Relentless advocate with decades of experience advancing administrative, legislative, and regulatory change. Helping corporations clear a path to growth across Florida.
A seasoned veteran of Florida’s dynamic political landscape, lawyer and lobbyist Jason Unger understands his clients’ needs for swift and easeful action in clearing a path to growth. Building on a solid foundation of legislative and executive branch agency relationships, Jason brings next-level insight and connectivity to complicated and sometimes stalled matters on behalf of clients in the retail, alcohol beverage, financial services, health care, and municipal sectors.
Known in legal and political circles for his responsiveness, readiness to react, and dogged pursuit of alternative solutions, clients seek him out to be in the right place at the right time with the right players to move business forward. He has also successfully defended numerous hospital districts, cities, counties, sheriffs, and school boards in the claims bill process.
Jason collaborates with GrayRobinson colleagues in the alcohol beverage, health care, land use, and litigation practices, leveraging the firm’s extensive statewide reach to identify and solve client problems quickly and creatively. Before joining GrayRobinson, Jason served as Special Counsel to the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. He served on the Florida Federal Judicial Nominating Commission and on the Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission during three gubernatorial administrations.
-
Notable Work
- Halifax Hospital Medical Center v. Office of the Attorney General, et al., No. 1D2023-1327 (Fla. 1st DCA 2024)
- GRACE, Inc. v. City of Miami, No. 23-12472 (11th Cir.)
- Chaired the Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission during litigation over which Governor would have three Supreme Court Justice nominations (League of Women Voters of Fla. v. Scott, 257 So. 3d 900 (Fla. 2018))
- Represented the Florida House of Representatives in the 2002, 2012, and 2022 redistricting cycles
- Served as litigation counsel to George W. Bush and Richard Cheney in the 2000 Presidential Election
- Represented the Republican Party of Florida and members of the Florida Legislature in various election law matters
- Advisory Opinion to the Attorney General re: Prohibits Possession of Defined Assault Weapons, --- So. 3d ----, No. SC19-1266, 2020 WL 2960236 (Fla. June 4, 2020)
- In re: Senate Joint Resolution of Legislative Apportionment 1176, 83 So.3d 597 (Fla. 2012)
- Martinez v. Bush, 2002 WL 31740366 (S.D. Fla. 2002)
- Florida Senate v. Forman, 826 So.2d 279 (Fla. 2002)
- In re: Constitutionality of House Joint Resolution 1987, 817 So.2d 819 (Fla. 2002)
- Palm Beach County Canvassing Board v. Harris, 772 So.2d 1273 (Fla. 2000)
- Gore v. Harris, 2000 WL 1770257 (Fla. Cir. Ct. 2000)
- In re: Constitutionality of House Joint Resolution 25E, 863 So.2d 1176 (Fla. 2003) (NO.SC03-1912)
-
Recognition
- INFLUENCE Magazine, The INFLUENCE 150, 2022
-
Insights
- “GrayRobinson 2024 Legislative Session Wrap-Up,” Miami, April 9, 2024
- “GrayRobinson 2022 Legislative Session Wrap-Up,” Miami, April 14, 2022
-
Media
- “Lobbyist File — Doing Business on the Fourth Floor, September 22, 2023,” News Service of Florida, September 21, 2023
- “The INFLUENCE 150: The most influential people in Florida politics,” Florida Politics, September 23, 2022
- “Winners and Losers Emerging From the 2021 Legislative Session,” Florida Politics, May 3, 2021
- “Trump’s List of Potential Supreme Court Nominees Includes a Cuban-American Miami Native,” 6 South Florida, September 21, 2020
- “Judicial Nominating Commission Chair Resigns, Claims Governor’s Office Interfered with Independence,” Florida Today, June 2019
- “Florida Attorneys Joining Governor on Trade Mission to Israel,” Daily Business Review, May 2019
- “More than 90 people are traveling to Israel with Gov. Ron DeSantis. Who’s on the list?” SunSentinel, May 2019
- “UNF Delegation Joining Gov. DeSantis On Trip To Israel,” WJCT Public Media, May 2019
- “See the Names of the Delegation Members Accompanying Gov. DeSantis to Israel,” Tallahassee Democrat, May 2019
- “Lawmakers, Lobbyists Join DeSantis on Israel Trip,” Daily Commercial, May 2019
- “Florida Prepaid ‘Tuition Differential Fee’ Doesn’t Entitle Out-of-State Students to Tuition ‘Windfall:’ Appeals Panel,” Florida Record, March 2019
- “New Florida Governor Moves Quickly With Supreme Court Pick, Environmental Plan,” The Wall Street Journal, January 2019
- “11 Names Sent To Fla. Gov.-Elect For 3 High Court Seats,” Law360, November 2018
- “Fla. High Court Nominee Process Can Continue, Justices Say,” Law360, November 2018
-
Affiliations
- Judicial Nominating Commission
- Florida Supreme Court Nominating Commission
- Commissioner, 2008-2019
- Chair, 2016-2019
- Chair, 2009-2010
- Served as Commissioner and Chair during the Crist, Scott, and DeSantis administrations
- Florida Federal Judicial Nominating Commission
- Commissioner, Direct Appointment by Governor Jeb Bush and U.S. Congressman E. Clay Shaw, 2001-2005
- National Republican Congressional Committee, Florida Counsel, 2010 and 2016 elections
- Florida House of Representatives, Redistricting Counsel, 2022, 2012, and 2002 cycles
- Rudy Giuliani Presidential Campaign, Florida Counsel, 2007-2008
- Republican Party of Florida, Election Law Counsel, 2002
- Litigation Counsel to George W. Bush and Richard Cheney, 2000 Presidential Election
- Special Counsel to the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, 1999-2000
- Boards and Commissions Review Panel, Direct Appointment by Governor Jeb Bush, 1999-2000
- UF Health Shands Leadership Council Tallahassee, 2018-present
- University of Florida College of Law, Trustee, 2020-present
-
Credentials
- J.D., University of Florida College of Law, 1993
- B.S.B.A. in Finance, University of Florida, 1990
-
Admissions
- Florida
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
