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Robert H. Berntsson

Mr. Berntsson (Partner) received his Juris Doctor degree from Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia in 1986. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Management with a concentration in Accounting, with Honors, from Boston College of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts in 1983.

As a shareholder with the firm, Mr. Berntsson's practice encompasses all areas of local governmental law including appearances before state, regional and local governmental agencies on land use, planning, zoning, administrative appeals, affordable housing and utility matters. Mr. Berntsson works closely with clients and their development teams on various development projects, often serving as project coordinator. He is an AV rated attorney and is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in City, County and Local Government Law.

A native of Long Island, New York, Mr. Berntsson began his career as an Assistant District Attorney for Suffolk County, New York. He then served as the first Assistant Town Attorney for the Town of Southold, New York. Relocating to Florida in 1989, Mr. Berntsson served as Chief Assistant County Attorney and later Acting County Attorney for Charlotte County, Florida. He had also served as City Attorney for the City of Punta Gorda from 1998 - 2005. He currently represents the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority and Englewood Water District, and served as the attorney to the 2009 - 2010 Charlotte County Charter Review Commission. He has served as a Special Master in land use matters and currently a Special Magistrate hearing Baker Act cases. He is a certified Circuit Civil Court Mediator and also handles Residential Mortgage Foreclosure mediations.

Mr. Berntsson joined the firm in 1991, becoming a shareholder in 1994. He is admitted to the State Bars of Georgia, New York and Florida. He has been extensively involved in community organizations having served on the Board of Directors of the Charlotte County Economic Development Council, Charlotte County Family YMCA, Charlotte Skate Park, Inc., Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce, and the Charlotte Local Education Foundation. He is a past President of the Chamber of Commerce and Vice President of the Charlotte Division, American Heart Association Board. He is a graduate of Leadership Charlotte and Leadership Southwest Florida.

Education: Boston College (B.S., cum laude, 1983); Emory University (J.D., 1986). Phi Alpha Delta. Admitted to bar, 1986, Georgia; 1987, New York, 1989, Florida.

Former Positions: Assistant District Attorney, Suffolk County, 1986-1988. Assistant Town Attorney, Southold Town, 1988-1989. Chief Assistant County Attorney, Charlotte County, 1989-1991. Acting County Attorney, Charlotte County, 1991. Leadership Charlotte, 1991-1992. Director, 1993-1998 and President, 1995-1996, Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce. City Attorney, Punta Gorda, Florida, 1998-2005. Director, Charlotte Local Education Foundation, 1998-2000. Director, Skate Park, 1999-2005. Director, Charlotte County Family YMCA, 2001-2002. Special Magistrate 2007.

Member: Charlotte County and American Bar Associations; The Florida Bar (Member, Sections on: Local Government Law; Administrative Law); State Bar of Georgia. (Board Certified City, County and Local Government Lawyer, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education).

Practice Areas: Local Government Law; Zoning, Planning and Land Use; Environmental Law; Administrative Law