Port Manatee's Legal/Lobbying Firm Gets Dressed Down During Presentation to Port Authority

PALMETTO – Lewis, Longman and Walker are a 35 attorney AV-rated statewide law firm that currently represents Port Manatee, and have been part of operations for the last 15 years. Suddenly, they have been asked to consider their next contract with the port be submitted under a RFP.

LLW specializes in government law; legislative lobbying and governmental affairs; environmental and natural resources; administrative, civil and appellate litigation; land use; real estate and business, corporate and intellectual property.

The statewide firm has offices in Tallahassee, West Palm Beach, Jacksonville, as well as Bradenton.

At Thursday's Port Authority meeting, members were asked to consider separating the current contract for LLW's services into two contracts: one for their lobbying efforts and another for their legal affairs representation.

The request came from Commissioner Charles Smith, who first called for the action two months ago at a Port Authority meeting. It didn't go over well on the first occasion, nor did it this time.

Smith said he didn't anticipate any real reason, but cautioned that something can always go wrong, and separating into two contracts would present more flexibility.

Smith made a motion to bring the matter up at the next port meeting. Whitmore seconded it, but later said she wasn't going to support it.

After much discussion to why and few answers, the motion failed on a vote of 5-1 (Bustle absent).

But throughout the remainder of the meeting, Smith kept questioning the reasons for turning the measure down. Commissioner Baugh yielded some doubt to Smith and questioned the lobbying efforts of LLW, saying, "I want to see aggressive lobbying."

It seemed the lobbying efforts were being questioned more than the legal representation efforts of LLW. However, during the presentation, LLW's Steve Lewis demonstrated a well connected and well informed relationship with not only the legislative body, but with Florida's Cabinet.

In fact, most of the LLW presentation was contributed to the functioning relationship between LLW and Tallahassee; focusing on the committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and the ways they have responded to Port requests.

Commissioner Robin DiSabatino tried to put an end to what had turned into pointless clarity of 'I was just saying' between authority members, and made a motion to have LLW see if they can come up with a plan–and a budget if needed–to increase their actions of lobbying Tallahassee, if possible. The motion was supported by a 6-0, vote, Bustle absent.