Meet JOHN FUMERO | ATTORNEY

We had the good fortune of connecting with JOHN FUMERO and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi JOHN, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?

To begin with, I am a firm believer that your life is YOUR creation. We all have most of the tools and things we need to shape it and make it incredible. Success is not something that happens to you, it is something you create. Early in my career I realized that life isn’t something to be endured or tolerated. It’s an experience of your own creation. Nothing more, nothing less. My success in the practice of law is due in large part to persistence and hard work. There is simply no substitute for commitment, and there is no “secret recipe”. For the practice of law, this includes taking the time and doing the work to have a clear understanding of the client’s business objectives and needs. As a lawyer, you can help businesses and people in need. While this profession allows you to seek justice for these parties, it also provides you with emotional rewards. Depending on your perspective, this can be more beneficial than the money you earn in this profession. In a difficult, confusing, or complicated situation, individuals and companies may find themselves desperately seeking the guidance of a well-prepared and reliable legal professional. A great attorney has the potential to have a dramatic and positive impact on the life of a client.

I pride myself in not just being a lawyer, or someone who knows the laws and regulations, but also a counselor. A counselor is someone who has a fundamental understanding of the style and approach of a client, as well as definitively the key identifying   problems and resolving them. In most cases, my clients come to me because they are facing a challenge or dispute with a particular project or in their business venture. The top qualities of a good lawyer are responsiveness, analytical skills, good research skills, speaking skills, and excellent listening skills. and understand it on the spot. When a case is active, curveballs will likely be thrown, and great lawyers must be able to interpret and respond to them appropriately. My clients need me to present strong and creative problem-solving capabilities. Never losing sight of the “end game” is equally important. I would like to think that I am known as someone who focuses on what needs to be accomplished and is able to bring others to the table to resolve a challenge or dispute. Dispute resolution is something I have focused on my entire career. I honed those skills as a Florida Supreme Court certified mediator.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My practice focuses on representing large landowners, developers and local governmental entities in navigating through the myriad of federal and state regulations and processes to obtain permits and other types of authorizations for complex residential, commercial, industrial, and public works projects. What sets me apart from many other practitioners is the fact that I spent the first half of my professional career as an attorney working in the public sector. Working for the government provides, in my view, a unique perspective and understanding. Much of my work involves representing clients before federal, state, and local governmental bodies. I had a stint at the United States Attorney’s Office, Environment and Natural Resources Section, in Miami, and as the General Counsel of the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). During those times, I worked with some of the best and brightest minds in the environmental and land use law arena. While at the SFWMD, I had the opportunity to work on the massive and complex Everglades Restoration Project when it was in its infancy, as well as working on groundbreaking legislation, such as Florida’s Environmental Resource Permitting Act , the Wetland Mitigation Banking Act, and the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 which was precedent-setting federal legislation establishing the initial parameters of Everglades restoration and “CERP” which came to be known as the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. I spent a great deal of time in Tallahassee working with the Florida Legislature and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on cutting-edge environmental regulatory matters. I also had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in Washington D.C. working with the U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other federal and state agencies on CERP. I also worked extensively with Florida’s congressional delegation, the Governor’s Office, other Elected Officials, national environmental advocacy groups such as Audubon, and regulated industries, on CERP issues.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love living in Florida and in South Florida in particular. I was born and raised in South Florida. Florida is one of the most diverse and beautiful states in the nation. Florida is diverse in terms of its geography, culture, population, and demographics. Florida is renowned for its beautiful beaches, warm climate, diverse wildlife, and unique ecosystems. The state is home to stunning coastal areas, such as the Florida Keys and the Gulf Coast, as well as the famous Everglades National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unfortunately, many Floridians are unfamiliar with its amazing areas – from oysters in the quant towns of Apalachicola and antiquing in Lake Mary to the stunning beaches in the Panhandle and the natural beauty of Everglades National Park. From the rural, agricultural areas in Okeechobee, Glades and Hendry Counties, to the highly urbanized areas of Tampa, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami, Florida has much to offer to satisfy anyone’s interests. Florida has the longest coastline, with over 1,000 miles, in the contiguous United States, with 825 miles of accessible beaches to enjoy. It’s the only state that borders both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. I would want friends and visitors to sample a piece of each of these uniquely Florida and uniquely different areas.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Mentorship is critical to almost anyone’s long term success both in life and in one’s career. Mentorship can provide numerous benefits for mentors and their mentees. Developing this relationship helped me learn new things, build my professional networks and grow as an individual. Many people throughout my life have influenced me and my life. I can attribute my success to several individuals who mentored me, and encouraged me, throughout my career. First and foremost, my parents were always 100% supportive of my goals. When I decided to go to law school, they encouraged me and made it clear that I could achieve anything that I set my mind to achieve. My parents encouraged me to be a risk-taker, without being reckless. Importantly, I’ve tried hard to surround myself with people that were smarter than me and who can offer great advice. Early in my legal career I had the opportunity to work with and alongside top-notch attorneys and Florida leaders, including Phil Lewis, former Senate Florida Senate President and Bob Martinez, a former Florida Governor. Despite their prestigious careers, both were modest, humble individuals with the highest integrity. True statesmen. Both men were always willing to make time for me and provide me with their advice and counsel. In addition, Frank Finch and Henry Dean, both former Executive Directors of the SFWMD, were tremendous mentors in my career.

Website: nasonyeager.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnfumero/