Tampa, Fla. – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday announced the appointment of Shumaker attorney and Shumaker Advisors’ Melanie Griffin (PHOTO ATTACHED) as Secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). A graduate of Florida State University (FSU), (Business Finance, 2003; MBA, 2006; JD, 2006), Melanie serves Shumaker’s legal clients as an of counsel attorney and Shumaker Advisors’ clients as senior advisor business-to-business relationships.
“I am excited to get to work advancing Governor DeSantis’ pro-business agenda,” Melanie said. “Florida is the best in the nation for business owners and I’m elated for the opportunity to further advocate on behalf of the business community.”
“I personally know Secretary Griffin and can attest to her passion for service. We will be working closely together during the weeks ahead to make a seamless transition as we continue to support the DBPR team in ongoing initiatives and the Pari-Mutuel Wagering Type 2 Transfer to Florida Gaming Control Commission,” said former Shumaker attorney and current Secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Julie Brown.
“I’m so pleased for Melanie to have this opportunity to service the citizens of the state of Florida,” added Ron Christaldi, Shumaker’s Tampa Managing Partner and President/CEO of Shumaker Advisors Florida. “With her depth of experience and her understanding of the business community, she will be an excellent leader of this important state agency.”
The President of the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers Executive Board of Directors, Melanie also serves on the FSU College of Law Board of Visitors and is a fellow of The Florida Bar Foundation. She is also the founder and owner of Spread Your Sunshine, a business that provides speaking and professional training services and designs, manufactures, and sells inspirational products and gifts.
Maintaining an AV Preeminent™ rating by Martindale–Hubbell since her fourth year of practice, Melanie has advised and represented businesses of all sizes and types in commercial disputes and litigation, ranging from simple breach of contract actions to complex commercial cases involving intellectual property issues, real estate actions, non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, tortious interference with contracts and business relationships, and substantive employment law issues such as harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. She has also represented individuals and entities in trust and estate litigation, having handled several multimillion dollar disputes for prominent Florida families.
As a result of her significant contributions to the legal community, Melanie has been recognized in Super Lawyers (Rising Star, Business Litigation 2010-20; Commercial Litigation, 2021-22), Florida Trend Legal Elite (Up & Comer 2010-14, Commercial Litigation 2014-18, 2021), and Best Lawyers in America (Commercial Litigation 2017-22). She is the recipient of some of Florida’s highest legal honors, including Florida’s Most Productive Young Lawyer Award (2009), Tampa Bay Business Journal Business Woman of the Year Legal Services Finalist and Angie Joseph Excellence in Mentorship Award (2016), The Florida Bar YLD Outstanding Woman Lawyer of Achievement Award (2018), The Florida Bar SSFS Mentor of the Year Award (2019), and FSU College of Law Alumni Association Service Award (2020). In 2019, Melanie was one of 50 women lawyers in the U.S. and Canada selected for inclusion in the book 50 Lessons for Women Lawyers from Women Lawyers. Her Lesson, Dream Beyond Perfection! is published as Lesson #20.
Shumaker Advisors has established itself as one of the most impressive and fastest growing public affairs firms in Florida. In recent months, Shumaker has added former Hillsborough County Commissioners Lesley “Les” Miller, Jr. (also former minority leader in the Florida House and the Florida Senate) and Sandra “Sandy” Murman (also former speaker pro tem of the Florida House), as well as Suskey Consulting Founder Alan J. Suskey along with lobbyist RJ Myers, longtime Chief Assistant Hillsborough County Attorney Jennie Granahan Tarr, former South Carolina Governor and Congressman Mark Sanford, Michael R. McKinley (Charlotte County’s first ever assistant county attorney), and former Congressional Chief of Staff Ryan Walker to an already impressive team that includes Christaldi, Congressman David Jolly (ret.), Amy Maguire, Mike Hamby, Melanie Griffin, Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward (ret.), Andrew Mayts, and J.D. White.
Shumaker Advisors is a public affairs and government relations firm specializing in advocacy, business development, coalition building, and communication strategies while serving at the federal, state, and local levels of government.
Shumaker Advisors Florida is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tampa Bay’s largest law firm, Shumaker.
Founded in 1925, Shumaker is a premier provider of legal and legislative services with a team of more than 270 lawyers and advisors. Whether it’s our commitment to our clients, or to our work in the community, involvement lies at the core of everything we do.
Melanie’s appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.