Like Us on FacebookFollow Us on Twitter

This site is best viewed with Internet Explorer 9, Firefox 3 or Safari 4. Please upgrade your browser in order to view the site properly.
Click Here to download the latest version of Internet Explorer.

Search Google:
Search this site:

Elizabeth Hernandez

elizabeth Hernandez
Years Served: 
2007 President

LEGAL EXPERIENCE

  • January 1, 2011 to present
    • Shareholder
    • Akerman Senterfitt
    • One Southeast Third Avenue
    • 25th Floor
    • Miami, Fl 33131
    • (305) 982-5539
    • Civil Trial litigator with emphasis in city, county and local government law. Zoning and Land Use practice.
  • January 1,1995 to
    • December 31, 2010:
    • City Attorney
    • City of Coral Gables, 
    • 405 Biltmore Way
    • Coral Gables, Fl 33134
    • (305) 460-5218
    • Chief Legal Officer for the City of Coral Gables, responsible for the handling of all legal claims and suits, and providing legal counsel to the City Commission and Administration. Provide legal assistance to City Boards and Committees, and serve as prosecutor to the Code Enforcement Board. Draft ordinances, resolutions and contracts.  All aspects of Local Government Law with special emphasis on constitutional issues, civil rights, police practices, zoning, first amendment, ethics and torts. 
  • March, 1991-December 31,1994
    • Shareholder
    • Akerman, Senterfitt
    • Suntrust International Center
    • One Southeast Third Avenue
    • Miami, Fl 33134-1714
    • (305)   374-5600
    • Civil trial litigator involved in  all aspects of city, county and local government law, insurance coverage, personal injury, labor, administrative law and products liability. 
  • December, 1985-March, 1991
    • Kimbrell & Hamann, P.A.
    • Suite 900, Brickell Centre
    • 799 Brickell Plaza
    • Miami, Florida  33131-2805
    • (305)  358-8181
    • Civil trial litigator.  Practice included all aspects of municipal law, land use and zoning, personal injury and products liability, social security and disability benefits, insurance coverage disputes and workmen's compensation.
  • August, 1983-December, 1985
    • Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc.
    • Miami, Florida
    • General practice of law with majority of time devoted to practice before the Social Security Administration and federal courts.  Administrative  law practice required civil litigation in federal courts of original and limited jurisdiction, including appeals therefrom, as well as practice before state and federal administrative  agencies. (Social Security Administration, State of Florida, Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services) Responsible for supervision of one attorney and one paralegal.
    • Other areas of litigation included insurance law, landlord/tenant, mortgage foreclosures, consumer law, and employment discrimination.

EDUCATION and CERTIFICATION(S)

  • Certificates: 
    • AV rated Martindale-Hubbell 
    • Board Certified, Florida Bar, City, County and Local Government Law, since 1997.
  • Legal:
    • Juris Doctor, University of Florida, Holland Law Center, Gainesville, Florida-1983. Research assistant to Julian Juergensmeyer. Dean's Honor List, Book Award-Ethics.
  • Undergraduate:
    • Bachelor of Arts, Florida International University, Miami, Florida-1980-Economics.  Emphasis on Macroeconomic Theory,  Scholarship 1979-1980.  Grant for work on South Florida Econometric Model.  Dean's Honor List.

PUBLICATIONS, APPEARANCES and AWARDS

  • Awards and Recognitions:
    • 2010, Florida Municipal Attorneys Association, recipient of  the Paul Buchman Award.
    • 2010, Florida International University, Torch Awards, Professional Achievement Award.
    • 2009, Florida's Top Female Attorneys.
    • 2008, Daily Business Review, Most Effective Lawyer Award.
    • 2007 Woman in Government Award, Woman's History Month.
    • 2006,  Recipient of 18th Annual “In the Company of Women” Award for significant contributions made to the quality of life for the Miami-Dade County Community, by Miami-Dade County Commission and Miami Dade County Commission for Women.
    • 2011, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006,  Florida Super Lawyers.
    • 2005, City Attorney of the Year, Florida League of Cities.
    • 2005, City, County and Local Government Law Section of The Florida Bar, Legal Ethics and Professionalism Award.
    • 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, Florida Trend's, Legal Elite.
    • 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, South Florida Legal Guide-Top Government Attorneys.
    • 1999-Kiwanis Club of Little Havana-Award For Special Contributions To the Organization.
    • 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992-ARC Award For Community Volunteer.
    • 1988-Mock Trial Coach Award.
    • 1992-93, 1990-91-Agency Relations Committee-United Way.
    • 1985 Legal Services Award For Contribution to Poverty Law and Equal Justice Under the Law.
  • Speaker/Publications:
    • 2009, Palm Beach County Local Planning Congress, Ethics Panel
    • 2009, CLE Land Use Conference, Zoning and Land Use Seminar.
    • Florida Bar, City, County & Local Government Section, Seminar, May 2007, May 2008.
    • FMAA, Annual Seminar-June 2007, 2008.
    • CLE International, "The Local Government Sector-Is There an Attorney Client Privilege? What if the New Rules are Adopted?",  February, 2006
    • Lorman Seminar, Public Records and Sunshine Law, January  2006, 2007, 2008, 2009.
    • Lorman Seminar, Building Codes, "Discretionary Review of the Building Official", "Remedies for Violations", January, March  2006, 2007, 2008, 2009.
    • Lorman Seminar, Zoning, Subdivision And Land Development Law,  "Moratorium" -December 9, 2005
    • ABA, Seminar of Ethical Considerations of Local Government Attorneys-Who is the Client?, January, 2006. 
    • Miami-Dade County, Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Judicial Diversity Sensitivity Training, Panel Member, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
    • Florida Bar, "Practicing with Professionalism", 2007.
    • The Florida Trust for Historic Preservation , "Historic Preservation Law and Local Ordinances",  February 2005.
    • City of Coral Gables, Ethics Training, March 2005.
    • Law Seminars International, Telecommunications in Real Estate, Important Ethical Considerations-"Quasi-Judicial Proceedings, Sunshine law, and Conflicts" -2005.
    • ABA, Government & Public Sector Lawyers Division, co-sponsor-Florida Bar Government Lawyers Section, "Ethical Considerations in Public Sector Law, 2004.
    • Florida League of Cities, 2004 Annual Meeting-Panel-"Local Ballot Initiatives".
    • Florida League of Cities, 2004 Annual Meeting-"Quasi-Judicial  Procedures-Practical Advise For Elected Officials".
    • Florida Municipal Attorney's Association-2004 Annual Meeting-"Outside Counsel Expense-When, Where and How to Effectively Use and Manager Outside Counsel."
    • ABA,  Section of State and Local Government Law 2004 Spring Meeting, Hot Topics in Land Use Law-Historic Preservation Tips and Practical Suggestions.
    • Miami-Dade County Commission on Ethics, Townhall Meeting-Legal Forum, 2004, The Municipal Client.
    • Purchasing Law In Florida, 2003, 2006 "Procurement Codes", Lorman Education Services.
    • Florida Municipal Attorneys Association, 21st and 22nd Annual Seminar, Panel Chair, Hot Topics in Local Government, 2003 and 2002.
    • "Public Records, Sunshine Laws, and Ethics in Local Government"-
    • 2009, 2007, 2005, 2003, 2001, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995-City of Coral Gables-Bi-Annual Seminar and Workshop.
    • "Code Enforcement In Local Government"-2007, 2005, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1997, 1995, Code Enforcement Board, City of Coral Gables.
    • "How to Practice Before Local Governments", Annual Seminar,-2002, 1998-Cuban American Bar Association.
    • The Cuban American Bar Association-2002, 2001, 1998, 1997- "On Being A City Attorney".
    • South Florida Planning and Zoning Association-Seminar, Host, Speaker-Chief Lecturer-"Practice Before Local Governments" 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995. 
    • Florida Bar, 2000-Annual Meeting-Judicial Nominating Commission- Guest Panel Speaker-Issues Confronting the JNC's.
    • Women In Politics-Coral Gables Senior High School Presentation-1997.
    • International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies, 49th Annual Conference, 1997-Speaker.
    • Hispanic National Bar Association Annual Convention- ABA
    • Multicultural Women's Attorney Network, Commission on Women
    • in the Profession and the Commission on Opportunities for
    • Minorities in the Profession-1997- "Rainmaking the Latina Lawyers Way".
    • The National Association of Hispanic Public Administrators-5th Annual Conference-1997- Moderator-"Possibilities and Impacts in Our Society".
    • Florida Bar, Local Government Annual Seminar-1995 "Civil Rights".
    • American Bar Association-Local Government Section-"The New ADA Act and It's Impact on Local Governments, Readily Accessible Facilities"-New Orleans- 1993-1994.
    • Training Manual used by all attorneys in the Public Benefits Section at Legal Services-1985.
    • Assisted Julian Juergensmeyer in updating FLORIDA LAND USE RESTRICTIONS, D & S Publications,Inc.-  1983.

MEMBERSHIPS

  • Board Certification-1997 Florida Bar, admitted 1983; Supreme Court of the United States; Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals; United States District Court,  Southern District of Florida; United States District Court, Middle  District of Florida.

PROFESSIONAL and CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS

  • Florida Bar Member-1983-present.
  • Children's Home Society, board member, 2009 to present.
  • Friends Committee Chair, National Association of Women Judges, 2012 Conference (2011-present).
  • 11th Judicial Circuit Historical Society, 2007 to present, Chair Elect.
  • 11th Judicial Circuit Centennial Celebration Committee,  2009 to present.
  • United States District Court Southern District of Florida, Hispanic Heritage Month Committee, 2010-present; Bench and Bar Committee. 2010 -present.
  • South Miami Hospital, board member, 1997 to May 2011.
  • Women's Chamber of Commerce, board member, 2009 to November 2010.
  • Florida Bar, Professional Ethics Committee,  July 2007-2009.
  • Florida Bar, Chair, City County and Local Government Section  June, 2007-2008;  Executive Council, Florida Bar, City, County and Local Government Section, 2000-present, Secretary/Treasurer-2005-2006; Newsletter Editor-2003-2005; City County & Local Government Certification Committee- 1999-2002; Local Government Section- Member, Governor's Oversight Board For Legal Department-City of Miami, 1998-1999. Local Government Section-Legislative Committee 1997-1998; Grievance Committee-Eleventh Judicial Circuit, 2003-present;  Disability Law Committee-1985.
  • Florida Bar, Outreach Committee Appellate Section Outreach Committee, 2010 to present.
  • Florida Bar Grievance Committee, 2003-2007.
  • Florida Municipal Lawyers Association, President 2006-2007; Executive Council,  2000-present; Council, 1997-2000.
  • Southern District, Federal Magistrate Selection Committee-2007.
  • Federal Judicial Bar Community Liaison Committee, 2008-present.
  • 11th Judicial Circuit, Diversity Sensitivity Panel, 2005-2007.
  • Chair, Miami Dade County Ethics, Integrity and Accountability Task Force, 2007-2010.
  • Miami Dade County Charter Review Commission, 2007-2009.
  • United States District Court for the Southern District  of Florida, Magistrate Selection Committee, 2007.
  • Miami-Dade County Public Schools, School Board Attorney Selection Committee-, 2005 and 2009.
  • President, Cuban American Bar Association, 2007;Vice President, Cuban American Bar Association, 2003-2004, 2004-2005; Cuban-American Bar Association, Board of Directors and Newsletter Editor, 2003.
  • American Bar Association, Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, 2005-present.
  • United Way Campaign Cabinet, 2002-present; United Way Agency Relations Committee 1989-1993; United Way Trustee 1989-2006.
  • Miami-Dade County Bar Association, Professionalism Committee-2002, Blue Ribbon Panel, Judicial Reform and Financing, 2002.
  • Leadership Florida, 2000-present.
  • State of Florida, Judicial Nominating Commission, Eleventh Judicial Circuit, July 1998-2001.
  • F.I.U. Life Member, Alumni Association.
  • UF Life Member, Alumni Association.
  • Member, Host Committee, International Municipal Lawyers Association 1998 Annual Conference, Miami Beach. Annual Conference-over 1000 participants.
  • St. Louis Catholic Church, Religious Education Teacher 1992-1997.
  • Advisory Council to Association for Retarded Citizens, Miami, Florida; Board Member 1985- 1996.
  • ABA-Local Government Section co-chair 1992-95.
  • Metro Dade County Public Nuisance Abatement Board- 1993-1995.
  • Legal Services Board-1990-1994,  Treasurer, Secretary.
  • Florida Legal Services, Board Member 1990-1994.
  • Coach-Mock Trial Competitions, Dade County Public Schools 1985-1992.
  • Legal Services Of Greater Miami, Inc.,Board Member, 1988-1990.
  • Leadership Miami, 1988.
  • Dade County Bar Association, Coral Gables  Bar Association,  Florida Planning and Zoning Association, Association of Hispanic Public Administrators.
  • ABA Foundation Member.