Chris earned his certification as a Designated Professional Lobbyist from the Florida Association of Professional Lobbyists and is an attorney admitted to practice in all Florida state courts. He has substantial experience handling government relations matters, including representation before the Florida legislative and executive branches, purchasing and procurement appeals, and professional licensing. Chris's clients range from small cities to Fortune 500 companies, and his experience runs the gamut of state-level needs and issues, from the passing of landmark legislation to proficiency on the appropriations process.
Chris also practices in litigation, land use, construction and sports law. His practice includes obtaining state and local government regulatory approvals as well as matters related to the acquisition, development and utilization of real property. He has represented contractors, engineers, architects, developers, owners, subcontractors, and suppliers in issues relating to land use and construction law. Chris provides legal work to the Central Florida Sports Commission and has handled numerous high-level sports matters at the legislative level, including tax exemptions, workers' compensation and other matters that affect sports franchises.
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Recognition
- Best Lawyers in America, 2024-2025
- Government Contracts
- Government Relations Practice
- Florida Trend, Top 500 Influentials in Florida Law, 2023
- Florida Trend, Legal Elite, 2015-2016, 2020-2022
- Florida Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2009-2020
- Greater Orlando Sports Commission 2022 Sporty Award of Excellence
- East Orlando Post, Insight 100: Central Florida's Most Powerful, 2016
- Orlando Business Journal, 40 Under 40, 2010, 2014
- Orlando Sentinel, Central Florida 100, 2015
- Eagle Scout Award, Troop 76, Orlando, Florida
- University of Florida Alumni Association "Leader of the Year," 2012-2013
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Insights
- “GrayRobinson 2024 Legislative Session Wrap-Up,” Gainesville, April 4, 2024
- “GrayRobinson 2024 Legislative Session Wrap-Up,” Jacksonville, April 3, 2024
- “GrayRobinson 2024 Legislative Session Wrap-Up,” Orlando, April 2, 2024
- 2023 National Association of Counties (NACo) Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC), October 5, 2023
- “GrayRobinson 2023 Legislative Session Wrap-Up,” Jacksonville, June 13, 2023
- "2023 Florida Legislative Session Wrap-Up," NAIOP Northwest Florida Chapter, June 7, 2023
- "2023 Florida Legislative Session Wrap-Up," NAIOP, June 6, 2023
- “GrayRobinson 2023 Legislative Session Wrap-Up,” Gainesville, May 24, 2023
- “GrayRobinson 2023 Legislative Session Wrap-Up,” Tampa, May 23, 2023
- “GrayRobinson 2023 Legislative Session Wrap-Up,” Orlando, May 16, 2023
- "Legislative Preview," Apopka Chamber of Commerce, Moderator, February 20, 2023
- “New Faces in the Hillsborough Legislative Delegation," Moderator, GrayRobinson Community Leader Forum, February 28, 2023
- “GrayRobinson 2022 Legislative Session Wrap-Up,” Gainesville, April 21, 2022
- “GrayRobinson 2022 Legislative Session Wrap-Up,” Orlando, April 20, 2022
- “GrayRobinson 2022 Legislative Session Wrap-Up,” Tampa, April 19, 2022
- “GrayRobinson 2022 Legislative Session Wrap-Up,” Jacksonville, April 7, 2022
- “2022 Legislative Session Preview,” NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association, January 25, 2022
- “2022 Legislative Session Preview,” Planning and Zoning Association Surfcoast Chapter, January 21, 2022
- “Florida Legislative Session Wrap-Up,” Florida Insurance Trust Conference, October 14, 2021
- “Popcorn and Politics,” Leadership Seminole Government Day, September 10, 2021
- “Florida Legislative Session Wrap-Up,” Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida Legislative Planning Conference, July 23, 2021
- “GrayRobinson Florida Legislative Session Weekly Roundup,” March 5, 2021
- “2021 Florida Legislative Session Preview,” Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association Meeting, February 24, 2021
- “The COVID-19 Overdose Crisis: 2021 Legislative Session,” Project Opioid Webinar, February 11, 2021
- “2021 Legislative Session,” NAIOP Chat, January 26, 2021
- "Americas Surviving and Thriving Post-COVID Strategic Summit," MSPA, November 8, 2020
- “Don’t Get Spooked: 2020 Elections and the law,” Association of Corporate Counsel Virtual Event, October 29, 2020
- “How has the pandemic affected legislative enactments?” NAIOP South Florida Webinar, October 22, 2020
- "Legislative Update," Florida Insurance Trust Virtual Conference, October 15, 2020
- “2020 Legislative Session Overview and the Path Ahead,” Project Opioid, September 18, 2020
- "Legislative Update," Florida Planning and Zoning Association Surfcoast Chapter, September 18, 2020
- “Preparing for the September 18 Value Adjustment Boards Deadline,” Panelist, August 20, 2020
- "Legislative Update CLE," Executive Council Meeting for the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of The Florida Bar, August 20, 2020
- “Who’s in and Who’s Out?” GrayRobinson Post-Election Pop-Up Forum, August 19, 2020
- “Policy, Politics and Purpose: Leading During a Pandemic,” Virtual Community Leader Forum, August 4, 2020
- Virtual Legislative Update, World Risk Management: A Ballator Company, July 8, 2020
- “2021 Legislative Session,” NAIOP Northwest Florida Chat, January 20, 2021
- "2020 Virtual Legislative Wrap Up," Greater Pensacola Chamber, April 14, 2020
- "2020 Legislative Session Wrap Up," Oviedo Winter Springs Regional Chamber of Commerce webinar, April 9, 2020
- "Federal and State Stimulus Programs for Small Business," Webinar, March 24, 2020
- "Legislative Update," NAIOP Northeast Florida, January 28, 2020
- "Central Florida 100: COVID-19, Unemployment and Seminole Land," Orlando Sentinel, May 2020
- "Central Florida 100: Move-in day, Opioids and Universal Neighbors," Orlando Sentinel, August 2019
- "Central Florida 100: Guns, Elections and Skyscrapers," Orlando Sentinel, August 2019
- "Central Florida 100: Universal, Education and Gun Control," Orlando Sentinel, August 2019
- "2019 Leadership Florida Annual Meeting," June 20, 2019
- "NAIOP South Florida Board of Directors Open House," June 12, 2019
- "Central Florida 100: Boeing, Trump's Visit and the State of the City," Orlando Sentinel, June 2019
- “GrayRobinson 2019 Florida Legislative Session Wrap-Up,” Orlando, May 15, 2019
- “GrayRobinson 2019 Florida Legislative Session Wrap-Up,” Jacksonville, May 13, 2019
- "Legislative Update," Seminole County Regional Chamber of Commerce, May 16, 2019
- "Central Florida 100: Hurricane Aid, Tourist Numbers and Nurses Week," Orlando Sentinel, May 2019
- "Central Florida 100: Legislature, Osceola Taxes, and Believing in Magic," Orlando Sentinel, April 2019
- "Central Florida 100: Eatonville, Election Equipment and Housing," Orlando Sentinel, March 2019
- "Central Florida 100: Housing, UCF and Mourning New Zealand," Orlando Sentinel, March 2019
- "Central Florida 100: Rites of Spring -- March Madness, Baseball and the Legislature," Orlando Sentinel, March 2019
- "Central Florida 100: Legislature, Lions and Lynx," Orlando Sentinel, March 2019
- "Central Florida 100: Whittaker, Lake Nona Buses and the Space Force," Orlando Sentinel, February 2019
- "Central Florida 100: ALICE, HUD and Hope for the Magic," Orlando Sentinel, February 2019
- "Central Florida 100: 'Emanuel,' Holocaust Remembrance and Helping Needy Children," Orlando Sentinel, February 2019
- "Central Florida 100: Traffic, Jobs and Policy Shifts," Orlando Sentinel, January 2019
- "Central Florida 100: DeSantis, the Shutdown and Dogs | Commentary," Orlando Sentinel, January 2019
- "Central Florida 100: Police protection, Robots and Ping Pong Paddles | Commentary," Orlando Sentinel, December 2018
- "'Hamilton' Unites; Mayor Jacobs Creates a Culture of Compassion; and Maurice Allen Drives to the Moon," Orlando Sentinel, November 2018
- "Election Fatigue and Cancer Awareness: Why Do Breasts Get All the Attention?" Orlando Sentinel, October 2018
- "Pride Week, New OPD Chief, Hurricane Michael: Central Florida 100," Orlando Sentinel, October 2018
- "$15 an Hour Jobs, Raw Politics from Kavanaugh: Central Florida 100," Orlando Sentinel, October 2018
- “Get Ready for the 2018 Election – What’s on the 2018 Ballot and What Does it Mean?” Orlando Regional Chamber Business Leadership Roundtable, September 25, 2018
- "Good Morning Seminole," Seminole County Regional Chamber of Commerce, August 2, 2018
- "Green Algae, Red Tide: Florida’s Summer Colors," Orlando Sentinel Central Florida 100, August 2018
- “GrayRobinson 2018 Florida Legislative Session Wrap-Up,” Jacksonville, April 18, 2018
- “GrayRobinson 2018 Florida Legislative Session Wrap-Up,” Orlando, March 29, 2018
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Media
- "Lobbyist File—Doing Business on the Fourth Floor," News Service of Florida, September 21, 2023
- "Greater Orlando Sports Commission Announces 2022-23 Officers and 21 New Board Members," Sports Destination Management, May 1, 2023
- "Lake officials share legislative priorities," Triangle News Leader, March 15, 2023
- "Analysis: What's ahead after Florida's primary election?" NPR, August 23, 2022
- "Greater Orlando Sports Commission Unveils List of 60 Finalists for 2022 Sporty Awards," Greater Orlando Sports, May 12, 2022
- "A record breaking budget and a flurry of controversial bills mark the final weeks of legislative session" NPR, March 3, 2022
- "Development and Transportation are Key Issues in Upcoming Municipal Elections," NPR, October 28, 2021
- "Winners and Losers Emerging From the 2021 Legislative Session," Florida Politics, May 3, 2021
- "Politics of the Sadowski Fund," Wesh2, October 2019
- "Criticized Law Brings About Fairness," South Florida Business and Wealth, September 2019
- "E-Scooter Surge Kicks Up Cloud Of Legal Issues," Law360, August 2019
- "Inaugural list of Central Florida’s Top 25 Most Powerful Politicians," Florida Politics, July 2019
- "Winners and Losers Emerging from the 2019 Legislative Session," Florida Politics, May 2019
- "The Role of Lobbyists in Crafting Legislation," 90.7 WMFE Radio, April 2019
- "Deja Vu: Recount Veterans Back At It In Florida," Law360, November 2018
- "Rick Scott Files Recount Lawsuit Against Hillsborough Elections Supervisor," Florida Politics, November 2018
- "Melbourne Airport Gets $4M Job Creation Grant," Orlando Business Journal, October 2018
- "Election Analysis: Races and Amendments Breakdown," WUCF TV, Metro Center Outlook, October 2018
- The I-4CAST Interview, September 2018
- "After New Hampshire, What’s Next for Bush and Rubio in South Carolina?" 90.7 WMFE, February 2016
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Affiliations
Florida Association of Professional Lobbyists, Designated Professional Lobbyist
- Inns of Court
Judicial Nominating Commission
Orange County Bar Association
The Florida Bar
- Business Force, Board Member
Central Florida Boy Scout Council, Vice Chair, Golden Eagle Dinner
Central Florida Gator Club, President, 2012-2014
Central Florida Partnership, Young Professionals Advisory Board, Co-Founder; Former Chair
City of Orlando, Certification Board, 2012-2015
College Leadership Florida, Class VII
Connect Florida Leadership Institute, Class I
Frederick Leadership Initiative, Co-Chair
IDignity, Board Member, Chair, 2015-present
Junior Achievement Professional Connection, Classroom Teacher
Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors, 2013-present
Leadership Seminole, Class 19
Leadership Orlando, Class 73
- Orange County Young Republicans, Former President
- Seminole County Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors, 2013-present
- Tiger Bay, Board Member, President, 2014
- University of Florida Law Alumni Council, Member
- Regional Vice President, 2014-present
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Credentials
- J.D., University of Florida Levin College of Law, 2005
- Justice Campbell Thornal Moot Court Board
- President
- Regional Champion, Thomas Tang National Moot Court Competition
- Vice President, Florida Blue Key
- Intern, Honorable Raoul G. Cantero, Florida Supreme Court
- Research Assistant, Center for Governmental Responsibility
- Order of the Barristers
- Chair, Class Gift Committee
- B.A., University of Florida, 2002
- Senate President, Student Government
- Florida Blue Key
- Hall of Fame
- Phi Beta Kappa
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Admissions
- Florida
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit