The Law Office of Norman C. Powell has extensive experience in the areas of Real Estate Transactions, Governmental Relations and Civil Litigation
Mr. Powell graduated from Florida International University in 1987 and received his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida, College of Law in 1990. He was admitted to The Florida Bar in the same year. During his attendance at the University of Florida, Mr. Powell distinguished himself academically. He was a member of the Justice Campbell Thornall Moot Court Team and was selected by the Florida Supreme Court as the Best Oralist in the College of Law Annual Zimmerman Shuffield & Kiser Moot Court Competition.
Since graduation from the University of Florida, Mr. Powell has concentrated his practice in civil litigation, real estate, state and local government law. To keep apprised of relevant legal issues, Mr. Powell is a member of the City, County and Local Government Law Section of The Florida Bar. He also is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and the Eleventh Circuit United States Court of Appeals. Mr. Powell is an agent for Stewart Title Guaranty and a member of Attorneys’ Title Insurance Fund, Inc.
Through his extensive training and representative experience, Mr. Powell has obtained a thorough understanding of the diverse legal issues that arise in litigation, state and local government matters. From 1991 through 1994, he successfully represented the Florida Senate in the State of Florida’s redistricting of its Senate and House Districts and the reapportionment of Florida’s Congressional Districts. His representation of The Florida Senate included advising the Senate President and the Members of the Senate Reapportionment Committee on the Voting Rights Act and Federal and State Constitutional issues.
Mr. Powell’s representation of the Senate also included defending the Senate’s Redistricting and Reapportionment plans before the United States Justice Department and in Federal District Court before a Three-Judge panel. He also briefed the issues on appeal before the Florida Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of the United States. See, Johnson v. De Grandy, 114 S.Ct. 2647 (1994); In re Constitutionality of Senate Joint Resolution 2G, 601 So. 2d 543 (Fla. 1992); In re Constitutionality of Senate Joint Resolution 2G, 597 So 2d 276 (Fla. 1992); De Grandy v. Wetherell, 794 F.Supp. 1076 (N.D. Fla. 1992) (three-judge court); De Grandy v. Wetherell, 815 F. Supp 1550 (N.D. Fla. 1992) (three-judge court). Mr. Powell also successfully represented the cities of Miami Beach and North Miami in Voting Rights Act cases. Negron v. City of Miami Beach, Fl., 13 F 3d 1563 (11th Cir. 1997) and Celestin, et al. v. Miami-Dade County, et al. (Case No. 86-1820-CIV-HIGHSMITH, U.S. Dist., 2002), respectively.
Mr. Powell’s representation of the City of North Miami resulted in the Miami-Dade County Commission’s adoption of a resolution that sets forth specific criteria and factors to be used in the County’s redistricting process, the creation of a redistricting advisory board, and a public hearing process. The resolution also requires Spanish and Creole materials and interpreters to assist members of the public throughout the redistricting process.
More recently, Mr. Powell represented Democratic Florida Senate and House members before the Florida Supreme Court and before a Federal Three-Judge panel concerning the constitutionality of Florida’s Congressional, House and Senate Legislative Districts. In Re: Constitutionality of House Joint Resolution 1987, 817 So. 2d (May 2, 2002); In Re: Constitutionality of House Joint Resolution 25e, 2003 Fla. Lexis 2085 (Fla., Dec 4, 2003); and Raul L. Martinez v. John Ellis “Jeb” Bush, 234 F. Supp. 2d 1275 (U.S. Dist., 2002).
Mr. Powell’s legal experience includes representing developers and contractors with complying with federal, state, and local government procurement procedures, and responding to procurement solicitations, defending or prosecuting administrative hearings; and advocacy in state and federal court, quasi-judicial proceedings, and before legislative bodies. See, e.g., R.N. Expertise, Inc. v. Miami-Dade County School Board, D.O.A.H. Case No. 01-2663 Bid, March 13, 2002.
Mr. Powell also served as a Hearing Examiner for the Clerk of the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners and was responsible for providing the Board with recommended findings of law and fact for the Board’s consideration in the resolution of procurement and bid protests.
Mr. Powell represents private, commercial, industrial, residential and mixed-use developers throughout the land development process including development, permitting, zoning, concurrency, platting, and permitting in Miami-Dade County and its municipalities.
In addition, over the last fifteen years Mr. Powell’s other relevant legal experience has included representation of the following clients in the government law area:
BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc. before the Florida Public Service Commission and in the Miami-Dade County procurement process for the $50 million pay telephone services contract at Miami International Airport; American Medical Response in Miami-Dade County concerning the County’s certificate of need ordinance for ambulances and County Wide Emergency and Non-emergency Medical Transportation Vehicle Service Contract; Yellow Cab concerning the Miami-Dade County For Hire Vehicle Ordinance, which included negotiations with the hotel industry and the Miami Visitors and Convention Bureau; Miami Sports & Exhibition Authority, including compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act at the Miami Arena; Storm Shutter Association concerning the proposed building code revisions following Hurricane Andrew; Dollar Rent A Car Systems, Inc., in negotiations with Miami International Airport for concessions space and in litigation matters; GFC Crane Consultants, Inc. and in the Miami-Dade County Seaport’s procurement process for the contract to manage and operate its gantry cranes; WH Smith US Travel Retail in the procurement for a retail concessions master developer at Miami International Airport; Sappharie Properties of Florida, Inc. in the request for proposals for the joint development of the Coconut Grove Metrorail Station;Turner Construction Company in the selection process for the Miami Arena Development; Pro Player Stadium concerning annexation issues related to Pro Player Stadium; Comsis Intelitran/Comsis Mobility Services in the procurement for the Miami-Dade County Paratransit Contract; Subaqueous Services, Inc. in issues relating to the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) and the Florida Department of Community Affairs related to FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Program; and also in negotiations with Miami-Dade County and the procurement process for the County’s $200 million Secondary Canal Dredging Project. Mr. Powell represented former Miami-Dade County Fire Chief, Charles Phillips in the negotiation of a separation agreement with Miami-Dade County. Mr. Powell also is currently Eminent Domain Counsel to the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority.
Community Involvement
Beyond the practice of law, Mr. Powell also is active in Miami-Dade County’s civic community. Mr. Powell takes a special interest in children’s issues. In November of 2004, Mr. Powell served on the Conference Committee for the Children’s Bill of Rights 2004 Conference and served as a facilitator with the Honorable Justice Rosemary Barkett on Rights of Children in the Justice System. He is a Board member of Voices For Children Foundation, Inc., the fundraising arm of Miami Dade’s highly praised Guardian Ad Litem program and served as its Chairperson from 2002 until 2004. He also served on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Miami-Dade County and this was honored as on of its Miracle Maker Awardees for 2005.
Mr. Powell was also an Officer of 100 Black Men of South Florida. He is currently a Trustee of the Miami Art Museum. Mr. Powell has served as Chair of the Miami Shores Planning and Zoning Board from 1998 until 2000.
Mr. Powell as chaired the Fundraising Committee for the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis Legendary Sports Celebrity Roast in 1997 and 1998. Mr. Powell is currently the Vice-Chair of the City of Miami’s Model City Trust. The Model City Trust is part of the City of Miami’s campaign to revitalize and transform the Model City area with specific projects that include redevelopment and infill to increase homeownership and streetscape. Mr. Powell is a member of Miami-Dade County’s Boundaries Commission, which is the County board that initially reviews annexation and incorporation applications.
The Firm was founded with the goal of providing quality, efficient and professional legal services to every client that entrusts us with their legal matter.
