Local Government Law
For over thirty years the attorneys of Fournier, Connolly, Shamsey, Mladinich & Polzak have represented local governments in Southwest Florida. The Firm currently serves as the city attorneys for the City of Sarasota, Florida, and in this capacity, represents the Sarasota City Commission, the Planning Board, and all other governmental boards in all day-to-day legal matters, all litigation, and other special counsel engagements. Attorneys in the firm have also represented and provided legal services for Charlotte County, Hardee County, the City of Madiera Beach, the City of Holmes Beach, the City of Palmetto, the City of Venice, the City of Anna Maria, the City of St. Pete Beach and the Town of Longboat Key. The firm's attorneys practicing in the area of Local Governmental Law have a wide breadth of experience in the day-to-day issues facing local government attorneys, such as public records, the sunshine law, state ethics laws, procurement, and all aspects of Florida Constitutional law.
Real Estate/Real Property
The firm represents buyers, sellers and lenders in both residential and commercial transactions; the firm also serves as closing/settlement agent and issues title insurance policies to both lenders and owners. Additionally, the firm handles a variety of real property matters, including boundary and easement disputes, title claims, reformation actions, liens issues, quiet title actions and the formation of Florida land trusts.
Land-Use/Zoning
The firm represents private clients in a variety of land-use/zoning matters, before City and County governments, including re-zonings, comprehensive plan amendments, variances/special exceptions, and plat & street vacations.
Eminent Domain and Inverse Condemnation
The firm represents owners in the protection of their property rights through the defense of Eminent Domain actions or through the prosecution of an Inverse Condemnation suit.
Civil Litigation
The firm assists clients in a wide-array of litigation matters when the need arises, including contract disputes, foreclosure defense, homeowners' association disputes and enforcement of loan obligations.
Business and Corporate Formation
The firm assists clients in the formation of business entities, including S corporations, limited liability companies, and non-profit corporations, and provides services regarding establishment of business ownership structure, governance/procedures, bylaws and other governing documents.