Victoria Méndez

Victoria Méndez is a Partner in the Miami office of Shutts & Bowen LLP, where she is a member of the Land Use & Zoning Practice Group. Victoria is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in City, County & Local Government.

Victoria is an experienced municipal lawyer with a wide range of capabilities in all phases of municipal operations, including general municipal law; land use and zoning; environmental law; election law; eminent domain; civil rights law; public finance; building and code enforcement; procurement law; utilities law; real estate; platting; and the litigation thereof. Victoria uses her vast experience advising local agencies on policy matters, statutes, rules and regulations, so that she can better advocate for and serve her clients’ strategic business interests.

Before joining Shutts, Victoria served more than 20 years in the Office of the City Attorney for the City of Miami. In her nearly 11-year tenure as the City Attorney for the City of Miami, she supervised an office of more than 60 personnel, including lawyers, staff, interns, and fellows, in addition to outside counsel. She also was responsible for an $11 million annual budget. Her role also involved representing the City in state, federal, administrative and appellate courts.

Victoria was also an Assistant State Attorney for the Miami-Dade Office of the State Attorney, Eleventh Judicial Circuit, where she represented the State of Florida for almost 4 years. She was responsible for large caseloads during her tenure that consisted of misdemeanors to life felonies, wherein she handled discovery, countless depositions, Arthur Hearings, suppression hearings and more. Her experience includes litigating more than 30 jury trials at the Circuit and County Court levels and more than 50 bench trials, in addition to litigating criminal appellate cases.

Notable Experience

City of Miami v. State of Florida, et al., Case No. 19-29540 CA 01 ($400 Million bond validation case for the Miami Forever Bonds).
Miami-Dade County, et al. v. Florida Power & Light Company, et al., Case No. 3D14-1467 (argued transmission line siting act appeal before the Third District Court of Appeals; affirmed; and the Florida Supreme Court denied review).
In Re: Florida Power and Light Company Turkey Point Units 6 and 7 Power Plant Siting Application, DOAH Case No. 09-003575EPP (site certification hearing before the Division of Administrative Hearings for the certification of transmission lines within Miami-Dade County).
Flava Works, Inc. v. City of Miami, 800 F. Supp. 2d 1182 (S.D. Fla. 2011); Flava Works, Inc. v. City of Miami, 595 F. Supp. 2d 1341 (S.D. Fla. 2009); Flava Works, Inc. v. City of Miami, 559 F. Supp. 2d 1318 (S.D. Fla. 2008) (adult entertainment in a residential home case).
City of Miami tree protection, billboard and mural ordinances: Assisted in the drafting and revisions to the tree protection, billboard, and mural ordinances; assisted in the implementation of the Tree Trust Fund and the Mural Program in the City of Miami.
Miami 21 Zoning Ordinance: Part of the team that researched, reviewed, drafted the new zoning code, attended public hearings, assisted with implementation, and drafted amendments of the new City of Miami zoning code adopted May 2010; legally reviewed almost all of the land use and zoning City of Miami projects since 2005.
Negotiated and drafted the 2010 Florida Power & Light Franchise Agreement, earning the City over $27 million a year in franchise fees.
Led the real estate team that negotiated the Freedom Park Soccer Stadium agreements over several years.
Co-drafted the amended major use special permit for the Marlins Stadium.
Negotiated and drafted many of the Ultra Music Festival Agreements over the years.
Managed the 2016 Charter Review process, along with several Charter changes over the past 20 years.
Negotiated with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding the City’s use of deadly force within the Police Department. Our legal team entered into a first of its kind settlement agreement with the DOJ, which included a low-cost monitoring protocol and early termination.
Led the litigation team that 1) successfully terminated the Pottinger v. City of Miami federal consent decree regarding homeless treatment within the city and 2) successfully settled the 26-year-old case: FOP, Vega et al., v. City of Miami, Case No. 98-7760 CA 01 over the 1994 police exam.
Part of the litigation team that successfully handled the election challenge and recall petition cases in 2017 and 2018.
Led the real estate teams that negotiated several of the largest waterfront leases within the City of Miami, including but not limited to, Jungle Island, Flagstone, Hyatt, Bayshore, Bayside, etc. and acquired via eminent domain several properties for marquis City park projects.
Part of the transactional teams that negotiated the Brightline, Tri-Rail, and Tunnel and Underline projects.
Negotiated donation/partnership agreements and the legacy projects for the Super Bowl, Major League Baseball All Star Games, Formula E, College Football National Championships, etc.
Part of the finance teams that closed many City of Miami million-dollar bond deals and handled a $400 million bond validation case.

Credentials

Education

University of Miami School of Law, J.D., December 1999
- Iron Arrow Honor Society
- Omicron Delta Kappa National Honor Society
- Alpha Epsilon Lambda Graduate Honorary
- Society of Bar and Gavel Honorary
- Who’s Who: American Law Students
- Student Bar Association, 1L, 2L, 3L Senator; Speaker Pro Tem; Senator of the Year Award
- Vice President Service Award
- Presidential Award for Exemplary Service
- Moot Court Competitions, Semi-Finalist
- University College of London Summer Program
University of Miami School of Business, MPA, May 1999
University of Miami, B.A., cum laude with General Honors, English and Political Science Double Major, December 1995
- Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society
- Golden Key Honor Society
- Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society
- President’s Honor Roll
- Honor’s Program
- National Dean’s List
- J.F. Pearson Merit Scholarship

Bar Admissions

Florida

Languages

Spanish

Professional and Civic

University of Miami School of Law, Alumni Board of Trustees, Trustee, 2020-Present
Miami Dade County Law Library, Trustee, 2005- Present
Florida Bar Association City, County, and Local Government Executive Council, Member, 2015-Present; Chair Elect, 2024
Miami-Dade County League of Cities, Member; City Attorney’s Council, Executive Committee Member, 2014-2024
Florida Municipal Attorneys Association, Executive Committee, Member, 2020-2024
Our Lady of Lourdes Academy High School, Strategic Planning Committee, Governance Sub-Committee Co-Chair, 2024
Florida Municipal Attorneys Association, Annual Seminar Steering Committee, Member, 2018-2020
Florida Bar Association Leadership Academy Inaugural Committee, Member, 2013-2016
Dade County Bar Association, Government Affairs Committee, Chair and Co-Chair, June 2013 –2019
Our Lady of Lourdes Academy High School, Alumnae Board, Alumnae President, 2016-2018; Immediate Past President, 2018-2021
Our Lady of Lourdes Academy High School, Board of Trustees, Trustee, 2020-2023
American Bar Association, House of Delegates, Cuban American Bar Association Seat, 2013-2014
Florida Bar Association, Hawkins Commission on Lawyer Discipline, Committee Member, 2012
American Bar Foundation, Fellow, 2011-Present
League of Prosecutors, Board of Directors, Director, 2011-2014
Florida Bar Association, Board of Governors, Cuban American Bar Association Seat, 2011-2012
Florida Bar Foundation, Fellow, 2010-Present
Cuban American Bar Foundation, Board of Directors, Director, 2010-2014; President, 2012
Cuban American Bar Association Pro Bono Project, Board of Directors, Director, 2010-2012
Our Lady of Lourdes Academy High School, Law Section, Chair, 2009-2016
Spellman-Hoeveler American Inn of Courts, Member, 2009-Present
Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association, Member, 2009-Present
Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Member, 2009-Present
American Bar Association, Member, 2000-Present
Dade County Bar Association, Member, 2000-Present
Cuban American Bar Association, Board of Directors, Director, 2004-2012; President, 2011
Florida Bar Association Grievance Committee, Member, 2005-2008; Chair, 2008

News & Insights

Presentations

Featured Alumni, University of Miami School of Law, Admitted Students Reception, March 2024
Roundtable Panelist, University of Miami Student Bar Association, Dinner with Esquires Event, February 2024
Speaker, Florida Bar Association, City, County, and Local Government Section, Q and A for Board Certification, January 2024
Panel Moderator, Florida Municipal Attorneys Association, Annual Seminar, July 2023
Featured Alumni Panelist, University of Miami School of Law, Hispanic Law Students Association, March 2023
Panel Moderator, Florida Municipal Attorneys Association, Annual Seminar, July 2022
Public Records Speaker, Miami-Dade County League of Cities, Ethics Training, 2021
Speaker, Florida Bar Association, City, County, and Local Government Section, Public Meetings during the Pandemic, April 2020
Public Records Speaker, Miami-Dade County League of Cities, Ethics Training, May 2018
Featured Alumni, University of Miami School of Law, Recruitment Luncheon, February 2018
Public Records Speaker, Miami-Dade County League of Cities, Ethics Training, December 2017
Public Records Speaker, Miami-Dade County League of Cities, Ethics Training, May 2017
Luncheon Speaker, Florida Bar Association Leadership Academy, Guardians of the Legal Profession, April 201
Career Day Speaker, Miami Dade Commission on Ethics, Governance Day at Auburndale Elementary, April 2017
Senior Focus Group Speaker, Our Lady of Lourdes Academy High School, March 2017
Moderator, Dade County Bar Association, Government Relations Committee Transportation Seminar, November 2015
Panelist, Federal Aviation Administration, Unmanned Aircraft Symposium, April 2016
Speaker, Miami-Dade County League of Cities, Ethics Training, May 2015
Leadership Luncheon Panelist, Florida Association for Women Lawyers, May 2014
Featured Alumni, University of Miami School of Law, Recruitment Luncheon, January 2014
Panelist, Dade County Bar Association, Government Relations Committee CLE Sunshine Law, Public Records, and Ethics in the Magic City, November 2013
Speaker, University of Miami School of Law, Miami Scholars Monthly Luncheon, December 2012
Public Sector Employment Panel, Florida Association for Women Lawyers, April 2012
Panelist, Florida International University 2012 Diversity Summit, February 2012
Roundtable Panelist, University of Miami School of Law, Ins and Outs of Public Sector Work, February 2012
Speaker, American Bar Association’s Commission on Hispanic Rights and Responsibilities Forum, May 2011
Panelist, Broward County Bar Association, Florida Muslim Bar Association, and Cuban American Bar Association, Diversity Symposium, May 2011
Panelist, Dade County Bar Association, Florida Association for Women Lawyers, and Cuban American Bar Association Diversity Symposium, March 2011
Panelist, National Association for Women Lawyers, Annual Seminar on Non-Traditional Careers, February 2011
Speaker, American Bar Association, State and Local Government Law Section Land Use Seminar on Adult Entertainment, April 2010
Speaker, International Municipal Lawyers Association, Code Enforcement and Adult Entertainment, October 2009

Publications

Mendez, Victoria, Rafael Suarez-Rivas, et al. "Bid Protests Under the Administrative Procedure Act: The Standard of Review, the Protest Hearing, and Further Review," Florida Bar Journal, Vol. 92, No. 9 (November-December 2018)
Matthew Haber and Victoria Méndez, “Speaking Truth to Power Company Regulators: The Consequences of Modern Regulatory Incentives and Administrative Expediency,” 25 Duke Environmental Law & Policy Forum 185-199 (Fall 2014)
Sonja K. Dickens, Jeff P. H. Cazeau, Craig Leen, Victoria Mendez, Hans Ottinot, Richard Weiss, Richard Kuper, Nina Boniske, Bennett Brummer, Cynthia Everett, Jose “Pepe” Herrera, Howard Lenard, Jean Olin, Darcee Siegel, Jose Smith, Rafael Suarez Rivas, Henry Hunnefeld, John Greco, “Miami-Dade County League of Cities Elected Officials’ Handbook, Second Edition”

News & Speaking Engagements

Victoria Méndez Joins Shutts & Bowen as Partner in Miami Office
Firm News, 9.9.24