Miguel De Grandy

Miguel De Grandy (born December 3, 1958)^[1] is a Cuban-American lawyer and politician.^[2] He served as a Republican member for the 110th and 114th district of the Florida House of Representatives.^[3]

De Grandy was born in Havana.^[1] He attended the University of Florida, where he earned a bachelor's degree and a Juris Doctor degree at the age of 22, being the youngest graduate in his graduating class.^[1] He started his legal career as an Assistant State Attorney. He worked as a lawyer in Coral Gables, Florida.^[4] In 1989, De Grandy was elected for the 110th district of the Florida House of Representatives, serving until 1992.^[3] he was then representative for the 114th district from 1992 to 1994.^[3] During his tenure in the Florida House of representatives Mr. De Grandy was ranked in the top 10 percent of Florida legislators and the top republican member from 1990 to 1994 by the Miami Herald.

Miguel De Grandy is a partner in the AmLAW 50 law firm of Holland & Knight. He is the practice group leader for the South Florida Government Advocacy and Development Group. Mr. De Grandy practices in the area of litigation and dispute resolution with particular emphasis on governmental, administrative, land use and procurement law. prior to becoming a Partner at Holland & Knight he was a shareholder in the AMLAW 50 law firm of Greenberg Traurig where he was the head of the Governmental Law practice group of the Miami office.

Mr. De Grandy has an in-depth understanding of the governmental, regulatory and administrative processes in the state of Florida as a result of serving as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1989-1994, including being the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee and chairman of the Cuban-American Caucus of State Legislators from 1992-1993. Mr. De Grandy has spearheaded significant legislation, including the Rosewood Claims Bill that recognized the losses suffered by the residents of a small town in Levy County, Florida, due to racial violence in the 1920s.

Mr. De Grandy represents clients before governmental, administrative and regulatory agencies at all levels on a variety of matters as well as related litigation before administrative bodies and the courts. For governmental and private entities, he also counsels on redistricting, complex annexation and incorporation issues. Mr. De Grandy has represented clients in some of the largest public procurement processes in Miami-Dade County and has litigated some of the most complex bid protests both locally and at the state level. He has also represented clients in judicial appellate proceedings resulting from bid protests. Routinely, Mr. De Grandy helps to guide his clients through the regulatory issues that affect their business interests.

With over four decades in the practice of law,and having served as lead counsel in scores of civil and administrative trials He has also served in several capacities in disputes dealing with redistricting and the Federal Voting Rights Act. In 1992, while serving as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, he became lead plaintiff and co-counsel in De Grandy, et al v. Wetherell, a Federal Voting Rights Act action against the Florida legislature. The successful challenge to the legislature's redistricting plan resulted in creating several Black American majority districts in Florida's congressional delegation. Consequently, for the first time in 100 years, Florida elected three Black Americans to Congress,and doubled Florida's Hispanic representation. Ten years later, during the 2000-2002 redistricting cycle, Mr. De Grandy was appointed by the speaker of the Florida House of Representatives as lead special counsel on redistricting. He managed a dream team of lawyers that successfully guided the House through the redistricting process and was lead counsel for the House in subsequent litigation, successfully defending the legislature in the federal suit challenging the enacted Redistricting Plan.

EDUCATION

• University of Florida Levin College of Law, J.D.

• University of Florida, B.S., Business Administration, with honors

MEMBERSHIPS

• Miami-Dade County Domestic Violence Oversight Board, Chairman, 2018-2024

• Florida Speakers Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation, 2006-2008

• Miami-Dade County Charter Review Committee, 2001, 2007

• State University System of Florida, Florida Board of Governors, 2003-2004

• Bush-Cheney 2004 Campaign, Legal Regional Chair, 2004

• State of Florida Energy 2020 Study Commission Member, 2000-2001

• Florida State Conference of Black Legislators, Honorary Member, 1994

• The Florida House of Representatives, Ranking Minority Member on Judiciary Committee. Cuban-American Caucus, Chairman, 1992-1993

HONORS & AWARDS

• Holland & Knight Pro Bono All-Star, 202 1 • Most Effective Lawyer Finalist, Lobbying, Daily Business Review, 2014

• South Florida legal Guide: Top Lawyers in South Florida 2010

• Florida Trend’s Florida Legal Elite: Top 1.6% Legal Leaders Named by Their Peers 2004

• Attorney of the Year, Latin Builders Association, 1995

• The Most Effective Republican Member of the Florida House of Representatives, The Miami Herald, 1990-1994

• Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated