Marc D. Sarnoff is a partner in the Miami office of Shutts & Bowen LLP, where he practices land use and government relations law as a member of the firm’s Land Use Practice Group. A Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator and former City of Miami Commissioner, Marc is a seasoned advocate for business investment and urban development. He played a key role in shaping Miami’s rise as a center for technology, entertainment, and culture.
His land use and zoning experience includes major civic projects such as the Pérez Art Museum Miami, the Philip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, Museum Park, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, and the development of Viacom’s 90,000-square-foot movie studio. Marc also represents clients in admiralty and maritime, including matters involving the insurance industry.
Over a 30-year legal career, Marc has tried approximately 100 jury trials and 20 bench trials.
Marc served nearly a decade as City Commissioner for District 2 of the City of Miami representing Downtown, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Omni and the Upper Eastside. He held leadership roles as Chair of the City Commission, Chairman of the Downtown Development Authority, Chair of the Omni Community Redevelopment Agency, and Chair of the Coconut Grove Business Improvement District.
In 2015, Governor Rick Scott appointed Marc to the Metropolitan Planning Organization, which oversees Florida’s transportation budget. In 2016, Governor Scott appointed him to the Board of Trustees at Florida International University, where Marc now serves as Vice Chair. In this role, he has helped guide FIU to national recognition, including earning an “A” ranking from the Anti-Defamation League—placing it among only eight universities nationwide to receive the top mark out of 135 evaluated, and the only public university in the country to do so.
Marc is also a founding member of the Catholic-Jewish Alliance, an organization committed to combating antisemitism, with a particular focus on protecting students and advancing education.
Credentials
Education
- Tulane School of Law, LL.M., Admiralty, 1985
- Loyola School of Law, J.D. 1984
- University of Tampa, B.S., Criminology, 1981
Bar Admissions
- Florida
- District of Columbia
- Louisiana
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for Southern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court for Middle District of Florida
- U.S. District Court for Northern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court for Eastern District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court for Middle District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court for Western District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court for Middle District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for Southern District of New York
Professional and Civic
- Trustee, FIU Board of Trustees, 2016-present
- Founding Member, Catholic-Jewish Alliance
- Commissioner, City of Miami, District 2, 2006-2015
- Chair, City of Miami Commission, 2009-2010, 2012-2013
- Chairman, Downtown Development Authority
- Chair, Omni Community Redevelopment Agency
- Chair, Coconut Grove Business Improvement District
- Metropolitan Planning Organization, 2015-present
News & Insights
News & Speaking Engagements
Publications
- Wheeland V. Wheeland: The First Aids Transmission Case, American Journal of Family Law, Vol. 7, 181-187 (1993)
- Trial Diplomacy Journal, Vol. 17, No. 2, 73-79 (1994)
Practice Areas
Industry Focus
Accolades
- Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ Rated, 5.0 out of 5.0
- Martindale-Hubbell Top Rated Lawyer, 2015
- Best Elected Official, 2011
- Save Dade Elected Official of the Year, 2010
- Member of Preeminent Attorneys Journal
- Who’s Who Among Elected Officials
- Who’s Who Among American Lawyers