TREASURE ISLAND — The cities of Treasure Island and St. Pete Beach now have another thing in common beyond their white sandy beaches: Both will be served by the Vose Law Firm, with Ralf Brookes as city attorney and lead counsel.
During a special meeting Oct. 30, Treasure Island commissioners selected Vose from among four other applicants. Vose was the second runner-up for the position when the Sabatini Law Firm was selected in May. Commissioners terminated Sabatini’s contract in September. Attorney Gavin Rollins has been serving the city in the interim and was a runner-up in the latest selection process.
In a letter to the city, Vose founding partner Gretchen R.H. “Becky” Vose noted her firm serves 14 cities throughout the state. “We propose that the Vose Law Firm would be named city attorney, with Ralf Brookes, Wade Vose, Becky Vose and Nancy Stuparich as lead attorneys for the city of Treasure Island,” she wrote.
“These lead attorneys are the most experienced attorneys of our firm, and they each have extensive experience representing coastal cities,” she said. “Work for the city would be primarily out of our St. Petersburg office, which is the primary office out of which Ralf Brookes provides services with the Vose Law Firm.”
Brookes is board-certified by the Florida Bar in city, county and local government law, and local, state and federal environmental and land use law throughout Florida.
Vose said the firm’s collaborative approach ensures clients benefit both financially and substantively from representation by multiple attorneys. “This collaborative approach to our representation of local government clients has historically worked extremely well to ensure uninterrupted, thorough and expert representation,” she wrote.
“We understand that we work for the city commission,” Vose explained. “Our work is easier, and results are better, when the city attorney, the city manager and staff work harmoniously, but rest assured, we understand that we work for the elected officials.”
She added that the firm’s attorneys are “extremely strong-willed when someone attacks or sues one of our clients. We only represent local governments, so we do not have to worry about divided loyalties when dealing with local businesses or developers.”
Commissioner Arden Dickey said Vose’s experience “stood out,” along with the large number of cities and municipalities the firm has served.
Mayor John Doctor, who made the motion to hire Vose, said the city is entering a rebuilding phase and likely facing lawsuits. “That’s what pushed me in their direction,” he said.
He added that he likes the size of the law firm and its depth of legal expertise. “It’s what our future is and what we will be doing in the next five years.”
Commissioners selected the Vose Law Firm as city attorney by a 4-1 vote, with Commissioner Arthur Czyszczon voting against. Czyszczon said he felt the firm is too expensive.