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Top-Ranked Local Government Lawyers in Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.225 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of October 31, 2026, the top-ranked local government lawyers in Florida are Darren Jay Elkind (LexRank 88.00), Henry J Hunnefeld (86.60) and Victoria Mendez (84.00).

This ranking lists the top 25 of the 164 local government lawyers LexRanked tracks across Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. All 25 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in City, County and Local Government Law by The Florida Bar, a credential held by 4.9% of Florida lawyers in any field. They practice in 11 cities, led by Tampa.

Lawyers ranked
25
Fully verified
25 of 25

The ranking

Ordered by organic LexRank score; paid placements are labelled and never affect a position. How we rank

  1. No change

    Darren Jay Elkind

    Independent practice · DeLand, FL

    Verified
    • 31 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #1?

    Ranks #1 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 4.1)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
  2. No change

    Henry J Hunnefeld

    Independent practice · Miami Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 44 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #2?

    Ranks #2 with 86.60: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30). 1.40 points behind #1, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 4.1)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)

    1.40 points behind #1 (Darren Jay Elkind): Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  3. No change

    Victoria Mendez

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 26 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #3?

    Ranks #3 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20). 2.60 points behind #2, mostly reputation.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.1)

    2.60 points behind #2 (Henry J Hunnefeld): Reputation −4.

  4. No change

    Edward George Labrador “Eddy”

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 37 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.1)
  5. No change

    Susan Dawson

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 30 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.1)
  6. No change

    Isabelle Christine Lopez

    Independent practice · St. Augustine, FL

    Verified
    • 30 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #6?

    Ranks #6 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.1)
  7. No change

    John Raymond Herin Jr.

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 34 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #7?

    Ranks #7 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.1)
  8. No change

    Thomas H Robertson

    Bercow Radell Fernandez Larkin & Tapanes · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 46 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #8?

    Ranks #8 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.1)
  9. No change

    Paul Charles Savage

    Bercow Radell Fernandez Larkin & Tapanes · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 30 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #9?

    Ranks #9 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.1)
  10. No change

    Mark Steven Bentley

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 38 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #10?

    Ranks #10 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.1)
  11. No change

    Laura Jacobs Donaldson

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 28 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #11?

    Ranks #11 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.1)
  12. No change

    Richard Anthony Harrison

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 40 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #12?

    Ranks #12 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.1)
  13. No change

    James Jay Porter

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 36 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #13?

    Ranks #13 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.1)
  14. No change

    Kenneth Anthony Tinkler

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 27 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #14?

    Ranks #14 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.1)
  15. No change

    Olga Mercedes Sanchez de Fuentes

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 27 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #15?

    Ranks #15 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.1)
  16. No change

    Steven Brent Spain “Brent”

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 26 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #16?

    Ranks #16 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.1)
  17. No change

    Sheryl Groover Sutphen

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 26 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #17?

    Ranks #17 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.1)
  18. No change

    Paige Hobbs Johnston

    Rogers Towers, P.A. · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 25 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #18?

    Ranks #18 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.1)
  19. No change

    Patrick W Krechowski

    Balch & Bingham, LLP · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 27 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #19?

    Ranks #19 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.1)
  20. No change

    Susan Lanelle Trevarthen

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 34 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #20?

    Ranks #20 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.1)
  21. No change

    Keith W Davis

    Independent practice · West Palm Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 34 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #21?

    Ranks #21 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.1)
  22. No change

    Christy Lyn Goddeau

    Torcivia, Donlon, Goddeau & Rubin, P.A. · West Palm Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 30 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #22?

    Ranks #22 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.1)
  23. No change

    Jody Lamar Finklea

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 26 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #23?

    Ranks #23 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.1)
  24. No change

    Glenn E Thomas

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 25 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #24?

    Ranks #24 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.1)
  25. No change

    Clay Brooker

    Cheffy Passidomo, P.A. · Naples, FL

    Verified
    • 32 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #25?

    Ranks #25 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.1)

Data sources behind the scores

Every score on this page is calculated from facts backed by these sources. Each profile shows which source supports which fact and when it was last checked.

  • floridabar.org · Official / regulatory · 25 profile pages278 facts for 25 lawyers

Local Government market in Florida

LexRanked tracks 164 lawyers and 18 law firms in local government law in Florida. 164 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.

Lawyers
164
Law firms
18
Verified professional data
164 of 164
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
24 years164 lawyers

Calculated by LexRanked from its own records on ; data verified . Ratings and review counts count only when backed by a source; figures from fewer than three profiles are withheld. All lawyers in Florida

What sets these Florida local government lawyers apart

All 25 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in City, County and Local Government Law by The Florida Bar, which only about one in twenty Florida lawyers achieves in any field. The figures come from each lawyer's Florida Bar profile, checked in October 2026.

Fact about the 25 ranked lawyers Figure
Board Certified in City, County and Local Government Law 25 of 25
Years in practice 25 to 46 (median 30)
Languages besides English Spanish (3), French (1)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer

Where do Florida's top local government lawyers practice?

5 of the 25 practice in Tampa; the table shows every city.

City Lawyers in this ranking
Tampa 5
Miami 4
Orlando 3
Tallahassee 3
Fort Lauderdale 2
Jacksonville 2
West Palm Beach 2
DeLand 1
Miami Beach 1
Naples 1
St. Augustine 1

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with an office in a Florida city we cover and local government as a practice area on record. It ranks every local government lawyer LexRanked tracks in Florida by the same score and shows the top 25. How we rank.

Find a local government lawyer in your city

A lawyer near you knows the local courts; each city has its own ranking of local government lawyers.

Florida rules to know

Florida cities and counties must meet in public and open their records to anyone, and injury claims against them are capped at $200,000 per person and must first be presented in writing.

Rule What it means
Open meetings Meetings of a board or commission where official acts are taken must be open to the public, with reasonable notice and promptly recorded minutes (Fla. Stat. § 286.011)
Public records Any person may inspect and copy public records, subject to the exemptions in the law (§ 119.07)
Damage caps A city, county or other public body pays no more than $200,000 per person or $300,000 per incident (§ 768.28(5))
Notice of claim A claim must be presented in writing to the agency within 3 years after it accrues, before any lawsuit (§ 768.28(6))
Lawyer fees Fees on these claims may not exceed 25% of the judgment or settlement (§ 768.28(8))

Cases are heard in the county where they arise; see which judicial circuit covers each county.

How to choose among these lawyers

Confirm the license, prefer a lawyer who regularly works in your county, ask who will handle your matter, and get the fee terms in writing.

  1. Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory and check the bar number shown on their LexRanked profile.
  2. Ask how many matters like yours the lawyer has handled in your county recently.
  3. Ask how they charge and what costs are extra, and get the agreement in writing.

Further reading

Sources for the rules above

Frequently asked questions

Are city and county meetings open to the public in Florida?

Yes. Under section 286.011, meetings of a board or commission at which official acts are taken must be open to the public at all times, with reasonable notice, and minutes must be promptly recorded.

How do I get public records from a Florida city or county?

Ask the agency's records custodian. Under section 119.07 any person may inspect and copy public records, subject to the exemptions the law lists.

How much can I recover from a Florida city or county?

Under section 768.28(5), a city, county or other public body pays no more than $200,000 to one person or $300,000 for all claims from the same incident.

How long do I have to bring a claim against a Florida city or county?

The claim must be presented in writing to the city or county within 3 years after it accrues, and a lawsuit may be filed only after the claim has been presented and denied as section 768.28(6) requires.

Who certifies local government lawyers in Florida?

The Florida Bar certifies lawyers in City, County and Local Government Law after at least five years of practice, peer review and a written exam.

What does Board Certified in City, County and Local Government Law mean?

It is a credential from The Florida Bar for lawyers with substantial experience in the field who have passed peer review and a written exam. 25 of the 25 lawyers in this ranking hold it; 4.9% of Florida lawyers hold a board certification in any field.

Where are the best local government lawyers in Florida?

Of the 25 lawyers in this ranking, 5 practice in Tampa, 4 practice in Miami, 3 practice in Orlando. Each city also has its own ranking.

Do I need a local government lawyer in my own city?

Any lawyer licensed by The Florida Bar may practice anywhere in Florida, but a lawyer who regularly appears in your county knows its judges and procedures.

How is this ranking ordered?

By the LexRank score, calculated only from facts with a cited source: experience, practice-area relevance, awards on record such as board certification, professional credentials, data quality and location. Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Payment never changes a position.

Do client reviews affect the LexRank score?

Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Reviews are shown on profiles for information only, and Reputation counts only awards on record, such as board certification. How we rank

Which lawyers are verified?

25 of the 25 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Darren Jay Elkind, Henry J Hunnefeld, Victoria Mendez, Edward George Labrador “Eddy” and Susan Dawson and others.

What is the difference between the top two lawyers?

Darren Jay Elkind scores 88.00 and Henry J Hunnefeld 86.60, a gap of 1.40 points, mostly in data quality. Compare them side by side

About this ranking

Last updated
Methodology
LexRank v1.2 - deterministic, reproducible scoring
Editorial review
LexRanked editorial team,
Independence
Positions are never sold. Paid placements, if any, are labelled and do not affect scores.

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