Attorney Profile

Gerald Heffernan joined the office in 1994. �During his tenure, he has represented the County in a wide variety of public finance matters, including the issuance of debt, letters of credit, swaps, capital leases and other financing structures as well as commercial transactions. Gerald has over thirty years of experience in public finance. �During that time, he has represented government entities and financial banking firms in hundreds of financings that include projects such as government centers, baseball stadiums, airport expansion, park improvements, water and sewer facilities, resource recovery facility, tennis center, golf courses and convention centers.

Gerald began his legal career in 1980 as an associate with Fine, Jacobson, Block, Colan and Klein in the corporate department. �He became partner in 1986 and was the department head for the corporate department from 1986-1992. �While at Fine Jacobson, he served as bond counsel for eight cities in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties and for Miami-Dade County from 1981-1990. �During that time, he also represented most of the large and regional Wall Street investment banking firms on a case by case basis as underwriter�s counsel for all types of government bonds. �When Fine Jacobson disbanded in 1994, he joined the Miami-Dade County Attorney�s office. �As an Assistant County Attorney, he has been responsible for most of the County�s public finance matters since 1994. He also works on commercial transactions that have a financial component.

From 1990-1994, Gerald was an Adjunct Professor at Barry University in its graduate program, teaching a Law and Business Ethics course to graduate students and business leaders. Since the 1980�s, he has been a member of the National Association of Bond Attorneys.

Gerald is licensed to practice law in Florida and is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. He earned his B.A. in History from the University of Connecticut in 1971, his M.S. in education and History from Southern Connecticut University in 1976 and his law degree from the University of Miami School of Law in 1980.