Stephanie J. Toothaker, Esq. / Chairwoman & Chief Strategist TOOTHAKER.org
Stephanie is a Martindale Hubbell AV rated attorney, and much more. Regularly recognized as a SuperLawyer and by Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, she guides clients with her sophisticated approach to governmental relations and procurement. Representing private equity firms, innovative companies, and entrepreneurial individuals seeking complex land development entitlements, her specific expertise on these matters is focused on innovative activation of property rights, public/private P3 initiatives, complex mixed-use projects, land use plan amendments, zoning modifications and site plan approvals in the commercial, residential, sporting, and hospitality sectors.
Stephanie is an effective advocate at the Federal, State, and regional and local level, regularly representing clients before governmental entities throughout South Florida. She is consistently recognized for her unique ability to seamlessly navigate multi-agency processes, efficiently manage the government relations process, and achieve success with aggressive timelines.
Stephanie’s practice also includes niche representation for European-style sporting and destination lifestyle events with worldwide television coverage. With clients that include David Beckham's InterMiami, Seaglass Rose Experience, Red Bull Global Rallycross, Swatch Volleyball World Championships, Key West Race Week, the Lauderdale Yacht Club, Lighthouse Point Yacht Club and Informa, the producer of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show - the largest boat show in the world - and the Monaco, Palm Beach and Miami Boat Show, she has a proven ability to leverage resources and relationships, meet challenging deadlines, and enable profitable outcomes with global reach.
Her impressive understanding of public policy at the nexus of government and private entities has as its foundation her deep experience in the national political arena. Stephanie served as special counsel to U.S. Senator Bob Graham, where she was the first female and youngest in history to serve in that capacity. In 2004, she served on the Kerry-Edwards legal team; Stephanie was co-lead counsel for Broward County for the Obama-Biden legal team and more recently chaired Gwen Graham's campaign for Governor.
The bottom line is Stephanie delivers serious results. Under Stephanie's leadership, David Beckham’s Inter Miami Lockhart Soccer stadium facility was approved -- and built -- in 13 months, she lead the Tavistock team through approval of the Landmark Pier 66 reimagining, represented Lionheart and Fortune in their approvals of the Ritz Carlton Residences at 1380 South Ocean Boulevard, the tallest building in Pompano Beach, was responsible for Cymbal Development’s Marina Lofts multi-jurisdictional project (Now Raintree Riverwalk Residences), represented Thor’s Beach Place, OTO and later Key Development’s AC Marriott, Summit's Residence Inn by Marriott, Roger Penske’s first-of-it’s-kind South Florida Porsche Concept Dealership, F3 Boat Club - a $35 million state-of-the-art dry stack marina, Moderno’s Rivr Lofts, Jefferson Apartment Group’s Flagler Creative; assisted the Thorton Family and Madroom Hospitality through the re-imagination of the historic Mai Kai, she led approvals for a 523,000 square foot commercial/industrial park in Davie, Brookfield’s Marina Hilton stunning new event addition, Kolter’s groundbreaking Selene - the tallest buildings on Fort Lauderdale Beach - and she leads Kushner Company’s groundbreaking new Broward Crossing. Stephanie is a recognized leader in Medical Marijuana permitting and approval, and was responsible for the State Legislature's landmark legislation amending Florida law to change the legal boundaries of both Broward and Palm Beach Counties for the property commonly referred to as the Wedge. All cutting edge projects with transformational results.
Stephanie has been a regular contributor to Florida Trend and is involved with a broad range of civic organizations throughout South Florida including the NSU Museum of Art, Jack & Jill and the Transportation Management Association. Stephanie is on the Board of the University of Florida College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Bob Graham Center. Stephanie is the first and only woman to serve as a Governor, Rear Commodore, Vice Commodore and Commodore - of the Lauderdale Yacht Club founded in 1938. Stephanie is Board Member of the Downton Development Authority. She was previously a Director and Head of the Land Use & Zoning Practice at Tripp Scott, and a partner with Ruden McClosky and Blosser & Sayfie.