Former Broward County Attorney Joni Armstrong Coffey has joined Akerman's land use and development practice as a partner in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale offices.

Land use attorney Neisen Kasdin, managing partner of the firm's Miami office, cited the depth of Coffey's experience in land use regulatory and litigation matters to help in the firm's representation of clients working with government agencies.

Florida Bar-board certified in city, county and local government, Coffey focuses her practice on local government issues with an emphasis on land use regulation and litigation. She also has dealt with government procurement and contracts.

Coffey is a former assistant Miami-Dade County attorney and headed its zoning, land use and environment section.

She is a former chair of the bar's board of legal specialization and education and its city, county and local government law section. She also is an adjunct law professor at Florida International University and St. Thomas University.

“Akerman has been at the forefront of many important land use regulations and policy issues, and I look forward to leveraging my experience in advancing those efforts for our clients,” Coffey said.

Akerman's real estate attorneys and planners have worked on projects including Brickell City Centre, Miami Beach's Faena District, Miami's Wynwood transformation and the Miami Design District.

Akerman has more than 650 lawyers and business professionals and was ranked 76th on last year's Am Law 100 list of the largest U.S. law firms by revenue at $349 million.