Clifford B. Shepard obtained his undergraduate degree in journalism (News Writing and Editing) and graduated law school from the University of Florida, where he was a member of the Trial Competition Team, Managing Editor of The Verdict student newspaper, and a member of the law school's student government.  He moved to Orlando in 1985 and began law practice.

 

Cliff's practice developed in the areas of local government law, complex commercial litigation, real estate development, insurance defense and construction law, as well as homeowner and condominium association representation, an area he developed after serving as association president to a 2400 home development in Seminole County.  In 1995, Cliff attained the AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and is listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers®.  Cliff practices and mediates extensively in the areas of government law, employment, defense, real estate, construction law, complex commercial litigation and community association law.  He is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in City, County and Local Government Law and an approved agent for Attorney's Title Insurance Fund.

 

In 1998 Cliff became "Special Counsel" to the City of Maitland, Florida in litigation and real estate matters and in 2002, was selected as City Attorney upon the retirement of the City's former counsel.  He also serves as the Town Attorney for the Town of Ponce Inlet, land use counsel for the Cities of Apopka and Satellite Beach and the General Counsel for the Florida Redevelopment Association.  Additionally, Cliff is a certified Circuit Court and Appellate mediator.

 

Cliff has been named one of the Best Lawyers in America© in the area of Adminstrative & Regulatory Law (2018, 2019). Cliff was also honored by Florida Trend Magazine as one of Florida's Legal Elite™ (2005-2009, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2019) in the areas of Governmental and Administrative Law and Commercial Litigation.  Each year the magazine names a new group of top lawyers who have earned the confidence of those who know their work the best.  Attorneys and judges throughout Florida were asked to name lawyers whom they hold in the highest regard - lawyers they have worked with or would recommend to others.  The Legal Elite™ represent the top 1.2% of the Florida Bar members who practice in the state.   Cliff was also named a "Florida Super Lawyers"® (2005-2019) by Law & Politics Magazine.  "Florida Super Lawyers"® is a consumer's guide to the best attorneys in the state.

 

Cliff is a member in good standing of the Florida (1985), Tennessee (2006) and District of Columbia (1988) Bar Associations, is a current member of the City, County and Local Government Law Section of the Florida Bar.  While he has served as an active member of a number of professional organizations, of particular note is his service as:

 

 

Cliff is a frequent speaker at continuing education seminars and has been a presenter on issues involving special districts, local government law, construction, defense, real estate, and association law and has written a number of articles within these areas.

 

Community service has also been a staple of Cliff's personal and professional life.  Most recently he served on the Board of Trustees for The Christ School, a Christian K-8 private school in downtown Orlando.  He has served as a member of the Land Planning Agency for the City of Oviedo and as a member of the Board of Directors of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Central Florida.  He has also served as the Chairman of the Board for Kids Beating Cancer, Inc., a multiple award-winning local charity that assists families touched by childhood cancer through the recruitment, DNA testing and matching of potential bone marrow donors to patients whose best hope for a cure is a bone marrow transplant.  Cliff also serves as a court appointed guardian-ad-litem to children who have been abused, abandoned or neglected by their parents.

 

He is married to wife Mary, and has three adult children - Tyler, Morgan and Spencer.