Leslie Y. Dughi's state practice spans more than 20 years and includes all areas of the executive and legislative branches of government. From her representations, Leslie has gained in-depth knowledge on the inner workings of Florida government. Over the years, Leslie has represented health care entities and providers, including statewide associations, a major aerospace partnership responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Space Shuttle Program and an international auto rental and fleet management company. Further, she served as the Director of Government Affairs for the Florida Chamber of Commerce where she developed strategic relationships and led many legislative and grassroots initiatives important to the business community. Leslie has particular experience in the lobbying of health care and health insurance matters and other regulatory issues before the various state agencies and the Florida Legislature.
In addition to her lobbying experience, Leslie has considerable experience in political communications, serving as the Political Director for Associated Industries, Florida's largest statewide business association. Throughout her career she has coordinated numerous grassroots advocacy campaigns for business entities and statewide trade associations and has worked with many Florida statewide and legislative campaigns.
Areas of Concentration
• Business regulation
• Consumer protection and privacy
• Health and life insurance legislation and regulation
• Health and managed care regulation
• Insurance regulation and legislation
• Legal reform
• Taxation
• Transportation
• Workers' compensation insurance
• State appropriations
Professional & Community Involvement
• Board Member, Leon County Humane Society, Board of Directors
• Board Member, March of Dimes, Florida Chapter, Board of Directors
- Chair, Advocacy and Government Affairs Committee
• Former Community Representative, Florida State University Schools Board of Directors
• Former Member, Florida Association of Professional Lobbyists (FAPL), Education and Events Committee
• Former Member, Big Bend Hospice Advisory Group
• Former Appointee, Health Information Systems Advisory Council, Health Care Facility Website and Ambulatory Surgery Data Technical Workgroup
• Former Board Member, Florida Health Insurance Advisory Council
• Former Delegate, Healthy Florida Foundation, 2003-2005
Awards & Recognition
• Team Member, a U.S. News - Best Lawyers® "Government Relations Law Firm of the Year," 2014
- Ranked, Tier 1 - Government Relations, Tallahassee Metropolitan Area
Professional Experience
Significant Representations
• Defeated over several legislative sessions, a major tax increase on the rental car industry, which is supported by local governments and members of the House and Senate leadership.
• Authored and advanced legislation to increase the evidentiary standards for prosecuting a person who steals a rental vehicle and ensure the public safety by requiring these vehicles to be added to the local and national stolen vehicle registry.
• Worked to limit the fees physicians can charge for filling workers' compensation prescriptions in their offices. The measure was estimated to have brought workers' compensation premiums down by almost 3%.
• Worked closely with the Governor's Office to develop and implement the Cover Florida Program, an initiative to decrease the number of Florida's uninsured.
• Advocated for the development of a practice act for home inspectors, mold assessors and mold remediators to ensure the protection of consumers.
• Advanced legislation to ensure persons who commercially apply fertilizer are appropriately trained and certified by the state. The effect of this legislation, advanced on behalf of a major U.S. company.
• Represented the interests of Florida's business community in support of capping non-economic damage awards during the 2003 regular session and five subsequent special sessions specifically addressing medical liability.
• Worked on behalf of financial institutions and life and health insurers to ensure popular identity theft "consumer protection" initiatives did not place unnecessary burdens on business legitimate practices.
• Advocated on general business issues of investor-owned hospitals and managed care organizations, as well as assisted living facilities.
• Worked to secure millions-of-dollars' worth of sales tax exemptions on behalf of a major company in the aerospace industry.
Noteworthy Experience
• Political Director, Associated Industries of Florida
- Provided members counsel on Florida political issues and legislative campaigns.
- Conducted in-depth interviews of Florida House and Senate candidates to determine their position on AIF issues.
- Assisted incumbent Florida legislators on their re-election efforts.
- Coordinated AIF PAC contributions to Florida House and Senate, as well as Florida Cabinet races.
• Director of Governmental Affairs, Florida Chamber of Commerce
- Led several legislative efforts on behalf of Chamber members, including but not limited to human resource, taxation and health care issues
- Worked closely with Lt. Governor Jennings and a coalition of business interests to pass the 2002 and 2003 comprehensive workers' compensation reform package.
- Worked closely with the Governor's office to pass the "Affordable Health Care for Floridians Act of 2004." Subsequently coordinated a coalition of Florida's business associations and leading health insurers, to execute a 10-city tour by the Governor, Lt. Governor, the Chief Financial Officer, and state and national insurance experts for the purpose of educating employers and employees about new health insurance options.
- Spearheaded efforts to ensure Florida law does not adversely impact a private entity's global outsourcing decisions.
Publications & Presentations
Articles, Lectures & Publications
• Co-Author, "2014 Florida General Election Results and Legislative Forecast," GT Alert, November 5, 2014
• Co-Author, "Florida Governmental Countdown - A Wrap-Up on Issues from the 2014 Legislative Session," GT Alert, May 5, 2014
• Co-Author, "Florida's Move to Establish a Stronger Private Flood Insurance Market Provides an Opportunity for Insurers, Developers and Property Owners," GT Alert, January 6, 2014
• Co-Author, "Florida Governmental Countdown - A Wrap-Up on Issues from the 2013 Legislative Session," GT Alert, May 6, 2013
• Co-Author, "Florida General Election Results and Political Forecast Report," GT Alert, November 8, 2012
• Co-Author, "Florida Governmental Countdown - A Wrap-Up on Issues from the 2012 Legislative Session," GT Alert, March 12, 2012
• Co-Author, "Florida Governmental Countdown - A Wrap-Up on Issues from the 2011 Legislative Session," GT Alert, May 10, 2011
• Co-Author, "Florida Governmental Countdown - A Wrap-Up on Issues from the 2010 Legislative Session," GT Alert, May 3, 2010
• Co-Author, "Florida Governmental Countdown - A Look at Developing Issues for 2010," GT Alert, March 1, 2010
• Co-Author, "Florida Governmental Countdown," GT Alert, December 20, 2009
• Co-Author, "Florida Governmental Countdown - A Look at Developing Issues for 2010," GT Alert, October 12, 2009
• Co-Author, "Florida Legislative Alert," GT Alert, May 12, 2009
• Author, "Employers Subsidize the Medicaid Program," Associated Industries of Florida, 2011
