Martha H. Chumbler

Overview

Martha ("Marti") Chumbler practices primarily in the area of state administrative law. She has substantial experience in public procurement by state and local agencies and in protests of government procurement decisions.

Her experience incorporates significant involvement with state and local taxes, licenses, permits, and other approvals by state agencies, including AHCA, DBPR, DEP, and DFS, land use, public records and open meetings, and environmental matters, including agency negotiations and formal proceedings before agencies, the Division of Administrative Hearings, and the Governor and Cabinet.

Marti also has substantial experience representing clients in challenges to the rules and policies of state agencies.

She is board certified in State and Federal Government and Administrative Practice by The Florida Bar.

Featured Insights

Administrative Litigation and Appeals

Carlton Fields Attorney Marti Chumbler Featured in FSU Law Focus

News

Government Law & Consulting

Carlton Fields’ Martha H. Chumbler Named Chair of ABA Section of State and Local Government Law

News

Government Affairs and Lobbying

Carlton Fields’ Martha H. Chumbler Quoted in Florida Politics About Florida Competitive Workforce Act

News

Experience

• Represented manufacturer in rule challenge involving establishment of total maximum loads in surface water body.
• Represented manufacturer in proceeding involving remediation of formal manufacturing facility.
• Represented construction industry associations in various rule challenges.
• Represented major real estate development companies in proceedings relating to environmental resource and consumptive use permits, zoning, annexation, developments of regional impact, and comprehensive plan amendments.
• Represented property owners in proceedings involving coastal construction permitting.
• Represented mitigation bank in challenge of competing mitigation bank’s permit.
• Represented state contractors in negotiations regarding disputed contract provisions.
• Represented service provider in procurement protest challenging an award of substance abuse treatment services to prison inmates.
• Represented Medicaid recipients in administrative challenges to denial of coverage.
• Represented Medicaid managed care provider in procurement protest involving award of Medicaid managed care contracts.
• Represented clients seeking certificates of need and other approval of health care facilities.
• Represented client seeking approval as Medicaid provider.
• Represented major private correctional services provider in procurement protests, contract negotiations, and contract disputes.
• Represented major provider of mental health services in procurement protests and contract negotiations.
• Represented both vendor and service providers, as well as public entities themselves, in all phases of the procurement process.
• Represented businesses in challenge to Florida tax assessments.
• Represented businesses in proceedings involving Florida tax refunds.
• Represented private providers of correctional, psychiatric services, and juvenile justice.
• Represented provider of online lottery services to Florida Lottery.
• Represented school districts in development of procurement procedures.
• Represented provider of electronic government services.
• Represented major video game retailer in challenge to state sales tax rule.
• Represented various professionals in connection with their state licensure.
• Represented pharmaceutical companies in proceedings involving licensure and enforcement.
• Represented health care entities in licensure and enforcement proceedings.
• Represented government contractors and quasi-government entities regarding applicability of and compliance with public records and open meetings law.
• Represented local government in development and defense of comprehensive plan amendments.
• Represented school superintendents in disputes with school boards.
• Represented numerous taxpayers, including local governments, in informal and formal protests of state and use tax audits.

Recognition

• Board Certified in State and Federal Government and Administrative Practice by The Florida Bar
• AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• The Best Lawyers in America
  • ​Government Relations Practice, Litigation – Environmental, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning (2006–2021)
  • Tallahassee "Lawyer of the Year"
    • Government Relations Practice (2016)
    • Litigation – Land Use and Zoning (2013)
• Florida Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers Magazine (2007–2009, 2013–2020)

Professional & Community Involvement

• American Bar Association 
  • Chair, State and Local Government Law Section 
  • Section of Public Contract Law
• The Florida Bar 
  • Chair (2015–2016); Member (2013–2018), State and Federal Government and Administrative Practice Certification Committee
  • Administrative Law Section (1984–present)
• Big Bend Habitat for Humanity 
  • Board Chair (2010–2012)
  • Board Member (2007–2014, 2016–present)
• Guardian ad Litem, Second Judicial Circuit of Florida
• Trinity United Methodist Church (1976–present)
  • Chair, Church Council (2014–2016)
  • Co-Chair, Adult Ministries and Congregational Connections (2016–present)

Speaking Engagements

• "Government Transparency & Open Meetings: Is It a Meeting When No One's in the Same Room?," ABA Section of State and Local Government Law Spring Meeting (May 19, 2020)
• "Public Private Partnerships," Land Use Institute (2018)
• “How to React When You Get an In-Person Public Records Request,” Florida Association of District School Superintendents (2017)
• “Urban Agriculture: Land Use and Zoning Tools,” ABA Section of State and Local Government Law (2017)
• "Land Use Regulation of Marijuana Cultivation: What Authority Is Left to Local Government?," Joint Meeting of the ABA State and Local Government Law, Public Contract Law, and Civil Rights and Social Justice Section and Forum on Affordable Housing (2017)
• “Government Procurement 101,” Joint Meeting of the ABA State and Local Government Law and Public Contract Law Sections (2016)
• “Legal Issues Affecting Superintendents,” Florida Association of District School Superintendents (2016)
• “Handling the Mega-Procurement,” Joint Meeting of the ABA State and Local Government Law and Public Contract Law Sections (2015)
• "Governmental Outsourcing and Its Ethical Implications," Joint Meeting of the ABA State and Local Government and Public Contract Law Sections (2013)
• “Public Contracting: From Plain Vanilla to Double Rocky Road with a Raspberry Swirl,” 34th Annual Local Government Law Conference (2013)
• “Public Records in Private Hands: NCAA v. AP,” ABA State and Local Government Law Section (2010)
• “Competitive Procurement Under the Florida APA,” The Florida Bar Administrative Law Section (2010)
• “Procurement Variations at the Local and State Level," "Negotiation of Contract Terms and Conditions," "Contracting for All to See: The Application of Government in the Sunshine Laws to Public Procurement," and "The Ethics of Public Procurement: Winning the Contract Without Losing Your Freedom or Reputation," Lorman Education Services (2008)

Credentials

Background

• Assistant General Counsel, Florida Department of Environmental Regulation (1980–1984)
• Administrative and Executive Clerk to the Honorable Arthur J. England Jr., Florida Supreme Court (1978–1980)

Areas of Focus