FIU President’s Council Taps Partner to Lead Group

MELISSA TAPANES LLAHUES NAMED CHAIR-ELECT OF FIU PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL

Melissa Tapanes Llahues, a shareholder of Miami zoning, land use and environmental law firm Bercow Radell & Fernandez, has been  named Chair-Elect of the President’s Council at Florida International University for the 2015-2017 term.

The President’s Council is FIU’s premier community relations board. It is comprised of business and civic leaders who act as brand ambassadors and advocates for FIU, influencing students by contributing their business and life experience.

The council also serves as the link between business and academia. Through a variety of formal and informal brainstorming sessions, the council brings the needs of the business community into the classroom. It also helps FIU build community networks to achieve affinity, promote the FIU brand and develop strategic fundraising and civic goals.

A South Florida native, Melissa has deep ties to the community. Recently, Commissioner Marc Sarnoff appointed her as one of 13 members comprising the City of Miami Charter Review & Review Committee, which will make recommendations for changes to the charter to the city commission.

She was named “Director of the Year” by the Latin Builders Association® (LBA) and spearheads the 40-year old organization’s legislative affairs as an Executive Director and Chairwoman of the Political Action Committee.  In addition, Melissa serves as Chairwoman of the Florida International University President’s Council World’s Ahead Faculty Award Committee. She is also a member of the Miami chapter of Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW). Recently, she served as Chairwoman of the City of Doral’s Doral Design District Steering Committee.

Melissa has been consistently named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers, an “Up and Comer” by Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, and by numerous Who’s Who publications. Bercow Radell & Fernandez was recently ranked in the highest category of service and experience by U.S. News – Best Lawyers.

 As a shareholder of Bercow Radell & Fernandez, she and her colleagues have been at the forefront of Miami-Dade County’s phenomenal growth, guiding their clients on all aspects of local, state and federal real estate permitting and licensing, zoning approvals, amendments of local government comprehensive plans, developments of regional impacts (DRIs), due diligence reviews, growth management, concurrency and environmental matters.

The firm’s clients include Lennar Homes, Landmark Companies, Turnberry Associates, Florida Power and Light Company, Leon Medical Centers and Public Storage.

Bercow Radell & Fernandez, located at 200 S. Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 850, Miami, was established in 1996.

For more information, contact (305) 374-5300 or visit www.brzoninglaw.com.