A former deputy general counsel of the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation (now DEP), Silvia Alderman is the chair of Akerman's Water Task Force, a team of multidisciplinary legal professionals and consultants advising on the regulatory and environmental challenges facing our clients.…

Jamel focuses his practice on representing clients in the higher education and collegiate athletics sector. His experience includes representing higher education institutions in matters involving regulatory and compliance issues at the local, state and federal level, in conducting training for board…

An innovator with over two decades of experience in the property and casualty insurance sector, Maria Henderson works with insurance companies and self-insured companies to navigate complex regulatory issues and create effective and compliant operations solutions. She has extensive experience with…

Montoya M. Ho-Sang provides full service representation to higher education institutions, including performing Title IX audits and compliance reviews regarding athletics and sexual misconduct matters, representing institutions in a wide range of civil litigation matters, and drafting policies and…

LaKeisha Marsh serves as the chair of Akerman’s Government Affairs and Public Policy Practice Group. She leads a bipartisan team of professionals providing strategic counsel on policy and regulatory issues in the United States. With a comprehensive legal background serving the higher education…

Li Massie is an associate in the Government Affairs and Public Policy Practice Group. She counsels clients on international trade, antidumping duty proceedings, and customs law. She also has a strong focus on complex legal issues concerning constitutional, administrative, civil, criminal, and family…

International Trade and Customs Felicia Leborgne Nowels is Board Certified in International law, and focuses her practice on international trade and customs law. Felicia assists domestic and foreign companies with cross-border movement of goods and services. Whether drafting international…

Julia Padierna-Peralta focuses her practice on customs law, free trade agreements, and import compliance. She advises domestic and international clients on all aspects of customs regulatory matters surrounding the importation of merchandise into the U.S., including tariff classification, valuation,…

Richard Pinsky has 35 years of government affairs experience in Florida and Washington, D.C. He has an extensive background representing clients before the legislature as well as local government from helping to navigate the budget and appropriation process to issue advocacy. Helping clients…

Jim Porter is board certified by the Florida Bar as an expert in City, County, and Local Government Law. He concentrates his practice on land use and zoning, as well as government relations, and also has experience with the wireless communications industry, including cellular tower zoning issues.…

With two decades of federal policy experience, including working on Capitol Hill in both chambers of congress, Jane Sargent advocates for clients before the legislative and administrative branches of government. She works on behalf of local governments, transit districts, nonprofit entities, higher…

Sommer Sharpe focuses her practice on representing clients in the higher education sector with regard to regulatory and compliance issues at the local, state, and federal level. She also has experience handling collegiate sports and NCAA compliance-related matters, including working on issues…

Rick Spees represents public and private entities in their interactions with the federal government helping them secure funding from Congress and address issues raised by complex federal laws and regulations. Rick represents a wide range of clients in the education, government, healthcare, and…

Ashlee Tising's more than 15 years of experience in Florida politics started when she interned with U.S. Senator Bill Nelson in 2004. Since then, she has called Florida her home and has successfully advocated before the Florida Legislature and Cabinet on behalf of both public and private sector…

Jose A. Villalobos' legal career spans more than four decades and his practice includes state and local government affairs, representing cities before governmental entities. Jose focuses on legal issues involving land use and entitlements, representing Latin American clients in acquisitions and…