Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman, P.L. announces that Sarah L. Johnston has joined the firm as Of Counsel. She will be part of the firm’s Government and Labor & Employment divisions.
Based in Tampa, Johnston’s extensive experience includes representing municipalities in procurement, land use and zoning, public finance, public utilities, real estate, Public/Private Partnerships (P3), Community Redevelopment Agencies, and legislative matters.
Before joining the firm, Johnston served as City Attorney and Assistant Town Attorney for two coastal cities in Miami-Dade County. She also served as the lead attorney on numerous procurement matters and P3’s, including negotiating a P3 with an internationally branded soccer academy and charter school and a $400 million contract for the maintenance, operations and capital projects program for the second-largest water utility in Miami-Dade County.
Johnston has provided counsel on Sunshine Law compliance, state and local ethics, election matters, the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA), grant applications, bond issuance and labor union negotiations. She also served as counsel on various charter review committees.
“We enthusiastically welcome Sarah to the ranks of our strong attorney talent” said Firm Managing Director Mitch Burnstein. “Sarah’s diverse legal background will be a major benefit to our public and private sector clients, and her presence in Tampa reflects our commitment to serving our growing client base on the west coast.”
Johnston earned her Juris Doctor from St. Thomas University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from University of Central Florida. She is a member of The Florida Bar’s City, County and Local Government Section and the Florida Municipal Attorneys Association.
