Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis, P.A.

The Outdoor Advertising Practice Group (OAPG) of Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis, P.A. consists of a group of attorneys representing a variety of disciplines essential to the outdoor advertising industry. Fundamental, of course, is the firm’s extensive experience in litigating condemnation and regulatory taking claims on behalf of both large and small industry operators. In addition, WLW&S has a broad-based practice that offers our outdoor advertising clients expertise in such diverse areas as labor, workman’s compensation, environmental, corporate and tax matters.

The OAPG of WLW&S has had a long and sustained commitment to the success of the outdoor advertising industry. Its members have over forty-five years experience in representing the interests of the industry. This specialized representation includes condemnation; legislative and ordinance drafting and negotiation; challenges to regulatory takings; combating efforts to enact oppressive permit fees and/or ad valorem taxes; testimony before city and county boards and state legislatures; and mergers and acquisitions involving large and small companies operating across the country.

Members of the OAPG have represented national, mid-size and smaller outdoor operators in over forty-five states and have served as general counsel for a state chapter of the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA).

Some of the assignments that the members have handled for outdoor advertising clients include:

• Successfully represented outdoor operators in numerous condemnation actions, obtaining substantial verdicts in excess of state fair market value offers or proof at trial;

• Drafted and successfully lobbied for the adoption of favorable sign ordinance in numerous cities and counties;

• Successfully challenged, through both litigation and negotiation, regulatory taking efforts;

• Advised small and mid-sized operators on lease and real estate transactions to both erect and maintain outdoor structures;

• Successfully defended outdoor operators in lease disputes with land owners;

• Prepared and guided through adoption re-zoning petitions to allow for the erection of outdoor structures;

• Successfully defended outdoor operators before vegetation control boards seeking to void state highway permits based on alleged violations;

• Represented a state chapter of OAAA on a variety of issues, including the revision of state DOT operating procedures for outdoor advertising;

• Represented outdoor operations in appealing the denial of permits by local authorities, state DOT’s and FDOT;

• Represented outdoor companies in mergers, acquisitions and the purchase and sale of outdoor advertising assets;

• Provided legal counsel to general managers of outdoor companies in over forty-five states; and

• Provided training to owners, general managers and real estate managers of outdoor companies.