Diana C. Mendez

Partner
305-350-2394
Hablo Español
Area of Focus: Public-Private Partnerships, Government Contracting
Diana C. Mendez
Partner
305-350-2394
  • OVERVIEW
  • EXPERIENCE
  • INSIGHTS
  • CREDENTIALS
  • PRACTICES
GET TO KNOW DIANA

As a member of Bilzin Sumberg's Public-Private Partnerships (P3) & Government Contracting team, Diana C. Mendez counsels real estate developers, infrastructure companies, public utilities, transportation companies, design and engineering firms, and diverse concessionaires on matters involving public administrative, procurement, and transactional law. She advises clients through all phases of the government procurement process, including teaming arrangements, proposal preparation, responsiveness and responsibility review, minority and disadvantaged business enterprise certifications, contract negotiations, administrative bid protests, and bid protest litigation. 

Diana’s experience covers some of South Florida’s most complex developments and public-private transactions, including major infrastructure projects, public utilities, mass transit systems and transportation-related assets, and transit-oriented development. She also represents government contractors (in addition to real estate companies) in bid protest matters.

Q & A
Where do you see the biggest opportunities for government contracting in South Florida?
Certainly, both investment in transportation infrastructure and P3-based transit-oriented developments are going to soar in the years ahead. The urban corridor connecting Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties is growing rapidly demographically and economically. Like many other major metropolitan areas, this corner of Florida will turn to mass transit and greater transit-oriented development to meet the demands of this growth. Whether it’s constructing new rail lines, expanding ports and airports, or developing the residential and commercial nodes that complement them, the industry players pursuing the related procurement opportunities will need a sophisticated understanding of the local business, legal, and political issues involved to achieve success. 
What most excites you about working on P3 projects?
Public-private partnerships are typically complex transactions that have many moving parts to manage and navigate, but because of that complexity, they lend themselves to collaborative approaches at all levels to bring the project to fruition. These transactions require collaboration between the private and public sectors to provide a public good, between numerous stakeholders who reap the long-term benefits of the transaction, and between the multidisciplinary teams that make the project a reality. I find the coordination of the various policy, legal and political issues inherent in every P3 project exciting, but their challenging nature also means that experienced counsel is critical to navigating the nuances of each one. 
EXPERIENCE
Experience
Representation of a developer in negotiating the assignment of an existing lease agreement for a recreational automobile club on a 165-acre property owned by Miami-Dade County. Also negotiated a lease amendment for the development of a mixed use project on the property consisting of recreation and s...
Experience
Successful representation of local developerin preparing aproposal for a $464 million mixed-use transit-oriented development, resulting inaward of the projectand lease agreement with Miami-Dade County.Assisted with negotiations of lease and development agreement for 7-acre development that included ...
Experience
Representationof a CNG company in preparing a first-of-its-kindproposal and negotiating a ten-year, $330 millioncontract for two public-access fueling stationsto support hundreds ofcompressed natural gas-powered buses for theMiami-Dade County transit system. Also successfully defended contract award...
Experience
Successful representation of Related Urban Development Group (RUDG), an affordable and workforce housing developer, in connection with a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the development of a mixed-income, mixed-use, transit oriented development (TOD) on property owned by Miami-Dade County adjacent to...
Experience
Counsel General Contractor/Construction Management firm in navigating the county procurement process for Design-Build Services for an employee parking garage at a major American international airport. Advice included performing responsiveness and responsibility reviews of proposals received by count...
Experience
Successful representation ofa global aircraft manufacturerinvolving a $43 million contractto produce four helicopters for the Miami-Dade Police Department.
INSIGHTS
Blog August 14, 2024
On May 7, 2024, significant changes were made to the procurement landscape for Architectural and Engineering (A&E) firms in Miami-Dade County. The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners approved Ordinance No. 24-47, which introduces a Locally Headquartered Business (LHB) program that provides ...
Blog March 28, 2024
Handling over 52.3 million travelers in 2023, the Miami International Airport has emerged as a leading hub for international passenger traffic in the U.S. Explore the successful implementation of P3s in airport infrastructure development, drawing insights from prominent case studies such as the LaGu...
Client Alert January 3, 2024
Earlier this year, the State of Florida enacted a law that continues to have significant implications for employers across the Sunshine State. On May 10, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law SB1718, now Section 448.095, Florida Statutes (“Section 448.095”), which requires private ...
Speaking Engagement December 6, 2023
Diana C. Mendez speaks at the P3 Government Conference on the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice in Infrastructure panel. The panel discusses how to address diversity and equity in infrastructure and how these values can be furthered through public-private partnership programs.
Blog November 20, 2023
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced that the County has received “$296,417,177 in infrastructure grantsfrom the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act [(“IIJA”)] and the Inflation Reduction Act [(“IRA”)]”. These funds are being used on a variety...
Publication October 23, 2023
One of the most significant transit projects in Florida history reached a new milestone last month when the Brightline rail system expanded its service from South Florida to Orlando.
CREDENTIALS
  • American University, J.D., cum laude, 2010
    American University, M.A., International Relations, 2010
    Florida International University, B.A., magna cum laude, 2006
  • Florida Association for Women Lawyers
    Miami-Dade Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, President, 2022-2023
    American Bar Association

    Public Contracts Law Section
      State and Local Procurement Committee, Co-Chair, 2023 - present
      Public Procurement Symposium, Co-Chair, 2023
      Steering Committee for the Revision of the Model Procurement Code, Member, 2024 - present

    The Florida Bar
    Administrative Law Section
    Miami-Dade County
    Commission for Women, Former Board Member
    New Leaders Council
    Miami Chapter, Fellow, 2017
    PACE Center for Girls
    Board of Directors, Member, 2023 - present
    The Florida Bar
    City, County and Local Government Law Section, 2016 - present
    Young Professionals in Infrastructure
    Board Member, 2023
  • District of Columbia
    Florida
  • Florida Super Lawyers, Florida Rising Stars, Government Contracts, 2018 - present
    Florida Association for Women Lawyers (FAWL), Leaders in the Law, 2019 - 2020
  • Spanish