Bradley S. Gould Attorney At Law

Bradley concentrates his practice in the areas of eminent domain and property rights. He has particular experience in representing clients with issues related to government takings, condemnation, inverse condemnation, regulatory takings, land use and zoning, land use litigation, property rights and Bert J. Harris, Jr., Private Property Rights Protection Act claims.

Bradley's eminent domain and property rights practice includes more than 19 years of experience representing both property owners and condemning authorities. During the past 16 years, he has focused on representing private property owners in the protection of their property rights. He has been involved with numerous multimillion-dollar condemnation (partial and whole takings) cases. He represented the fee simple owner in a condemnation of three properties being developed with condominiums in which the total compensation exceeded $75 million. 

In addition to securing full compensation, he has also obtained for his clients non-monetary benefits, such as driveways, median openings, drainage and off-site parking to mitigate impacts resulting from the taking. Bradley has successfully lobbied the government on behalf of clients to eliminate or reduce the size of proposed takings and to make favorable design changes to the proposed construction for the project. He has successfully prevented the government from taking his clients' properties by obtaining court-ordered denials of Orders of Takings and dismissals of condemnation lawsuits.

• Background

  Bradley began his career representing the Florida Department of Transportation in condemnation cases in which it was acquiring property for road projects. He also worked at the State of Florida Attorney General's Office, representing the Florida Department of Transportation in condemnation cases.

  Bradley is the past chair of the Florida Bar Eminent Domain Committee.  He is a member of the Roundtable of The Wade Hopping Institute for the protection of Private Property Rights at the Pacific Legal Foundation.  He helped establish the Pro Bono Attorney Network for The Wade Hopping Institute, which consists of experienced Florida land use lawyers that serve as counsel to property owners requiring legal assistance to defend against property rights abuses at the trial or administrative level.  He is a frequent author and lecturer on issues involving eminent domain and property rights. 

• Education
  • Washington University, B.A. (1989)
  • Nova Southeastern University, J.D. (1992)
    • Nova Southeastern Law Review, Senior Staff Member, 1990-1992
• Admissions
  • Florida
• Professional Associations and Memberships
  • American Bar Association
    • Condemnation, Zoning and Land Use Committee
  • The Florida Bar
    • Eminent Domain Committee, Past Chair
  • Association of Eminent Domain Professionals  
• Awards and Recognitions
  • Best Lawyers in America, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, 2009-2025
  • Florida Trend's Legal Elite, 2017, 2021-2022
  • Florida Super Lawyers, 2012, 2015-2018
  • South Florida Legal Guide, Top Lawyer, Eminent Domain, 2011-2014; Real Estate: Land Use and Zoning, 2012-2014
  • South Florida Legal Guide, Up and Comer, 2008-2010 
• Articles and Publications
  • "Admissibility of Expert Testimony in Eminent Domain Cases: Frye, Armadillo Partners, and Daubert," 17th Annual Eminent Domain Conference, CLE International, October 2013
  • "Property Owners May Benefit From 2010 Tax Appeal," Holland and Knight Alert, August 20, 2010
  • "High Court Rules Against Beachfront Property Owners," Florida Real Estate Journal, June 2010
  • "High Court Considers FL Property Rights Case," Florida Real Estate Journal, February 15, 2010
  • "U.S. Supreme Court Weighs Important Property Rights Issues," Florida Investor, June 2005
  • "Kelo Case Weighs Heavily on Private Property Rights," Florida Real Estate Journal, March 2005
  • "Time to Curb Eminent Domain Abuses," Orlando Business Journal, February 2005
  • "U.S. Supreme Court Should Curb Eminent Domain Abuses," South Florida Business Journal, January 2005
  • "Eminent Domain Cases Should Be Curbed," Jacksonville Business Journal, January 2005
• Presentations and Seminars
  • "Ethics: Considerations for Florida Eminent Domain Practitioners," 18th Annual Eminent Domain Conference, CLE International, October 2014
  • "Admissibility of Expert Testimony in Eminent Domain After Adoption of House Bill 7015," Association of Eminent Domain Professionals, November 2013
  • "Admissibility of Expert Testimony In Eminent Domain," 17th Annual Eminent Domain Conference, CLE International, October 2013
  • "The Wade Hopping Institute for the Protection of Private Property Rights," CLE International Eminent Domain Seminar, October 2012
  • "A Look Back at Kelo v. City of New London One Year Later," Florida Bar Annual Meeting, Eminent Domain Committee Meeting, June 2006
  • "Taking for Redevelopment and Kelo v. City of New London," Florida Bar Annual Meeting, Eminent Domain Committee Meeting, June 2005
  • "Kelo v. City of New London," Association of Eminent Domain Professionals, February 2005
  • "Eminent Domain as an Option to Achieve Redevelopment, Downtown Revitalization in Florida," Lorman Educational Services, October 2004
  • "Case Law Update," Association of Eminent Domain Professionals, February 2003