Julia C. Mandell Attorney At Law

As the former City of Tampa Attorney, Julia is an experienced local government lawyer, specializing in land use, development and general municipal law. She brings more than 20 years of in house and private practice experience to assist clients in regulatory and public policy matters at the local and state level, including the drafting and enforcement of regulations and interacting with governmental agencies, officers and decision making boards and councils. In addition, Julia has been involved in a variety of litigation matters and contract bid disputes.

Board certified by The Florida Bar in City, County, and Local Government Law, Julia counsels clients on land use, zoning, permitting, real estate, environmental, eminent domain, entitlement, telecommunication and litigation associated within these areas. She also handles procurement, RFPs, contract negotiations with government agencies and public infrastructure projects.

Julia has experience in both the private and public sector, having served for more than a decade with the Tampa City Attorney’s Office, the last three years as the City Attorney, as an assistant county attorney for Hillsborough County, and in private practice representing government and business clients in a myriad of legal issues relating to real estate and land use, environmental, bankruptcy and real property litigation.

Julia is a sought out thought leader, who works to translate bureaucracy into meaningful action. She has handled litigation matters including constitutional matters, personal injury and property claims, appellate cases, complex business disputes and collections and foreclosure matters.
 

• Background

  Julia is a third generation Floridian. She was born in Miami Beach and grew up in the Aventura area. She graduated from North Miami Beach Sr. High in 1988. Following in the family footsteps of her mother and father, she attended the University of Florida, receiving her bachelor’s degree with high honors in political science in 1992. Julia then received her J.D. from the University of Florida in 1995, serving on the Journal of Law and Public Policy. After graduation from law school, Julia moved to Tampa. Julia now lives in the up and coming Tampa Heights neighborhood with her two children, Morgan and James.

• Education
  • University of Florida, B.A. high honors (1992)
  • University of Florida College of Law, J.D. (1995)
• Admissions
  • Florida
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
• Professional Associations & Memberships
  • The Florida Bar
    • Board Certified in City, County and Local Government Law
  • Mayor Jane Castor, Advisory Team
    • Development Services and Support, Chair
• Awards & Recognitions
  • Florida Trend’s "Legal Elite," 2008, 2010-2016
• Presentations & Seminars
  • Moderator, "New Year = New Biden Administration: What Should We Expect?" GrayRobinson Webinar, January 13, 2021
  • Speaker, “Land Use Law,” CLE International, August 2015
  • Speaker, “Zoning and Land Use in Florida,” Lorman Educational Services, November 2004
  • Speaker, “Advanced Zoning and Land Use in Florida,” Lorman Educational Services, June 2004
• Civic
  • Accendo LEADForward Roundtables, 2021