With more than 10 years of experience, Michael A. Rodriguez focuses his practice in real estate, foreclosure, litigation, land use, and local government law. Currently, a large part of his practice is dedicated to representing some of the nation's largest lenders in contested residential foreclosure matters.

Mr. Rodriguez also has extensive experience with municipal and county governments. He has represented real estate developers, investors and corporate and individual landowners in development issues and local government lobbying, including, but not limited to: obtaining master plan and zoning amendments; amendments to local government comprehensive plans; site plan and zoning approvals; subdivision and platting approvals; environmental permitting with state, regional, and local permitting authorities; community redevelopment agencies; developments of regional impact; and code enforcement and building code compliance issues. Mr. Rodriguez has developed extensive knowledge in the areas of land use/zoning and local government issues, as they relate to condominium and community associations, as well as administrative challenges, litigation, and appeals of local government decisions and ordinances before the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings and the state and federal courts of Florida.

Mr. Rodríguez began his practice as an Assistant County Attorney in Martin County, Florida. He served as counsel to the Building Department, Code Enforcement Division, and County Accessibility Coordinator. In addition, he was staff counsel to the Board of County Commissioners, Planning and Zoning Board, Local Planning Agency, Development Review Committee, and Neighborhood Advisory Committees.

Representative Experience:

• As accessibility counsel in Martin County: prepared the first appeal of a State of Florida building permit waiver for the construction of a "stadium-style seating" movie theater; resulting settlement improved accessibility for disabled residents
• Counseled individuals and corporations on issues arising under regulations of the various water management districts of the State of Florida
• Counseled multiple clients - corporate, institutional, and individual - in regulatory and development matters before municipal and county governments throughout Florida, including matters relating to Comprehensive Growth Management Plans and local planning and zoning regulations
• Counseled multiple clients - governmental and individual - in compliance matters relating to Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, building compliance issues under the Federal Fair Housing Act, and construction compliance issues under the Florida Accessibility Code for Building Construction
• Counseled clients - institutional, corporate and individual - responding to governmental notices; represented clients before various governmental agencies prosecuting matters; handled confidential, internal investigations necessary for clients facing civil or regulatory exposure

Industries:

• Real Estate Development

Court Admissions:

• State of Florida, 1997
• United States District Court, Southern District of Florida, 1998
• United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, 1999
• United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, 2009

Bar Admissions:

• The Florida Bar, 1997

Education:

• New College of Florida, Sarasota, Florida, BA History, 1994
• Vermont Law School, South Royalton, Vermont, JD, 1997

Professional and Community Involvement:

• Palm Beach County Democratic Executive Committee, 2006
• Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Florida, Palm Beach Chapter, 2007
• Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Kids Fitness Festival of the Palm Beaches Co-Chair, 2007-Present
• West Boynton Little League, Auxiliary President, 2009-2010