Victoria Méndez, the former city attorney of Miami, has joined the Florida-based law firm Shutts & Bowen as a partner in its Land Use & Zoning Practice group. This move follows her ousting from the city attorney role earlier this year, just months before her contract was set to expire. Méndez was removed after a city commission vote, spurred by allegations of her involvement in a house-flipping scheme with her husband.
The Miami Herald reported that the commission voted 4-1 to transition Méndez to a different role, despite her long tenure as city attorney. In her new role at Shutts & Bowen, Méndez expressed enthusiasm about joining the firm, highlighting its reputation for excellence and commitment to client service.
Shutts & Bowen has been involved in several high-profile cases, including defending Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo in a lawsuit where he is accused of retaliating against businessmen who supported a political opponent. Carollo, a longtime ally of Méndez, was the only commissioner to vote against her removal.
The firm, which ranks among the 200 largest in the U.S., reported over $201 million in gross revenue last year and has offices across Florida, including in Tampa, West Palm Beach, Orlando, and Jacksonville. Shutts & Bowen recently expanded its teams by adding partners to its litigation and intellectual property groups.
Alexander Tachmes, chair of the Land Use & Zoning practice group at Shutts & Bowen, praised Méndez’s extensive experience in local government law, emphasizing how it aligns with the firm’s broad range of governmental representation.
For more detailed coverage, you can read the full article on Bloomberg Law.