Juan Carlos Bermudez, Mayor of Doral, Joins Akerman Senterfitt.

Juan Carlos Bermudez, the mayor of Doral, has joined Akerman Senterfitt as of counsel in the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group and will be based in Akerman’s Miami office. Bermudez was the first mayor of Doral, one of the region’s most important centers for international business. He leaves his post on November 27 due to term limits, having served since 2003. The primary focus of Bermudez’s practice with Akerman will be in the areas of land use and zoning, governmental law and procurement, and international investment.

“Juan Carlos is a talented lawyer and accomplished leader in South Florida,” said Richard Bezold, chair of the Akerman Real Estate Practice Group. “Bringing substantial insight in local government, he will make an important contribution to the clients served by our Land Use and Development team.”   

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the next phase of my career as a member of such a highly regarded firm with a top national real estate team,”  said Bermudez. “Given its extensive work in the real estate industry, particularly in the areas of complex financing transactions and urban redevelopment projects, I see significant synergies with my law practice. I very much look forward to contributing to the continued success of Akerman’s many and diverse clients.”

Bermudez joins Akerman at a time when the firm is representing clients in a growing number of transformational urban redevelopment projects in South Florida including Swire Properties in the development of Brickell CitiCentre, a mixed-use, 9.1-acre, $1 billion project in downtown Miami; affiliates of Dacra Development and LVMH in the $312 million redevelopment of the Miami Design District; and All Aboard Florida as land use counsel in the development of the passenger rail’s planned Miami station.

Bermudez is the past president of the Miami-Dade League of Cities. During his term as mayor, he served as an executive board member and chair of the International Relations Committee of the Florida League of Cities, member of the Florida League of Cities Advocacy Committee, board member of the Florida League of Mayors, and a member of the United States Conference of Mayors and its Conference Advisory Board. He also served as a member of its International Affairs and Transportation and Communications Committees. 

He is an executive board member of the Beacon Council and the South Florida Golf Foundation. He serves on the Adrienne Arsht Center Community Affairs Task Force and is the former chair of the Miami-Dade County Hispanic Advisory Board. 

While serving as mayor, Bermudez continued to practice law, most recently with Gonzalez & Wermuth LLP. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame Law School and member of The Florida Bar. 

The Akerman Real Estate Practice Group represents clients in complex real estate transactions, development and redevelopment projects, public-private initiatives, loan recovery and litigation matters. Recognized nationally by The Legal 500, the group offers substantial industry experience and prominent local presence, advising corporations, developers, investors and governmental entities, often in high profile matters.