Fort Lauderdale, FL - Ruden McClosky, one of Florida's largest and most respected law firms has announced the expansion of their Land Use Practice and the addition of a Government Contracts and Procurement Practice.  Partner Stephanie Toothaker, Associate Jordana Jarjura and Consultant Steven Wherry, formerly of the Fort Lauderdale law firm Blosser and Sayfie, concentrate their practices and provide consulting services in these specialty areas of law.  The three are resident in Ruden McClosky's Fort Lauderdale office at 200 E.Broward Blvd. Suite 1500.

Dennis Mele, a Land Use partner of Ruden McClosky said, "We are pleased to have Stephanie back in our Land Use group again. The addition of a government procurement and contracts practice is a good complement to the services we already offer; we are very well positioned now to help our clients pursue their business objectives with governmental and regulatory agencies." 

The addition of the two attorneys and consultant further strengthen the Firm's leadership in the area of land use and governmental relations.   In addition to comprehensive land use, zoning and governmental relations services, the group brings strategic counsel and representation in all aspects of government contracting, protests and litigation.  The group routinely assists clients with state and local statutes and rules related to public bid procedure, representing clients throughout the process, and defending or contesting potential contract awards before state agencies, local governments and other public entities.

Toothaker had been with Ruden McClosky previously as a member of the firm's environmental and land use practice from 1999 to 2003.  Subsequently, she was Special Counsel to U.S. Senator Bob Graham where she was involved in a number of initiatives such as efforts to acquire development rights over portions of the Everglades Agricultural Area for preservation, and preparation of the Independent National Security Classification Board Act of 2004.  In 2004, she also served on the Kerry-Edwards Legal Team. 

Associate Jordana Jarjura focuses on Land Use and Governmental Law and represents developers and property owners seeking development entitlements, as well as clients involved in government procurements. 

Steven Wherry, a Consultant, focuses on state and local governmental relations, governmental procurement and land development. 

Ruden McClosky is a leading, full-service Florida law firm with offices in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Naples, Orlando, Port St. Lucie, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Tallahassee, Tampa, and West Palm Beach, as well as Caracas, Venezuela. Since its founding in 1959, Ruden McClosky has offered clients superior legal services and the resources, access and creative solutions that only a pre-eminent law firm can provide.

For biographical information about the attorneys, visit www.ruden.com/ and click on News and Events/Media Room.

                                                       

Stephanie Toothaker                                   Steven Wherry                                           Jordana Jarjura