T 954.761.8111
F 954.761.8112
Fort Lauderdale
401 East Las Olas Boulevard
Suite 1000
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301
Gary was born in Newark, New Jersey. After receiving his bachelor's from Bucknell University, Gary attended Rutgers University School of Law, where he received his juris doctor with honors and was editor of Rutgers Law Journal. Prior to joining the firm, Gary was the director of law and public policy for MediaOne, one of the nation's largest cable and broadband companies, and was responsible for, among other things, its legal, regulatory, and Florida and federal government affairs programs.
Gary is a shareholder with the firm and concentrates his practice in the representation of local governments and private clients in government and regulatory affairs, communications and cable law, utilities, charter schools and use of rights-of-way.
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Education
- Bucknell University, B.A. (1982)
- Rutgers University School of Law, J.D. (with honors, 1985)
- Rutgers Law Journal, Associate Editor, 1984-1985
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Admissions
- Florida
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
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Professional Associations and Memberships
- City of Wilton Manors, Florida
- Mayor, 2008 - 2018
- City Commissioner, 1998 - 2008, 2018 - 2022
- American Red Cross, Broward County Chapter
- Florida Department of Revenue
- Communications Services Tax Working Group, Member, 2012 - 2013
- Broward League of Cities
- President (2009 - 2010)
- Treasurer
- Board of Directors (1998-2022)
- Legislative Advocacy Committee, Chair
- Florida League of Cities
- Board of Directors, 2003 - 2022
- Executive Committee, 2009 - 2011
- Technology Leadership Committee, Chair, 2013
- Florida League of Mayors
- Board of Directors, 2009 - 2016
- Alzheimer's Family Center, Trustee
- Vice President of the Board, 2001 - 2015
- Children's Home Society
- Federal Communications Commission
- Intergovernmental Advisory Committee, 2004 - 2016
- National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors
- Board of Directors, 2005 - 2006
- National League of Cities
- Board of Directors, 2018 - 2022
- Information Technology and Communications Committee
- Chair, 2017 - 2018
- Vice Chair, 2016 - 2017
- Member, 2006 - 2022
- Florida Chapter of NATOA, Founding Member and President of the Board of Directors
- Multifamily Broadband Council, formerly known as Independent Multi-Family Communications Council
- Board of Directors, 2009 - 2021
- The Golden Rule Foundation
- Community Advisory Council
- President
- Broward Days
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Awards and Recognitions
- Best Lawyers in America, 2020-2025
- Communications Law
- Government Relations Practice, Lawyer of the Year, 2022, 2024
- South Florida Business Journal of Pride, Honoree
- "Top Lawyer," Fort Lauderdale Illustrated, 2020-2021
- National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA), Jane E. Lawton Commemorative Award, 2017
- Florida League of Cities, Home Rule Hero Award, 2016-2019, 2021
- South Florida Legal Guide, Top Attorney in South Florida, 2005-2006, 2008-2010
- National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, Ovation Award, 2012
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Insights
- "GrayRobinson Real Estate and Land Use Section: FCC Issues Order Regarding Ringless Voicemails," November 28, 2022
- "Use of Public Rights-of-Way for Wireless Communications Infrastructure — A Game Changer," Inside Towers, December 2016
- "Pressure North Carolina to Change Discriminatory Law," Sun Sentinel, April 2016
- "Florida Communications Services Tax and the Digital Subscriber Line: To Tax or Not to Tax?," The Florida Bar Journal, April 2003
- "Before All Havoc Breaks Out: The Need for Local Governments to Regulate the Use of Their Rights-of-Way Under Florida's Communications Services Tax Simplification Law, The Agenda City, County and Local Government Law Section," The Florida Bar Journal, May 2001
- "Responding to a Cable Operator's Petition for Effective Competition: How One Community Succeeded in Fighting a Petition," The Agenda, Published by the City, County, and Local Government Law Section of The Florida Bar, 2004
- "Focusing on States: A Brave New World," Journal of Municipal Telecommunications Policy, Winter 2004
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Presentations and Seminars
- U.S. Senate Testimony: Testified before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation at the hearing, "Rebuilding Infrastructure in America: Investing in Next Generation Broadband," March 13, 2018.
- U.S. Senate Testimony: Testified before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation at the hearing, "Investing in America’s Broadband Infrastructure: Exploring Ways to Reduce Barriers to Deployment," May 3, 2017.
- U.S. Senate Testimony: Testified at the invitation of Senator John Thune, chair, and request of Senator William Nelson, vice chair, at the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing entitled "Removing Barriers to Wireless Broadband Deployment," October 7, 2015.
- "The 411 on 5G/Small Cell (State Law and FCC)," Florida League of Cities' 93rd Annual Conference, August 15-17, 2019
- "The 411 on 5G/Small Cell (State Law and FCC)," National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) eNATOA Webinar, "Wireless Facilities Regulation: What's Left for Locals?," August 12, 2019
- "5G/Small Cell Update (State Law and FCC)," Florida Municipal Attorneys Association Seminar, July 11-13, 2019
- "Update on Florida and Federal Communications Law," The Broward County Bar Association, Government Section, April 2, 2019
- Panelist, Next Century 5G Webinar, April 12, 2018
- "Collocation of Wireless Telecommunications Devices on Utility Poles – The New Law," The Florida Bar Public Utilities Law Committee in collaboration with the Energy Bar Association, "Florida Electric, Renewable and Telecommunications Updates: the Interplay of Federal, State and Local Jurisdictions," Tampa, Florida, October 6, 2017
- "Telecom Update 2017," National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA), 2017 Annual Conference, Seattle, Washington, September 14, 2017
- "Attack Of Small Cell Facilities In The Rights Of Way," Florida League of Cities (FLC) Legislative Policy Committee Meeting, July 14, 2017
- "Attack of the Mini Cell Towers in Public Rights-of-Way," Florida Association of Counties Attorneys (FACA) CLE program, Florida Association of Counties (FAC) 2017 Annual Conference and Educational Exposition, Palm Beach, Florida, June 29, 2017
- "Understanding Communication Infrastructure Challenges," Florida League of Cities Legislative Conference, Orlando, FL, December 8, 2016
- "Practical Strategies for Overcoming Obstacles to Infrastructure Deployment," National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association), 2016 Legal Seminar, Miami, FL, October 31, 2016
- "DAS and Small Cell Deployments: Perspectives From Local Government," Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) HetNet Expo, Houston, TX, October 26, 2016
- "Telecom Infrastructure: Competing for Access," National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA), 2016 Annual Conference, Austin, TX, September 22, 2016
- "Exclusive from Your Top City Officials: Wilton Manors, Oakland Park and Uptown Fort Lauderdale," Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, September 29, 2016
- "Problem in the Rights of Way: Wireless Siting Concerns," National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors' (NATOA) Webinar, June 21, 2016
- "Community Broadband: Broadband Legislative Update," 15th Anniversary Annual Broadband and PEG Conference, SouthEast Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors Conference (SEATOA), St. Augustine, FL, March 15, 2016
- "The Courts, The Hill and The FCC – A Year in Review and Setting the Stage for 2016," National Association of Telecommunications Officers And Advisors’ (NATOA) Webinar, December 14, 2015
- "Update on Wireless Communications Facilities," Board of Directors Meeting, The Palm Beach County League of Cities, Inc., West Palm Beach, FL, October 28, 2015
- "Removing Barriers to Wireless Broadband Deployment," The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Washington, D.C., October 7, 2015
- "The FCC's New Wireless-Service-Facility Rules," Florida Municipal Attorneys Association (FMAA) 34th Annual Seminar, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, July 9-11, 2015
- "Information Technology and Communications (ITC) Policy and Advocacy Committee Meeting," National League of Cities Congressional City Conference, Washington, D.C., March 8, 2015
- "Charting Our Cities," Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, Oakland Park Wilton Manors and Uptown Council Luncheon, October 2, 2014
- Panel speaker, "Florida's Model for Communications Regulations," Advanced Communications Law and Policy Institute Summit, New York City, January 15-17, 2014
- "The Courts, The Hill and The FCC – A Year in Review and Setting the Stage for 2014," National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors Webinar, December 2, 2013
- "Implications of the IP Transition for Legal and Regulatory Policy," National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors Annual Conference, Orlando, Florida, September 16, 2013
- "Communications Facilities in Rights of Way," National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors Annual Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana, September 29, 2012
- "Legal Leaders," 2012 Broadband Communities Summit, Dallas, Texas, April 25, 2012
- "Legal Jobs in the Communications Field," University of Miami School of Law, March 5, 2012
- "Walkable Cities Enhancing Communities: Complete Streets Issues and Initiatives," The Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization Seminar, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, May 24, 2011
- Featured Speaker, 8th Annual Broadband Properties Summit, Dallas, Texas, April 28, 2011
- Featured Speaker, 7th Annual Broadband Properties Summit, Dallas, Texas, April 28, 2010
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Civic
- Leadership Florida, Class XXXV
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Media Mentions
- "Law360's 2022 Telecommunications Editorial Advisory Board," Law360, April 29, 2022