Joseph S. Geller focuses his practice on civil litigation, administrative law, election law, government relations, municipal law and land use and zoning. He has extensive litigation experience in both the Florida and federal courts. Mr. Geller served for four terms in the Florida House of Representatives, representing District 100, having been elected in November 2014, and re-elected without opposition in November 2016, and again in November 2018, and most recently in 2020 to begin his fourth and final term. Mr. Geller reached term limits and concluded his legislative service in November 2022. Mr. Geller is also the former long-time Chair of the Miami-Dade County Democratic Party. Additionally, Mr. Geller has served as the Village Attorney for the Village of El Portal for many years, and also serves as Town attorney for the Town of Bay Harbor Island. He also previously served as City Attorney for the City of Opa-Locka. He is the former Town Attorney for the Town of Miami Lakes and the Town of Golden Beach and former City Attorney for the City of North Bay Village. Mr. Geller is a member of the Attorneys’ Title Insurance Fund. Mr. Geller has also served as the Southeast Regional President of the American Jewish Congress, and is long-time pro bono counsel for Movimiento Democracia.
Mr. Geller has more than 40 years of experience, including state and federal court litigation, at both the trial and appellate levels. Mr. Geller is especially well known for a series of landmark Election Law cases, beginning with the City of Miami Mayoral Election Vote Fraud case in 1997, and including Recount Litigation, including the Gore Presidential Campaign in 2000, the “Ted’s Shed” School Board residency case in 2000, successful representation of judicial candidates in the 2006 Election cycle, and successful representation in the 2010 cycle of candidates facing Resign to Run and Entitlement to Run-off issues. Most recently, he successfully defended a candidate’s eligibility to run in the 2018 cycle. Mr. Geller has over twenty (20) years of experience in serving as a Municipal Attorney, and has served six (6) municipalities as their principal attorney, as well as serving as special counsel for a number of other municipalities. He has extensive litigation experience in a variety of complex civil litigation fields, including Construction Law, Intellectual Property, Fraud and Misrepresentation, Real Property Law, Family Law and Probate Litigation, along with others too numerous to mention.
Prior to joining Greenspoon Marder, Mr. Geller was partners with his brother, Senator Steven A. Geller, for many years in Geller & Geller, P.A., a long-time South Florida Civil Law Firm.
Bar Admissions
- Florida, 1980
Court Admissions
- Supreme Court, State of Florida
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
Education
- J.D., Florida State University Law School, 1979
- B.A., History, Florida State University, 1975
Professional and Community Involvement
- Miami-Dade Delegation for the 2020 Legislative Session, Chair, 2019-2020
- Florida House of Representatives, District 100, November 2014
- Reelected, November 2016
- Reelected, November 2018
- Reelected, November 2020 (Fourth and Final Term)
- Village of El Portal, Village Attorney, 1995-1997, 2000- March 2018, November 2020-Present
- Town of Bay Harbor Islands, April 2021-Present
- Town of Miami Lakes, Town Attorney, 2011-2013
- City of North Bay Village, City Attorney, 2009-2010
- Interim City Attorney, 2003
- Town of Golden Beach, Town Attorney, 1999-2000
- City of Opa-Locka, City Attorney, December 2009-March 2015
- Acting City Attorney, January-July 2008
- Assistant City Attorney, 2005-2008
- Democracy Movement, Pro-Bono Counsel, 1996-Present
- Mayor of North Bay Village, Elected, November 2004
- Reelected, November 2006
- American Jewish Congress, Southeast Region, President, 2004 –
- First Vice President, 2000-2004
- Board of Directors, Member, National Executive Committee, Governing Council, and Two-Time Resolution Committee Chair
- Dade County Democratic Party, Chair, 1989-2000
- Democratic National Committee, Member, 1996-2000
- DNC Site Selection Committee, 1993-1996
- Art & Culture Center of Hollywood
- Advisory Board of Trustees, 2013-2014
- Honorary Board, 2014-Present
- Silver Knight Alumni Network
- Vice-Chair, 2012-2014
- Honorary Board, 2014-Present
- Holocaust Documentation and Education Center
- Vice-Chair and General Counsel, 2013-2014
- Honorary Board, 2014-Present
- Women’s Emergency Network
- Board of Directors, 1994-2007
- Advisory Board, 2007-Present
- Dade County Fair Campaign Practices Committee, Member, 1989-2000
- Kids Voting of Miami-Dade County, Advisory Board, 1996-2000
- Builders Association of South Florida, Board of Directors, 1993-1995
- Temple Beth El of North Bay Village, Board of Directors, 1987-1991
- B’nai B’rith, Zahav Unit, Vice President, 1986-1990
- Young Democrats of Florida, President, 1978-1979
- Young Democrats, National Committeeman, 1981-1989
Speaking Engagements
- Speaker, Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s 2019 Legislative Luncheon, June 20, 2019
- Speaker, “Keynote Panel,” Broward County Bar Association Law Day, May 4, 2018
- Speaker, “Updates from Tallahassee & Washington, DC,” North Miami Quarterly Business Luncheon, May 3, 2018
- Speaker, ” Assisted Living Facilities and Nursing Home Regulations and Legislation,” St. Thomas University 6th Annual Elder Law Symposium, April 17, 2018
- Speaker, “State of the State,” Broward County Bar Association’s (BCBA) Legislative Affairs Update & Reception, November 29, 2017
- Speaker, “Medical Marijuana in Florida: Understanding the Impact of Senate Bill 8-A on Local Businesses”, City of North Miami’s Business Luncheon, November 1, 2017
- Panelist, “Home Rule: What is its future in Florida?,” Miami-Dade Ethics Commission, June 2, 2017
- Panelist, “The Medical Marijuana Debate and Medical Panel,” Florida’s Future, October 21, 2016
Recognitions
- U.S. News & World Report, “Best Lawyers in America,” Administrative/Regulatory Law, 2021-2024
- Holocaust Documentation & Education Center, “Honoree,” 2018
- Florida Association of Counties, “County Champion Award,” 2017
- Florida League of Cities, “Legislative Appreciation Award,” 2017
In the News
- Quoted, “COVID-19 Biz Liability Shield Bill Sent To Gov.’s Desk,” Law360, March 26, 2021
- Quoted, “GOP-Led Legal Inquest Into Bloomberg Helping Florida Felons Vote Condemned as Attempted Voter Suppression” Moyers On Democracy, September 29, 2020
- Quoted, “Warren Follows Biden’s Flashy Florida Entrance With A Quiet Buildup,” Politico.com, December 5, 2019
- Quoted, “Mixed-use Causeway Village project moves forward in North Miami,” The Real Deal, September 22 2018
- Featured, “Public-Record Exemptions in Parkland Bill Lower Sunshine Scores For Most Lawmakers,” Miami Herald, April 10, 2018
- Quoted, “A Condo Project May Be Headed For Single-Family Neighborhood in North Miami,” The Real Deal, March 16, 2018
- Quoted, “Florida House: Require 2/3 Vote for Future Tax Hikes,” U.S. News & World Report, January 25, 2018
- Quoted, “Some Lawmakers Hope To Change Way Floridians Vote In Presidential Elections,” WFSU News and Florida Politics, January 17, 2018
- Quoted, “Warning Labels For Prescription Opioids Proposed Under Bill,” Florida Politics, November 29, 2017
- Quoted, “Bill Would Add ‘Gender Identity’ To Hate Crimes,” Florida Politics, October 3, 2017
- Highlighted, “Celebrity Waiter,” Art and Culture Center 20th Annual Cuisine for Art, June 19, 2017
- Quoted, “South Florida Lawmakers Secure $100 Million For Local Projects,” Sun Sentinel, May 31, 2017
- Mentioned, “Cubans’ Lighthouse Landing Merits US Entry, 11th Circ. Told,” Law360, March 24, 2017
- Quoted, “Foreclosure Attorney’s Suit to Boot Dem. Party Leader Can Proceed,” Daily Business Review, February 3, 2017
- Video, “Florida’s Future: The Medical Marijuana Debate and Medical Panel,” Sun Sentinel, October 21, 2016
- Quoted, “Campaign-Finance Changes Blocked from November Ballot but Legal Fight Continues,” Miami Herald, September 7, 2016
- Quoted, “Judge Refuses to Halt Miami-Dade Judicial Primary Race,” Daily Business Review, August 25, 2016
- Quoted, “On 2nd try, Miami-Dade Commissioners Approve Petition Count,” Miami Herald, August 22, 2016
- Quoted, “Suit coming to force campaign-cash rules on Miami-Dade ballot,” Miami Herald, August 15, 2016
- Quoted, “Former State Senator, Davie Resident Face Off for Broward Commission,” Sun Sentinel, August 11, 2016
- Quoted, “Sitting Miami Judge Files Suit to Keep Election Challenger Off Ballot,” Daily Business Review, August 12, 2016
News
- Aug 17, 2023 49 Greenspoon Marder Attorneys Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2024 Edition
- Aug 18, 2022 48 Attorneys At Greenspoon Marder Listed In The Best Lawyers In America© 2023
- Nov 15, 2019 Greenspoon Marder Partner Joseph Geller Elected As Chair Of The Miami-Dade Delegation
- Jun 24, 2019 Greenspoon Marder Partner Joseph Geller Panelist At The Greater Hollywood Chamber Of Commerce’s 2019 Legislative Update Luncheon
- May 28, 2019 Greenspoon Marder Partner Joseph Geller Invited To Governor’s Trade Mission To Israel
- May 28, 2019 Greenspoon Marder Partner Joseph Geller Chosen As Recipient Of The Florida League Of Cities’ Legislative Appreciation Award
- Apr 26, 2018 Greenspoon Marder Supports the 21st Annual Cuisine for Art Fundraiser Presented by the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
- Dec 17, 2017 Greenspoon Marder Shareholder Joseph S. Geller Panelist at Broward Bar Association’s Legislative Affairs Update
- Nov 1, 2017 Greenspoon Marder Shareholder Joseph S. Geller To Deliver Keynote Address at the City of North Miami’s Business Luncheon
- Jun 29, 2017 Greenspoon Marder Shareholder Joe Geller Receives A 2017 County Champion Award From Florida Association of Counties
- Jun 21, 2017 Greenspoon Marder Shareholder Joseph Geller Chosen as Recipient of the Florida League of Cities Legislative Appreciation Award
- Jun 2, 2017 Greenspoon Marder Shareholder Joseph Geller Speaker at the Miami-Dade Ethics Commissions Municipal Luncheon
