Becker & Poliakoff

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Our attorneys are thought leaders in their field who keep our clients updated on the latest developments in their areas of interest. Explore our robust library of articles, blog posts, guidebooks, media commentary, and news.

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2024 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 34 Becker Attorneys

The 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, one of the oldest and most revered peer review publications, recognizes 34 Becker attorneys across the Firm’s practices. Our own Steven B. Lesser, was also recognized as Lawyer of the Year, a distinction based on the highest overall peer feedback for their specialty and location. Lesser […]

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Becker & Poliakoff Earns Coveted National First-Tier Rankings in the 2024 Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” Guide

We are pleased to announce that Becker & Poliakoff ranked as a national first-tier law firm for Construction Law and Banking and Finance Litigation in the 2024 edition of the Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” guide. Becker was also nationally ranked in five other practice areas: Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Litigation, Construction Litigation, and […]

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Florida Governor Signs SB 250 into Law

On June 28, 2023, the Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law Senate Bill 250 (see Chapter 2023-304, Laws of Florida), which makes various amendments throughout the Florida Statutes regarding the preparation and response activities of state and local governments when natural emergencies impact the state. Supporters of Senate Bill 250 (the “Bill”) believe the Bill […]

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Florida’s “Live Local Act” Takes Effect

On March 29, 2023, the Governor signed the “Live Local Act” (SB 102) into law. The Act is designed to increase the availability of affordable housing opportunities for Florida’s workforce, and includes funding appropriated for affordable and workforce housing initiatives, downpayment assistance, and tax credit programs. Local jurisdictions are also now preempted on certain land […]

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Becker Attorneys in Florida, New Jersey, and New York Recognized as 2022-2023 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

Becker is thrilled to announce that several attorneys in the firm’s Florida, New Jersey, and New York offices have been named as 2022-2023 Super Lawyers, an honor that recognizes the top 5% of the total lawyers in any given state. Additionally, Becker attorneys recognized as Rising Stars represent the top 2.5% of attorneys under 40 […]

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“Called To A Deposition or Court? Here Are A Few Tips” – Florida Planning

Community Association attorney, Katie Berkey, AICP, co-authored the article, “Called To A Deposition or Court? Here Are A Few Tips” in the Winter 2023 Florida Planning newsletter. Katie shares informative tips if you are ever called to serve as a witness. The article states that it is natural to be anxious, but if you keep […]

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Becker Attorneys in Florida, New York, and New Jersey Recognized as 2022 Super Lawyers

Becker is thrilled to announce that several attorneys in the firm’s Florida and New Jersey offices have been named as 2022 Super Lawyers, an honor that recognizes the top 5% of the total lawyers in any given state. Additionally, Becker attorneys recognized as Rising Stars represent the top 2.5% of attorneys under 40 years old, […]

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2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 33 Becker Attorneys

The 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, one of the oldest and most revered peer review publications, honors 33 Becker attorneys across the Firm’s practices. Two Becker attorneys, Joseph Adams and Sanjay Kurian, were also recognized as Lawyer of the Year, a distinction that comes with the highest overall peer feedback for their […]

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Ellyn S. Bogdanoff Scores Big Win for HOAs Blocking New Development on Hendricks Isle

Becker Shareholder Ellyn S. Bogdanoff successfully represented a large group of homeowners’ associations and residents against a condominium development on a neighboring lot. “This is a high profile win in Fort Lauderdale,” said Becker Government Law & Lobbying Practice Chair, Bernie Friedman. At issue was a plan from developer Lumiere to build a five-story condominium […]

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Community Association Due Process Rights with Respect to Neighboring Developments

If your community association receives notice about a public hearing to consider or approve a development proposal on adjacent land, does the association or its members have a right to object? Yes, local governments must afford objecting property owners and residents procedural due process, which includes fair notice of the public hearings at which the […]

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“Honey, Those Neighbors Are At It Again! Call Code Enforcement!”

There was a time, not so long ago, when Floridians could easily, and anonymously, report known or suspected violations of local ordinances and regulations to code enforcement. Neighbors could report their concerns about abandoned or unsafe structures, building without permits or by unlicensed contractors, unpermitted uses of property, noise violations, storing inoperable vehicles and junk, […]

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Becker Launches Interdisciplinary Sea Level Rise Advisory Team to Serve Florida’s Coastal Residents

As one of the first law firms in Florida to address the legal issues stemming from sea level rise, Becker is excited to announce its interdisciplinary Sea Level Rise Advisory Team which includes experienced and knowledgeable lawyers ready to assist our clients in preparing for the future. Our multifaceted team is comprised of specialists at […]

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Becker Succeeds In Defeating Proposed Tampa Rezoning at 200 S. Hoover Blvd.

September 28, 2021, Ft. Lauderdale, FL — Becker, a multi-practice commercial law firm with attorneys, lobbyists, and other professionals at offices throughout the East Coast, announced that it succeeded in defeating a proposed rezoning at 200 South Hoover Boulevard in Tampa. Becker represented Save Beach Park LLC (“SBP”), an organization with several hundred Beach Park […]

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“Natural Nurturer” & Becker Shareholder Katie Berkey Featured in eBella Magazine

Written by eBella Magazine Staff Writers As a young girl, Katie Berkey grew up in the background of public hearings and planning committees in rural, Redding, Connecticut. She and her sister were deeply influenced by their parents, who were very involved in local politics. They often spoke about real estate development issues related to historic […]

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Becker Attorneys in Florida, New Jersey, and New York Recognized by 2021 Super Lawyers

Becker is thrilled to announce that several attorneys in the firm’s Florida and New Jersey offices have been named as 2021 Super Lawyers, an honor that recognizes the top 5% of the total lawyers in any given state. Additionally, Becker attorneys recognized as Rising Stars represent the top 2.5% of attorneys under 40 years old, […]

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Becker Shareholder & Certified Planner Katie Berkey Appointed to Florida Bar’s Board Certification Committee

The Florida Bar recently appointed Katie Berkey, a shareholder and certified Professional Planner with Becker & Poliakoff, to serve on the City, County & Local Government Certification Committee. Katie, who is Florida Bar Board Certified in City, County and Local Government Law, will serve a 3-year term that began on July 1, 2021. “Katie is […]

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Becker & Client AFCA Work With State Leaders to Establish Statewide Resiliency Program to Address Flooding & Sea Level Rise

Becker congratulates the Florida Legislature on passing – without reservation – Senate Bill 1954, Statewide Flooding and Sea-level Rise Resilience, introduced by Rep. Demi Busatta Cabrera (R-Coral Gables) and Sen. Ray Rodrigues (R-Ft. Myers). The bipartisan bill establishes statewide resiliency programs that assess and address inland and coastal flooding and sea level rise. “Florida’s coastlines […]

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“Cash Cows: Businesses Save Millions Through Tax Break Meant to Help Florida Farmers,” Orlando Sentinel

Florida real estate developers, large corporations, and other non-farming entities have long used the state’s “greenbelt” law to take advantage of significant tax discounts. The law provides for lower tax assessments on property classified as agricultural, which Becker land use attorney Katie Edwards-Walpole says is a good thing because it incentivizes property owners to continue […]

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Becker Attorney & Former State Rep. Katie Edwards-Walpole Praises Florida’s Approach to Environmental Permitting

Florida has become the first state in more than two decades to assume delegation of the federal permitting program to regulate the discharge of dredged or filled material into wetlands and other waters of the United States, commonly known as the 404 Program. Florida is now one of three states with delegated authority from the […]

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“Katie Edwards-Walpole Joins Becker,” Florida Politics

By Drew Wilson Law and lobbying firm Becker announced Monday that Katie Edwards-Walpole is joining the firm. The former state Representative will serve as a Senior Attorney in Becker’s Government Law and Lobbying group in West Palm Beach, where she will focus on agricultural, water, environmental and land use issues. “We are so happy to […]

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Phony Parking Violation Letters in Condominiums

Condominium living has its advantages and challenges – one such challenge is often parking. Today, people move into these communities with several vehicles in tow and in condominiums, there is limited space in the parking garages and parking areas for unit owners and their guests. Sometimes this results in unit owners taking parking, that violates […]

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Slowly Getting Over the Hump: Addressing Speeding with Traffic Calming Devices

Between kids at play, exterior maintenance projects, pedestrians, and cyclists, your association could be seriously impacted by speeders. As a follow up to Jennifer Horan, Esquire’s article “Slow Your Roll: How to Address Speeding Issues in your Association,” published on October 28, 2019, can or should your association install traffic calming devices, like speed bumps […]

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