Best Lawyers Near You in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for Land Use and Zoning Law

Stephanie J. Toothaker, Esq. / Chairwoman & Chief Strategist TOOTHAKER.org Stephanie is a Martindale Hubbell AV rated attorney, and so much more. Regularly recognized as a SuperLawyer and by Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, she guides clients with her sophisticated approach to governmental relations and procurement. Representing private equity firms, innovative companies, and entrepreneurial individuals seeking complex land development entitlements, her specific expertise on these matte...

Stephen Tilbrook has more than 25 years of experience practicing land use and environmental law, and he focuses his practice on complex land use, development, and environmental matters throughout the state of Florida. He represents property owners, expanding businesses, developers, financial institutions, and institutional clients, including hospitals, universities, regional shopping centers, and real estate investment trusts. He specializes in addressing the land use and environmental challe...

William “Bill” R. Scherer cofounded the firm in 1974 with his late partner Rex Conrad. Over the past five decades, Mr. Scherer has grown Conrad & Scherer into one of Florida’s leading law firms and has expanded the firm’s presence with offices in New York, New York, Brevard, North Carolina, and Quito, Ecuador. AV® Preeminent™ Peer Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® since 1987, Mr. Scherer is a seasoned trial attorney. He has litigated over 100 trials in bot...

Tracy H. Lautenschlager is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law. Tracy H., who practices law in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Tracy H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Nectaria Chakas is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law. Nectaria, who practices law in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nectaria is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Janna Peters Lhota is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law. Janna Peters, who practices law in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Janna Peters is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Barbara A. Hall concentrates her practice in the area of land use and environmental law. She has 21 years of experience in development law first representing local governments as an Assistant City Attorney and as Assistant County Attorney, and then representing private property owners and developers. Barbara has wide-ranging experience in comprehensive planning, developments of regional impact, zoning, site plan approvals, platting, environmental permitting, variances, annexation, due diligen...

Cushla E. Talbut is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law, Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law. Cushla E., who practices law in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Cushla E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ethan B. Wasserman is a member of the Land Use Practice of the firm’s Miami office. Ethan focuses his practice on land use, development and general real estate matters. He represents clients in all aspects of the development approval process, from site diligence, subdivision and concurrency impacts, land use/zoning applications and construction permitting. During and post construction, clients call on Ethan to assist with day-to-day local government matters, including building and code ...

Ben Hedrick practices in the area of land use and development, representing clients in all aspects of the development approval process in municipalities and unincorporated areas in both Miami-Dade County and Broward County, including in the cities of Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Additionally, Ben has experience assisting clients in public-private partnerships and the development and use of public infrastructure such as airports, parking garages, and rail infrastructure.

Ryan D. Bailine is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law. Ryan D., who practices law in Miami, Florida, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ryan D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Marissa A. Neufeld is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law. Marissa A., who practices law in Miami, Florida, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Marissa A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael has an active land use and zoning practice in Miami-Dade County, with a broad specialization in Miami Beach, where he frequently appears in front of the City Commission, Historic Preservation Board, Design Review Board, the Board of Adjustment, and the Planning Board. Michael also does work in Bay Harbour, Sunny Isles, Key Biscayne, Aventura and Bal Harbour. Additionally, his practice extends to appellate litigation matters before the Eleventh Judicial Circuit’s Appellate Divisi...

Ben has been active for more than 30 years helping to transform properties throughout Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami by representing landowners, institutional clients and developers on land use and zoning matters. His practice covers local and state real estate permitting and licensing, zoning, site plan and other land use approvals, amendments of zoning code, local comprehensive plans, and master plans, due diligence reviews, concurrency, public-private partnerships, and environment...

Dennis A. Kerbel is chair of Akerman’s Florida Land Use and Entitlements Practice. Dennis has extensive experience in the full range of local government law issues, with a particular legal concentration in land use law. He focuses his practice on helping clients achieve optimal results from governmental approval processes and, where appropriate, litigation. Dennis has experience in federal and state courts at both the trial and appellate levels. He handles a broad variety of cases, incl...

Carlos R. Lago is a member of the Land Use & Land Development Practice of the firm’s Miami office. He focuses his practice on land use, zoning, and governmental affairs representing clients in numerous multi-million dollar transactions throughout South Florida. Carlos represents real estate and hotel development clients that include The Related Group; Terra; OKO Group; Aries Development; Aria Development; BMG Group; CMC Group; East End Capital Partners; Greystone & Co; Avra Jain...