EDUCATION
1982, JURIS DOCTOR, cum laude, University of Miami School of Law
1981, MASTER OF URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING, University of Miami
1973, BACHELOR OF ARTS, PSYCHOLOGY, University of Miami
1969-1971, SUNY at Stony Brook, Long Island, New York
1982, JURIS DOCTOR, cum laude, University of Miami School of Law
1981, MASTER OF URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING, University of Miami
1973, BACHELOR OF ARTS, PSYCHOLOGY, University of Miami
1969-1971, SUNY at Stony Brook, Long Island, New York
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2015 - Present, Gary M. Held, P.A. (sole practitioner, primarily representing local governments as outside land use and zoning counsel, and as a mediator in land use disputes, including as special magistrate in local government FLUEDRA mediation proceedings)
1999 – 2014, First Assistant City Attorney, City of Miami Beach
(represented Planning Board, Board of Adjustment, Design Review Board, Historic Preservation Board, and advised City Commission and departments on law involving land use, development, planning, zoning, historic preservation, vested rights, impact fees, nonconforming uses, platting, environmental issues, first amendment, religious issues, special events, nightlife issues, noise, adult entertainment, under 21-liquor issues, covenants, permitting, appeals, litigation, legislation and related matters)
1998 - 1999, Gary M. Held, P.A. (sole practitioner)
1989 - 1998, Milledge Iden & Held (partner, 1992-1998)
1988 - 1998, Co-Special Counsel, Zoning Litigation, City of Miami (protected residential zoning of parcel adjacent to Peacock Park against lawsuits challenging denial of commercial upzoning)
1985 - 1989, Thomson Zeder Bohrer Werth & Razook
1985, Senior Assistant City Attorney, City of Miami Beach
1982 - 1984, Greenberg, Traurig, Hoffman, Lipoff, Rosen and Quentel, P.A.
2015 - Present, Gary M. Held, P.A. (sole practitioner, primarily representing local governments as outside land use and zoning counsel, and as a mediator in land use disputes, including as special magistrate in local government FLUEDRA mediation proceedings)
1999 – 2014, First Assistant City Attorney, City of Miami Beach
(represented Planning Board, Board of Adjustment, Design Review Board, Historic Preservation Board, and advised City Commission and departments on law involving land use, development, planning, zoning, historic preservation, vested rights, impact fees, nonconforming uses, platting, environmental issues, first amendment, religious issues, special events, nightlife issues, noise, adult entertainment, under 21-liquor issues, covenants, permitting, appeals, litigation, legislation and related matters)
1998 - 1999, Gary M. Held, P.A. (sole practitioner)
1989 - 1998, Milledge Iden & Held (partner, 1992-1998)
1988 - 1998, Co-Special Counsel, Zoning Litigation, City of Miami (protected residential zoning of parcel adjacent to Peacock Park against lawsuits challenging denial of commercial upzoning)
1985 - 1989, Thomson Zeder Bohrer Werth & Razook
1985, Senior Assistant City Attorney, City of Miami Beach
1982 - 1984, Greenberg, Traurig, Hoffman, Lipoff, Rosen and Quentel, P.A.
PROFESSIONAL AND OTHER AFFILIATIONS AND ACTIVITIES
2005 - 2013, 2015 - Present, Chair or Co-Chair, Environmental and Land Use Law Comm., Dade County Bar
2015 - Present, Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator, Appellate
1999 - 2012, Legal Advisor, Dade Heritage Trust (Represented DHT on Miami Circle in 1999, securing agreed Court order to protect against destruction of the 2,000 year old archaeological site, then assisted in convincing Miami-Dade County to acquire site by eminent domain)
1999 - Present, Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator, Circuit Civil
1998 - 2000, Vice-Chair and Co-Chair, Env’l and Land Use Law Comm., Dade County Bar
1992, Class XI, Leadership Florida, Florida Chamber of Commerce
(Local Program Chair, Miami Session, 1993-1994; Vice-Chair, Program Committee, Miami Session, 1994-1995; Regional Chair, Southeast Region (Monroe, Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin counties), and Member, State Board of Regents, 1994-1996)
1994, Leadership Miami, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce
1990 - 2000, Board of Directors, Children's Home Society of Florida, Southeast Division
(Member, Executive Committee, 1992-1995; Chair-Elect, 1997-1998; Chair, 1998-1999)
1984 - 1994, Member, Board of Directors, Temple Samu-El Or Olom
1999 (Member of Executive Board: 1987-1989; Ways and Means Vice President,
1987-1988; Education Vice President, 1988-1989; Chair, Strategic Planning Comm., 1997-1998)
1984 - 1989, Judge and Chair (1987-1989), Dean Maloney Writing Competition,
Environmental and Land Use Law Section, The Florida Bar
1985 - 1986, Board Member Gold Coast Section, Florida Chapter, American Planning Association
(Member-at-Large, Member of Executive Committee, Chairman of Legislative Committee and By-Law Revision Committee)
Member, Kendall 2000; Vice-Chairman, Planning and Zoning Task Force
2005 - 2013, 2015 - Present, Chair or Co-Chair, Environmental and Land Use Law Comm., Dade County Bar
2015 - Present, Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator, Appellate
1999 - 2012, Legal Advisor, Dade Heritage Trust (Represented DHT on Miami Circle in 1999, securing agreed Court order to protect against destruction of the 2,000 year old archaeological site, then assisted in convincing Miami-Dade County to acquire site by eminent domain)
1999 - Present, Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator, Circuit Civil
1998 - 2000, Vice-Chair and Co-Chair, Env’l and Land Use Law Comm., Dade County Bar
1992, Class XI, Leadership Florida, Florida Chamber of Commerce
(Local Program Chair, Miami Session, 1993-1994; Vice-Chair, Program Committee, Miami Session, 1994-1995; Regional Chair, Southeast Region (Monroe, Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin counties), and Member, State Board of Regents, 1994-1996)
1994, Leadership Miami, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce
1990 - 2000, Board of Directors, Children's Home Society of Florida, Southeast Division
(Member, Executive Committee, 1992-1995; Chair-Elect, 1997-1998; Chair, 1998-1999)
1984 - 1994, Member, Board of Directors, Temple Samu-El Or Olom
1999 (Member of Executive Board: 1987-1989; Ways and Means Vice President,
1987-1988; Education Vice President, 1988-1989; Chair, Strategic Planning Comm., 1997-1998)
1984 - 1989, Judge and Chair (1987-1989), Dean Maloney Writing Competition,
Environmental and Land Use Law Section, The Florida Bar
1985 - 1986, Board Member Gold Coast Section, Florida Chapter, American Planning Association
(Member-at-Large, Member of Executive Committee, Chairman of Legislative Committee and By-Law Revision Committee)
Member, Kendall 2000; Vice-Chairman, Planning and Zoning Task Force
ADMITTED TO PRACTICE BEFORE THE FOLLOWING COURTS
Florida Supreme Court, 1982
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, 1985 (Trial Bar, 1991)
U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, 1991
U.S. Supreme Court, 1994
Florida Supreme Court, 1982
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, 1985 (Trial Bar, 1991)
U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, 1991
U.S. Supreme Court, 1994
LAW AND GRADUATE SCHOOL HONORS AND ACTIVITIES
1981 - 1982, Articles and Comments Editor, University of Miami Law Review
Member, Society of the Wig and Robe
Dean's List (every semester law school)
1980 - 1981, Member, University of Miami Law Review
1980, American Jurisprudence Book Award: Civil Procedure
1975 - 1976, National Student Representative, Student Planning Network (national planning student organization) Member, Board of Governors, American Institute of Planners ("A.I.P." - currently the American Planning Association)
1974 - 1975, Fellowship: Ryder Research Program in Transportation Planning,
University of Miami
1981 - 1982, Articles and Comments Editor, University of Miami Law Review
Member, Society of the Wig and Robe
Dean's List (every semester law school)
1980 - 1981, Member, University of Miami Law Review
1980, American Jurisprudence Book Award: Civil Procedure
1975 - 1976, National Student Representative, Student Planning Network (national planning student organization) Member, Board of Governors, American Institute of Planners ("A.I.P." - currently the American Planning Association)
1974 - 1975, Fellowship: Ryder Research Program in Transportation Planning,
University of Miami
PRELAW PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND INTERNSHIPS
Capital Improvements Division, Office of the County Manager, Miami-Dade County
Prepared annual Miami-Dade County Six Year Capital Improvements Program.
Served on: Capital Improvements Technical Committee, Site Review Committee,
Developmental Impact Committee (DIC), Rapid Transit DIC, Town Hall Meeting Program
Planning Department, City of Miami
Planning & Design Division, Department of Housing & Urban Development, Miami-Dade County
Ryder Research Program in Transportation Planning, University of Miami
Project INSTEP, Office of Service Programs for the Elderly, Miami-Dade County
Capital Improvements Division, Office of the County Manager, Miami-Dade County
Prepared annual Miami-Dade County Six Year Capital Improvements Program.
Served on: Capital Improvements Technical Committee, Site Review Committee,
Developmental Impact Committee (DIC), Rapid Transit DIC, Town Hall Meeting Program
Planning Department, City of Miami
Planning & Design Division, Department of Housing & Urban Development, Miami-Dade County
Ryder Research Program in Transportation Planning, University of Miami
Project INSTEP, Office of Service Programs for the Elderly, Miami-Dade County
Gary M. Held, Esq., Attorney at Law
T: 305.962.8900 | F: 305.386.4930 | gary@garyheldlaw.com