Home People Rafael A. Paz

Rafael A. Paz

Partner
305-350-7235
Hablo Español
Area of Focus: Land Development & Government Relations, Public-Private Partnerships, Government Contracting
Rafael A. Paz
Partner
305-350-7235
  • OVERVIEW
  • EXPERIENCE
  • INSIGHTS
  • CREDENTIALS
  • PRACTICES
GET TO KNOW RAFAEL

Rafael Paz, former City Attorney for the City of Miami Beach, is a Partner in the firm’s Land Development & Government Relations Group where he focuses his practice on land use and zoning matters, government relations, and public-private partnerships. Rafael advises on transit-oriented and master-planned developments, and the negotiation of government contracts for infrastructure projects and public-private partnerships.

Rafael brings a deep understanding of the stakeholder and political dynamics that shape real estate developments from his ten year tenure with the City of Miami Beach, where he regularly counseled the City Commission and staff on all aspects of the City’s governmental operations and major capital initiatives, including the City’s convention center and related headquarter hotel project, workforce housing facilities, marina facilities, resiliency-related infrastructure projects, and mixed-use redevelopments.

Q & A
What do you find most rewarding about your practice?
My practice is dedicated to advising clients on all aspects of public-private partnerships, from the initial proposal stage to the negotiation and drafting of complex agreements, to post-award project execution and compliance. This ‘life-cycle’ approach to advising clients is rewarding because it is inherently collaborative and involves working with clients and their P3 partners to identify solutions and mitigate risks on a myriad of issues that could impact the viability of a project.
What makes Bilzin Sumberg’s public-practice partnerships practice unique?
One unique aspect of our P3 practice group is that we represent clients on both sides of the P3 ‘aisle’, whether it is a private developer seeking a ground lease of public property, or a local government using a P3 delivery model to advance its objectives. Working closely with both private clients and public clients in different jurisdictions throughout the State of Florida gives us a more nuanced understanding of how the various parties to a transaction may view or respond to any given legal, business or political issue. We bring that experience to bear to help our clients develop the strategies to successfully work through the issues to get their deals done and accomplish their goals.
EXPERIENCE
Experience
$2 Billion Private-Public Development for the City of Pompano Beach
Successful representation of the City of Pompano Beach and Pompano Beach Community Redevelopment Agency in connection with the negotiation of project development agreements, including a master developmentagreement, purchase and sale agreement, ground leases, and build-to-suit subleases, for the publ...
Experience
$500 Million Mixed-Use P3 Development on County-Owned Land
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
Land Swap for Expansion of Miami Dade College Medical Campus
Counsel to Miami Dade College in connection with a land exchange agreement with Miami-Dade County for an expansion of the College’s medical campus.
INSIGHTS
Blog April 4, 2025
Proposed Bill Would Impact Economic Development Efforts within CRAs
The Community Redevelopment Act of 1969 authorizes counties and municipalities to create CRAs as a means for redeveloping slums and blighted areas in the community. The Florida Legislature is currently considering a proposed bill (HB 991/SB 1242), which would dramatically limit the impact and operat...
Speaking Engagement January 30, 2025
Focus Session: Laws & Rules and Ethics
Rafael A. Paz presents the “Focus Session: Laws & Rules and Ethics”at TeamFL's Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida. TeamFLfacilitate the exchange of information among toll agencies and the transportation industry.
Blog January 23, 2025
Update on Local Government P3 Implementing Procedures Following Adoption of Majo...
Last year, the Florida Legislature enacted HB 781, expanding the statutory framework for public-private partnerships (P3s) in Florida. The amendments to Section 255.065 of the Florida Statutes streamlined the process for review of unsolicited proposals, and provides local governments with the flexib...
Government Procurement and P3 Insights Blog October 1, 2024
Delivering the Key to the City: Special Considerations in City Hall P3s
A number of municipalities have recently issued, or are contemplating, competitive solicitations for public-private partnerships (“P3s”) to deliver new municipal facilities, typically as part of a transformative “town center” or “downtown” redevelopment project. A...
Blog July 11, 2024
Student Housing P3s: A Model for Local Government Workforce Housing Solutions?
For many years now, colleges and universities have looked to public-private partnerships (P3s) as the vehicle for delivering modern, apartment-style student housing facilities with quality amenities that enhance the overall student experience.Amid a broader context of a statewide affordable housing ...
CREDENTIALS
  • University of Pennsylvania, J.D., 1998
    Florida International University, B.A., 1995
  • Florida
  • Spanish
PRACTICES
Land Use & Zoning Government Contracting Public-Private Partnerships