise and delegate work between several law clerks 

 

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS                                    Tallahassee, Florida

Assistant General Counsel                                                                                        December 2011 – January 2012

  • Labor/Personnel Litigation: review, analysis, and litigation of employee disciplinary actions; review of issues concerning the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Florida Public Records Law 
  • Drafting and responding to legal pleadings, including discovery, motions, recommended orders; collection and evaluation of evidence for legal sufficiency
  • Coordination and participation in negotiations and settlements 
  • Practice before the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH) and the Florida Public Employee's Relations Commission (PERC) 
  • Preparation of witnesses to testify at trial and deposition 
  • Lead counsel regarding subpoena procedure, including legal sufficiency and service of process
  • Coordinate Department-wide policy and administrative rule review, drafting, interpretation, and defense
  • Heavy litigation practice requires a firm knowledge of the Administrative Procedure Act Ch. 120, and Florida Administrative Code Rule 33 and 60L, et al 
  • Co-Death Row Coordinator

 

FLORIDA DEPT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION  

DIVISION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES & TOBACCO               Tallahassee, Florida 

Assistant General Counsel                                                                                       March 2009 – December 2011

  • Litigation of enforcement actions involving alcoholic beverage and tobacco licenses throughout the State of Florida before the Florida Division of  Administrative Hearings (DOAH)
  • Extensive drafting and responding to legal pleadings including discovery, motions, recommended orders and rule challenges
  • Drafting and responding to legal pleadings, including discovery, motions, recommended orders; collection and evaluation of evidence for legal sufficiency
  • Coordinate negotiations and settlements 
  • Preparation of witnesses to testify at trial and deposition
  • Lead counsel regarding a Complaint for Declaratory Judgment in the 5th Judicial Circuit
  • Provide legal advice, analysis and explanation to Division Director, staff, and other agency employees
  • Research and drafting of legal opinions and declaratory statements  
  • Supervise and delegate work between several law clerks 
  • The heavy litigation practice requires a firm knowledge of the Administrative Procedure Act Ch. 120, Chapters 561, 562, 563, 564, and 565, known as the "Beverage law", Chapter 567, Chapter 568, Chapter 569, and Florida Administrative Code Rule 61A et al., and a working knowledge of Chapter 210, Tax on Tobacco Products, Chapter 386, Part II.

 

HARK/ BURKHALTER / YON, PL                                                                Boca Raton, Fl

Associate                                                                                                                         February 2008 – February 2009

  • Representation of Clients in Civil, Family, and Probate Court, for Broward and Palm Beach County
  • Weekly courtroom experience in Ex Parte Hearings and Motion Hearings
  • Drafting of pleadings, research, client interviews, focusing on Family Law and Estate Planning
  • Coordinate negations and settlement 

 

FLORIDA DEPT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION      

DIVISION OF LAND SALES                                                           Tallahassee, Florida 

Arbitrator                                                                                                                         July 2007 – February 2008

  • Arbitrator for cases throughout the State of Florida involving homeowners, homeowner’s associations and condominium associations 
  • Preside over hearings in person and telephonically  
  • Drafting of Orders on Motions and drafting of Final Orders
  • Coordinate personal trial docket 

 

FLORIDA DEPT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION

CONSTRUCTION DIVISION                                                                             Tallahassee, Florida

Assistant General Counsel                                                                                       December 2006 – July 2007

  • Prosecute licensed contractors against their license through Administrative Hearings before the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH)
  • Coordinate negotiations and settlements
  • Supervise and delegate work between several law clerks 

 

FLORIDA DEPT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE                                                  Orlando and Tallahassee, Florida

Assistant General Counsel                                                                                       October 2004 – December 2006

  • Labor/Personnel Litigation: review, analysis and litigation of employee disciplinary actions, review of issues concerning the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 
  • Practice before the Florida Public Employee’s Relations Commission (PERC) 
  • Advise Managing employees on aspects of FMLA, ADA, Florida Public Records Law, Whistle Blower Act, and Union issues
  • Represent the Agency in Mediations, Arbitrations, Unemployment Compensation Hearings, Judicial meetings, Overpayment Hearings, Union and Impact Negotiations 
  • Conduct legal training and legislative updates to Department employees 

 

BROWARD COUNTY STATE ATTORNEY OFFICE                                Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Assistant State Attorney                                                                                         April 2004 – October 2004

  • Represent the State of Florida in Circuit Court, Misdemeanor Division 
  • Participated in weekly trial practice

 

BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE                       Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Certified Legal Intern                                                                                                  May 2003 – December 2003

  • Co-Staffed in Mental Health Court 
  • Co-Staffed in Criminal Misdemeanor Division 
  • Co-Staffed in Domestic Violence Division