Case Experience
Four decades of legal experience across complex public-sector, land use, real property, and civil disputes.
Four decades of legal experience across complex public-sector, land use, real property, and civil disputes.
The strength of an effective mediator or arbitrator rests not only on process skills, but also on the ability to understand the legal, practical, financial, and institutional issues driving the dispute. Cliff Shepard brings more than four decades of experience in areas of law that regularly involve complex facts, high stakes, public scrutiny, and difficult judgment calls.
Land use disputes often involve more than a disagreement over a particular parcel. They may implicate comprehensive planning, zoning, development regulations, property rights, public infrastructure, neighborhood impacts, political considerations, and the practical realities of local government decision-making.
Cliff has extensive experience in land use matters, including service as City Attorney for multiple Florida municipalities and as counsel to local governments on zoning, planning, development review, and quasi-judicial proceedings. His mediation work includes disputes involving zoning and rezoning decisions, comprehensive plan amendments, development orders, site plan and plat approvals, conditions of approval, annexation issues, and interpretation of land development regulations.
Eminent domain disputes involve the government’s constitutional authority to acquire private property for public use, as well as the property owner’s right to full compensation. These cases often require careful attention to valuation, project necessity, business impacts, timing, and the legal and practical consequences of a taking.
Cliff has experience with eminent domain and public acquisition issues from both public and private perspectives. As a municipal attorney, he has advised local governments in connection with property acquisition and public projects. He has also represented private property owners and businesses in matters involving the scope, purpose, and valuation of government takings. That perspective allows him to understand the competing legal and practical pressures on both sides of an eminent domain dispute.
Employment and executive contract disputes often involve sensitive personal, financial, reputational, and organizational interests. These matters may require more than a purely legal analysis; they often require a practical assessment of risk, business disruption, public perception, and the parties’ future interests.
Cliff is available to mediate disputes involving employment contracts, severance arrangements, executive compensation, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, workplace separation issues, and related business or public-sector employment disputes. His experience representing governmental and private clients gives him a practical understanding of how employment-related disputes affect both individuals and organizations.
Civil rights disputes involving municipalities and public officials can present significant legal, financial, and institutional challenges. Claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, First Amendment disputes, employment discrimination claims, due process issues, and alleged misconduct by public officials or employees may involve complex legal standards, public scrutiny, insurance considerations, and difficult risk assessments.
Cliff’s experience representing local governments gives him a strong understanding of the litigation dynamics and institutional pressures that often shape these cases. As a neutral, he brings that perspective to the mediation process while helping parties evaluate risk, exposure, cost, and the practical benefits of resolution.
Florida’s Government-in-the-Sunshine Law and Public Records Act impose broad transparency obligations on public agencies and officials. Disputes under these laws often arise quickly, involve strong public interests, and may require prompt, practical resolution.
Cliff has extensive experience advising local governments, elected officials, boards, committees, and staff on Sunshine Law and public records compliance. He has also defended and advised public entities in matters involving alleged violations. His background allows him to help parties address not only the legal issues, but also the practical concerns that often accompany transparency disputes, including timing, access, attorney’s fees, public confidence, and future compliance.
Community redevelopment disputes often involve statutory authority, tax increment financing, interlocal agreements, redevelopment plans, public improvements, procurement issues, and competing public and private expectations. Cliff serves as General Counsel to the Florida Redevelopment Association and has advised community redevelopment agencies and local governments throughout Florida on the legal and practical issues that arise under the Community Redevelopment Act. He is available to mediate disputes involving CRA governance, redevelopment agreements, TIF expenditures, public-private redevelopment projects, intergovernmental obligations, and related local government issues.
Real property disputes frequently involve overlapping legal, business, regulatory, and practical concerns. Cliff’s experience includes matters involving development agreements, easements, access rights, title issues, restrictive covenants, real estate contracts, public infrastructure obligations, and disputes between property owners, developers, associations, and governmental entities. His background allows him to help parties evaluate both legal risk and practical resolution options.
Construction and public infrastructure disputes often require careful attention to contract language, project sequencing, payment issues, change orders, delays, design obligations, public procurement requirements, and the practical need to complete the project. Cliff is available to mediate construction-related disputes involving public improvements, development infrastructure, roadway and utility projects, construction contracts, and related real property or local government issues.
