Welcoming Lopez to the City legal team

When Historic City News reported that Judge Julianne Piggott had resigned her seat on the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court, the shuffle began — resulting in transitions for a Jacksonville attorney, 40 year-old Isabelle C. Lopez, as well as the assistant city attorney, 41 year-old Carlos E. Mendoza.

We learned on July 21st that after two years’ service to the City of St. Augustine, Mendoza was appointed by Governor Rick Scott to succeed Judge Piggott on the bench.

At last night’s city commission meeting, Historic City News Editor, Michael Gold, got the opportunity to wish Mendoza the best in his new position, and, at the same time, welcome Lopez in her new role of full-time staff attorney at the City; beginning September 6th.

Lopez told Historic City News that, during the past five years, while employed at Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A., she has represented the City as special counsel in litigation not handled by either Mendoza or full time City Attorney Ron Brown.

Lopez says she has a good working relationship with Brown and is eager to start work.

Lopez received her Juris Doctor from the University of Florida College of Law and her Bachelor of Arts, with joint honors, in history and political science from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Ms. Lopez has lectured extensively on a variety of governmental law issues such as land use laws, and on the topics of planning and zoning.

Previously, Lopez was Senior Assistant County Attorney for St. Johns County where she represented the Board of County Commission, planning and zoning agencies and boards in a wide variety of local governmental law matters; including code enforcement, comprehensive plan and land development code, local land use and environmental regulation litigation. Lopez was also a senior attorney with the Florida Department of Transportation where she handled eminent domain litigation.

Lopez has been Board Certified as a Specialist in City, County & Local Government Law by The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization since 2004. She is also a Certified County and Circuit Court Mediator. While working in Jacksonville, the focus of Lopez’ practice was in the areas of land use and zoning, governmental law, and litigation.

According to Lopez, her local government practice included representation of counties, municipalities, special districts and boards, community development districts, community redevelopment agencies, and constitutional officers on public hearings, transactional, litigation and appellate matters.

Her litigation experience includes practicing before the county, circuit and appellate courts of Florida, Florida Supreme Court, federal courts, and Florida Division of Administrative Hearings.

Lopez is licensed to practice law in Florida and is admitted in the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Florida; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court. She is a member of The Florida Bar and the Bar’s Statewide Board Certification Committee.

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News staff photographer