Shepard, Smith & Cassady, P.A.

Andrew J. Hand focuses his practice on all aspects of real estate and land-use law as well as local government law. As a former accountant, Andrew has a strong business background and is in a unique position to provide legal advice to business owners and developers. Andrew has experience representing large and small scale developers, including a military contractor to whom he provided legal assistance during the development of a one-hundred-fifty million dollar project. Andrew also represents several condominium and homeowners associations.

In addition to handling conventional real estate transactions, Andrew is an emerging leader in Florida's "green" movement. He specializes in assisting clients who require the assistance of an attorney knowledgeable of legal issues that arise during the course of green and sustainable development projects. As a LEED® Accredited Professional, Andrew has experience addressing contractual issues unique to green development. Additionally, as a Florida Green Building Coalition Certifying Agent, he is qualified to certify residential homes and provide specialized advice to developers and homeowners who choose to undergo the Coalition's green homes certification process.

Andrew is also an active participant in legal academia. He developed a Florida land use law course for upper level law students at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and provides weekly lectures during the spring semester.

Andrew received his law degree (with honors) and an LL.M. in Environmental and Land Use Law from the University of Florida Levin College of Law where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and Phi Delta Phi service fraternity. Andrew has also earned a Masters of Science Degree in Real Estate as well as a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration (with honors) from the University of Florida. While a student, Andrew was a member of Golden Key National Honor Society, the Classics Honor Society, and Society of National Collegiate Scholars.

Andrew is actively involved with the Ocean Conservancy, Animal Legal Defense Fund, Florida Defenders of the Environment, and is a Guardian-ad-litem; serving neglected and abused children in Orange County, Florida.

Publications:

"Amendment One Need Not Have a Chilling Effect on Local-Government "Green" Building Efforts in Florida," Quality Cities Magazine, (March/April 2008)

"Local Government Authority to Remove Abandoned and Derelict Vessels," Waterways and Waterfronts, (January 2007)