Overview
Robert Walters focuses his practice on Florida administrative law, regulatory compliance, civil litigation and appeals, government affairs, and election law. Robert primarily advises clients under investigation by various State of Florida agencies and boards, such as:
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR)
- Constriction Industry Licensing Board
- Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board
- Florida Real Estate Commission
- Community Association Managers
- Florida Board of Professional Engineers
- Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS)
- Florida Office of Financial Regulation (OFR)
- Other cabinet level agencies, including Public Service Commission (PSC), Department of Health (DOH), and Department of Financial Services (DFS)
Robert routinely provides guidance to clients to navigate Florida’s complex regulatory scheme regulated by the above agencies and boards, in order to minimize compliance issues.
Areas of Concentration:
Administrative & Regulatory
- Government Investigations and Audits
- Administrative Litigation before the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH) and handling Appeals of final orders before the District Court of Appeals
- Government Contracts, Bid Protests and Procurement
- Non-Profit and Trade Association Formation, Compliance and Management
- Regulatory Compliance, including professional licenses and regulated entities
- Rulemaking and Rule Challenges
- State and Local Taxation
- Sunshine Law and Open Government Laws Litigation
Government Affairs
- Legislative branch lobbying before the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate
- Executive branch lobbying before the Governor, Cabinet and state agencies
- State budget appropriations
- Legislative bill drafting and monitoring
- Legislative issue management
Election & Political Law
- Florida Election Law Compliance for political committees and candidates, relating to campaign finance advising and ballot initiatives
- Election litigation regarding Ballot Qualification, Recounts, and Contested Elections
- High net worth and foundation donor advising
- Ethics Rules and Counseling
- Florida Elections Commission
- Florida Commission on Ethics
Representative Experience
Florida Licensure, Administrative Complaints, & Disciplinary Proceedings
- Represents one of the nation’s largest community association management companies and routinely advises on regulatory compliance issues, including obtaining dismissals of administrative complaints brought against the entity’s license
- Represents general contractors and electricians for developers and high volume home builders in dismissing administrative complaints against their licenses before the Construction Industry Licensing Board and Electrical Contractors Licensing Board
- Represents professional engineers before the Florida Board of Professional Engineers
Regulatory Compliance and Association Creation and Management
- Routinely advises regulated entities and licensees in Florida regulatory compliance matters.
Election & Political Law
- Varied representative experience including advising a mayor’s re-election campaign and representing statewide political committees established to advocate for citizen placed ballot initiatives.
- He has served as Political Director, Deputy Communications Director and as Campaign Manager for U.S. House of Representatives and Congressional nominees. He was also a Legislative Intern for U.S. Senator Bill Nelson.
Judicial Clerkships
- Law Clerk, Honorable Robert LeBlanc, Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida
Professional & Community Involvement
- The Florida Bar
- Administrative Law Section, 2021-Present
- Tallahassee Bar Association
- Young Lawyers Section, Board of Directors, 2022-Present
- William H. Stafford Inn of Court, Associate, 2021-Present
- Young Democrats of Orange County, President, 2016-2017
Recognition
- Best Lawyers: Ones To Watch, 2023-Present
- Florida Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2024-Present
Publications & Presentations
Publications:
New Law Creates Stricter Requirements for Filing Ethics Complaints at both State and Local Level
Tallahassee Bar Association Bulletin|September 2024
Land Development News Update, Publications:
What's Developing | Spring 2024
Stearns Weaver Miller News Update|May 2024
Events:
Ethical Best Practices for 2024 Elections
Florida Tax Collectors Association Fall Conference|May 2024
Publications:
Legislative Tax Package includes Live Local Property Tax Exemption Opt-out Provisions for Taxing Authorities
Stearns Weaver Miller News Update|April 2024
Government Affairs News Update, Land Development News Update, Publications:
FDACS Promulgates New Rules Addressing Agricultural Land Owned by a Foreign Principal
Stearns Weaver Miller News Update|March 2024
Events:
WEBINAR: SB 328 - The 2024 Live Local Act
Stearns Weaver Miller Webinar|March 2024
Government Affairs News Update, Publications:
Rotunda Report Week 9 | March 4-8, 2024
Stearns Weaver Miller News Update|March 2024
Government Affairs News Update, Publications:
Rotunda Report Week 8 | February 26-March 1, 2024
Stearns Weaver Miller News Update|March 2024
Newsroom
In the Media:
Money, Networks Mean Few Fla. Judges FaceReelection Foes
Law360 Pulse|August 2024
Firm Announcements:
Stearns Weaver Miller Expands Tallahassee Office Space and Offered Services
February 2022
In the Media:
DOI Looks To Ax Suit Over Tribe's Fla. Sports Betting Permit
Law360|October 2021
Firm Announcements:
Stearns Weaver Miller Continues to Strengthen Tallahassee Footprint
May 2021