Ralf Brookes Attorney

Home

Experience & Resume

What is Board Certified?

Why hire an Attorney?

Land Use / Zoning Law

NonProfits & Homeowners

Speaking Engagements

Attorney to Atty Services

BP Oil Spill Claims

Mediator

NewsArticles Ralf Brookes

Awards

Recent Filings/Documents

Homeowners - Local Govts - Zoning - Environment - Land Use

Ralf G. Brookes, Attorney  
 

CITY ATTORNEY EXPERIENCE:

Town of Yankeetown, Florida, (Levy County, population 760) Town Attorney (2006-Present): Meet with and advise City Mayor and City Council, Zoning Official, Fire Departmet, Code Enforcement, Contracts; Litigation, Employment, Water Treatment and Supply & Utility Issues; Comprehensive Plan Amendments, Land Development Code Amendments and review of development application, variances, cell towers, planned developments, rezonings, comp plan amendments ordinances, contracts, government and public works projects

City of St Pete Beach, Florida (Pinellas County, population 10,086) City Attorney (through May 2008):

City of Bradenton Beach Florida, (Manatee County, population 1,536) City Attorney; 2004-2009; currently Alternate City Attorney & Counsel.

County ATTORNEY Experience:

Monroe County - in the Florida Keys - Land Use Litigation Counsel (1992-1998) Representing Monroe County Florida in land use litigation in state and federal courts, serve as counsel for Growth Management Division, counsel for Planning Department, Planning Commission and Code Enforcement; prepared and defended vacation rental, noise and other ordinances, resolutions and land development regulations, development agreements, comprehensive plan amendments, defended Monroe County in state and federal court.

Sarasota County Assistant County Attorney (1990 – 1992) Advise County Attorney, Board of County Commissioners of Sarasota County; Planning Commission, Planning, Natural Resources, Code Enforcement, Solid Waste Departments, interagency and interlocal agreements; established Pollution Control Trust Fund.

Town of Marineland / University of Florida. (Fall 2009) Prepare Unified Land Development Code. Prepare Model LDC Code for small Florida coastal municipalities containing innovative land development regulations.

Village of Islamorada (in the Florida Keys) Special Magistrate, Fla. Stat. 70.51 Land Use & Dispute Resolution Act: Alternative dispute resolution process for land use applications in Village and Circuit Court.

Private Law Firm Experience:

Fine Jacobson Schwartz Nash Block & England, in Miami/Tallahassee, Attorney 1988 to 1990. Represented applicants in City of Miami, Boca Raton, Opa Locka, South Miami, Miami Beach, Key Biscayne; Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties; sought and obtained local land use, zoning, site plan approvals

MEDIATOR:

 Florida Circuit Court Mediator, Certified by the Florida Supreme Court

 Environmental and Land Use Dispute Resolution Act Mediations under Florida Statutes Chapters 70

 Chapter 120 State Administrative Procedures Act Mediations.

 ARBITRATOR:

 Florida Court Appointed Arbitrator

TEACHING:

Florida Gulf Coast University - Adjunct Professor - Environmental & Land Use Law Courses teaching position from 2005 - 2011 FGCU Masters of Public Administration MPA program

PRACTITIONER IN RESIDENCE: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA LAW SCHOOL

Environmental and Land Use Law Program, and Conservation Clinic

EDUCATION:

University of Florida Law School Gainesville, Florida, Juris Doctor (J.D.) 1988

Jessup Cup Moot Court Team; UF Law Center for Governmental Responsibility Fellowship recipient

University of Miami - Marine Sciences/Geology B.Science, Coral Gables, Florida, 1985

PROFESSIONAL:

Admitted to Florida Bar 1988 (Over 24+ years as member in good standing)

Board Certified in City, County and Local Government Law by The Florida Bar since 2004

Florida Federal Courts: Admitted Middle District Fla., Southern District Fla., Northern District Florida

Florida State Courts: Admitted all state circuits, all appellate district courts, Florida Supreme Court

The Florida Bar, Sections and Committees:

City, County and Local Government Law Section, to present

Environmental and Land Use Law Section (ELULS), Executive Council, 1993-2001

Administrative Law Section Executive Council, 1991- 1999

Florida League of Cities, Florida Municipal Attorney Association Member/Lecturer

GUEST SPEAKER / LECTURER/PARTICIPANT:

The Florida Chamber of Commerce, Growth Management Short CourseEnvironmental Permitting Short Course

The Florida Bar, Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Programs Environmental and Land Use Law Section of the Florida Bar, Administrative Law Section of the Florida Bar Annual Environmental/Land Use Law Conference of the Florida Bar & University of Florida

Continuing Legal Education, CLE-International Programs, Dealing With Government; Wetlands Regulations; Litigating Land Use and Takings Claims; Defending Local Government Land Use Denials; Regulatory Takings under the U.S. and Florida Constitution

Florida Municipal Attorney Association Noise Ordinances

Southwest Florida Chamber of Commerce Issues 08 Southwest Florida Legislative Delegation

University of Florida Law School, Guest Lecturer: Rewards of Local Government Career Service

A Sustainable Southwest Florida: Creating a Vision. Participant as City Attorney
PUT THIS EXPERIENCE TO WORK FOR YOU IN:

Land Use & Zoning Issues.

Ralf Brookes Attorney has been special land use counsel for Counties and Cities and represented citizens in land use and zoning decisions throughout Florida:

  • addressed the issues that arise before Cities and Counties with regard to development approvals.

Ralf Brookes Attorney has specific experience in complex regulatory environments, including the Florida Keys Area of Critical State Concern.

 

Land Use and Zoning Litigation:

  • Ralf Brookes Attorney has served as Land Use Litigation Counsel for local governments, citizens and developers :
  • Monroe County (the "Florida Keys")
  • Sarasota County,
  • City of Bradenton Beach,
  • St Pete Beach,
  • Yankeetown,
  • Non-Profit organizations
  • Homeowners and Neighborhood groups.

 

Public Hearing Representatio:

Ralf Brookes Attorney has avoided litigation in many cases by assisting and preparing for: 

  • pre-hearing legal review,
  • preparation for public comment & presentations at public hearings,
  • appeared before many City Councils, County Commissions and State Agencies in Florida. 

Public Records and Sunshine Law: 

Ralf Brookes Attorney understands the latest case law and can help obtain and ensure full compliance with public records and Sunshine Law.

  • Ralf Brookes Attorney has assisted non-profits to obtain public records and sunshine law access to open meetings.
  • Ralf Brookes Attorney has litigated public records and sunshine law issues in court for both citizens and local governments.

 

State Agencies and Formal Administrative Hearings:

Ralf Brookes Attorney has represented local governments, citizens and non-profits in:

  • formal administrative hearings on
  • state environmental permits,
  • water managment decisions,
  • elections commissions 
  • other state agency actions
    • in the Florida Divisions of Administrative Hearings
    • in the legislature
    • at the Governor and Cabinet.

Appeals:

 
Ralf Brookes Attorney has filed, briefed and argued numerous appeals:
  • Appeals of local goverment decisions to Circuit Court
  • Circuit Court Orders to the District Court of Appeals
  • Amicus (Friend of the Court) Briefs.

 

Mediator or Land Use Special Magistrate.

Ralf Brookes is available as an approved, certified Circuit Civil Mediator by the Florida Supreme Court Certified Civil Mediation program.

Ralf Brookes also serves as Special Magistrate for proceedings under Florida's Environmental and Land Use Dispute Resolution Act, Section 70.51 Florida Statutes (2008). 
This web site is not intended to constitute legal advice. Communication via email with an attorney does not constitute an attorney-client relationship unless and until both parties agree to the terms of such a relationship. The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience.  For a full list of references and qualifications or a free initial consultation, please contact us at


Ralf Brookes, Attorney
1217 E Cape Coral #107,
Cape Coral Florida 33904
(239) 910-5464 phone
ralf@ralfbrookesattorney.com


Communication via email with an attorney does not constitute an attorney-client relationship unless and until both parties agree to the terms of such a relationship.
All results are not provided, results are not necessarily representative of the results obtained by the lawyer, a prospective client's individual facts and circumstances may differ from the matters on this webpages and from the results that are provided or discussed on this website.