Attorney Profile

Michael Valdes joined the County Attorney's Office in 2011, and his work includes litigation, transactional, and legislative-related matters. He currently works in the Commercial, Procurement & Construction section, as well as the Land Use & Governmental Operations section and the Real Estate, Facilities, Recreation & Culture section. Additionally, he has served as counsel for the Miami-Dade Elections Department and Canvassing Board since 2013.

As a litigator, Michael has represented Miami-Dade County in a wide variety of litigation matters in trial and appellate courts, primarily in federal court, including lawsuits attacking the constitutionality of County ordinances or Miami-Dade's unique home rule powers, and civil rights cases dealing with qualified immunity, municipal liability, and First Amendment issues. As a transactional lawyer, he has represented Miami-Dade County in various contract negotiations, real estate transactions, and bid protests, including tax collection agreements with vacation rental platforms and various agreements relating to professional sports facilities in Miami-Dade County. On legislative-related matters, he has worked with the Board of County Commissioners and various County departments to provide legal advice and to prepare and review ordinances and resolutions.

Michael has also served as legal counsel for various County boards, including the Miami-Dade Charter Review Task Force, Citizens Redistricting Advisory Committee, Unsafe Structures Board, Board of Rules and Appeals, and the Fire Prevention and Safety Appeals Board.

In addition, Michael currently works as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Florida International University College of Law where he teaches classes in Election Law, Florida Constitutional Law, Local Government Law, and Conflict of Laws. He previously clerked for the Honorable Adalberto Jordan, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.