BECKER & POLIAKOFF NAMES MIGUEL DIAZ DE LA PORTILLA TO FIRM'S GROWING GOVERNMENT LAW & LOBBYING PRACTICE

Former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Joins Firm's Diverse and Dynamic Government Group in Coral Gables Office

CORAL GABLES, Fla., Feb. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Becker & Poliakoff, P.A., a Florida-based statewide and international commercial law firm with a significant government law and lobbying practice, today announced that Miguel Diaz de la Portilla has joined the firm as a shareholder in its Coral Gables office and will lead the firm's government and lobbying practice in Miami-Dade County.

A former two-term member and Chairman of the Miami-Dade County Commission, Mr. Diaz de la Portilla joins the firm's Government Law & Lobbying Group, where he will continue his land use and zoning, lobbying, litigation and governmental procurement practice. The Government Group in Miami Dade also includes Crystal Connor Lane, former Chief of Staff to County Commissioner Jimmy Morales and Nelson Diaz, former Chief Legislative Aide to Florida House Speaker, Marco Rubio (R-Miami).

Mr. Diaz de la Portilla previously served on the Governor's Commission for a Sustainable South Florida, the Tri-Rail Commuter Rail Authority Board of Directors, the South Florida Regional Planning Council, The Miami Dade Public Schools Oversight Board, and the Miami-Dade Value Adjustment Board.

Mr. Diaz de la Portilla is active in the American Bar Association's State and Local Government Law section and the Florida Bar's City, County and Local Government and Environment and Land Use sections. Mr. Diaz de la Portilla has practiced law in Florida since 1987. Prior to joining Becker & Poliakoff, he was a Partner with the law firm of Adorno & Yoss.

"Becker & Poliakoff is very pleased to welcome Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, a talented and knowledgeable local government attorney and lobbyist," said Alan Becker, former Miami-Dade State Representative and founding shareholder of Becker & Poliakoff. "His experience in government and thorough understanding of land use and zoning law, as well as government purchasing and procurement practices, strengthens our Miami-Dade office and is an excellent addition to our diverse and dynamic team."

"I'm excited at this opportunity to bring my years of experience as an attorney and in public service in Miami-Dade County to Becker & Poliakoff's expanding Governmental practice," said Miguel Diaz de la Portilla. "I look forward to integrating my practice and clients with Becker & Poliakoff's talented team of government, transactional and litigation lawyers."

Since its founding in Miami Dade almost 35 years ago, Becker & Poliakoff, P.A. has had a strong governmental and lobbying practice, representing local governments in a variety of legal practice areas, and assisting private sector clients doing business with municipal, local, regional and state governmental entities.

Becker & Poliakoff's lobbying team represents high-profile clients including AT&T, Florida Memorial University, Pompano Park Racing and several local governments, including Miami-Dade Expressway Authority, Miami-Dade County and the Cities of Opa-Locka and Miami Gardens.

In joining the Becker & Poliakoff Government practice, Mr. Diaz de la Portilla will work closely with Becker & Poliakoff lawyer-lobbyists Bernie Friedman and Yolanda Cash Jackson both of whom have an active Tallahassee and local government practice as well as Neil Schiller, a lawyer lobbyist and political campaign strategist in Broward and Palm Beach Counties.

Mr. Diaz de la Portilla earned a B.A. degree and a J.D. degree from the University of Miami and also has served as a visiting professor at Florida International University. Fluent in English and Spanish, Mr. Diaz de la Portilla belongs to a prominent, politically active family in Miami-Dade County, which includes brother Alex Diaz de la Portilla, who currently represents Miami's District 36 in the Florida Senate, and another brother, Renier Diaz de la Portilla, who represents District 5 on the School Board of Miami-Dade County.

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About Becker & Poliakoff
Becker & Poliakoff, P.A. is a diversified commercial law firm based in Ft. Lauderdale with more than one hundred twenty attorneys in fourteen Florida offices and international and affiliated offices in the Czech Republic, China, Germany, France and Israel. The firm counsels clients in legal issues relating to Real Estate, Construction, Dispute Resolution, Corporate, Tax, Hurricane Recovery, International Business and Trade, and many other areas of law. For more information, visit: www.becker-poliakoff.com.

About the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce
The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce is a 1,500 member, not-for-profit association whose mission is: "To foster and enhance the economic interests and quality of life in the Coral Gables community." For more information about the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, visit: www.coralgableschamber.org.