Al Cardenas

ALBERTO R. CARDENAS represents both private and public sector clients before local, state and federal governmental agencies and legislative branches. His practice includes overseeing complex Land Use and Zoning matters before city, county, state, federal and regional governmental bodies; including governmental permitting, advocacy, currency issues, comprehensive plan amendments and public-private partnerships. Under Mr. Cardenas' oversight, the law firm has represented local government and private sector entities in the pursuit and obtainment of federal grants and the renegotiation of loan obligations. The firm has also represented clients in successfully implementing modifications to federal legislation in the areas of health care, housing, commerce and U.S. Customs. Mr. Cardenas has represented clients in the obtainment of State Certificates of Need for hospitals and cemeteries; has represented professionals with respect to licensure issues and has represented health maintenance organizations, insurance companies and cemeteries in state adversary regulatory proceedings. The firm is also available for consultation concerning rule making by all state and federal agencies. Mr. Cardenas has represented the Republican Party of Florida in 1977 and 1992 with respect to congressional and state legislative reapportionment before the Federal District Court, Federal Court of Appeals, State Supreme Court and U.S. Supreme Court, resulting in published opinions at all levels of the judicial process. The firm also represents individual office holders regarding reapportionment issues from time to time. Mr. Cardenas has been involved as counsel of record in a number of precedent-setting and published court decisions, administrative actions and policy decisions and has either sponsored, co-sponsored or participated as faculty in a significant number of seminars throughout the years with entities such as MBI, The Florida Bar and Florida International University. Al Cardenas served as Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida from January, 1999 through January, 2003. Prior to becoming Chairman, he was elected Vice Chairman in 1993 and subsequently reelected in 1995 and 1997. He currently serves as a Member of the Board of Trustees of Florida A&M University. In 1980-81, Mr. Cardenas was chosen for President-Elect Ronald Reagan's Transition Team where he was responsible for the transition of the U.S. Department of Commerce. President Reagan also appointed him as Chairman of the President's Commission on Small and Minority Business Affairs and later as Special Ambassador to St. Kitts-Nevis, upon that nation's independence. President George Bush appointed Mr. Cardenas to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the Federal National Mortgage Association. He also served as a member of the President's Trade Policy Commission.