Tara L. Tedrow

A Shareholder in the firm’s Land Use, Zoning & Environmental Group, Tara brings years of experience handling complex legal matters for multi-billion dollar valued companies and entrepreneurs alike.

Tara Tedrow regularly provides strategic counsel to clients seeking entitlements for a variety of projects, including commercial, retail, residential, industrial, office, and mixed-use developments across the state of Florida. She collaborates with local governments and regulatory bodies to navigate the complexities of master-planned communities, environmental compliance, zoning, comprehensive plans, concurrency, site plan approval, variance requests, and property rights.

Often sought out for high-profile and high-stakes land development projects, Tara has delivered positive outcomes for clients ranging from large multinational and U.S.-based companies to individuals seeking land use entitlements. With over 15 years of competitive debate experience, she is uniquely suited to handle complex and controversial projects and public hearings that present a myriad of political and legal challenges.

Representative Projects

• 1,500-acre large scale master planned community in Leesburg with 2,302 single-family homes, 390 multifamily units, equestrian and recreational amenities and 451,000 square feet of commercial development, including medical and office space.
• 220-acre active adult lifestyle community in Tavares with 625 single family homes, $10 million clubhouse, community pool, and other passive and active recreational amenities.
• 265 acres in Lake County with 528 homes, clubhouse, nature trail and marina with onsite restaurant.
• 80 acres in Lake County permitted for 103 single-family units, 320 detached multifamily, 360 multifamily units, and 150,000 square feet of commercial uses.
• 144 acres in Lake County permitted for 275-lot single-family residential development.
• 250-plus acre mixed-use, master-planned community in Apopka with nearly 3,000 apartments and millions of square feet of non-residential uses.
• 312-unit apartment project in Clermont
• 300-plus acre mixed-use project in Minneola for apartments, mixed use residential, commercial, office, and medical campus uses.
• 214-acre mixed-use project in Leesburg with 164,000 square-feet of commercial uses and 292 single family homes, 138 townhomes and 288 multifamily units.
• 420-unit apartment and outparcel commercial project in Sanford.
• 135 acres with 420 single family/townhome units in Fruitland Park.
• 322-unit apartment project in New Smyrna Beach.
• 29-acre high-end glamping and RV park with a marina, waterfront restaurant, pickleball, and ability to develop up to 250 upscale RV spots, glamping tents and a potential hotel in Leesburg.

In addition to her work in land use and development, Tara is a highly respected figure in cannabis law, offering legal and lobbying services to a wide array of clients.

A prolific presenter and speaker at industry seminars and conferences, she has served as the keynote speaker on industry regulations at over 100 events in the past two years. In the fall of 2018, Tara became the first professor in the state of Florida to teach a law school course on marijuana law and policy at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where she continues to teach today. In 2024, Tara also became an adjunct professor at the University of Florida Levin College of Law teaching Florida land use and development law. 

Prior to joining the firm, Tara worked as a legal extern for the University of Florida General Counsel and Office of the Vice President as well as for the Orlando Juvenile Public Defenders Office. For over a decade, she has also worked professionally as a private speech and debate coach and taught at multiple national debate institutes, including the National Debate Forum at Emerson University, the National Symposium for Debate at Grinnell College and Victory Briefs Institute at UCLA.

Tara is a contributing writer at the Orlando Sentinel and has spoken about various real estate topics on Fox News.

News

Speaking Engagements

Publications

Recognition

• Central Florida's Women Who Mean Business, Orlando Business Journal, 2024
• City & State Florida + News Service of Florida Above & Beyond Award Honoree, 2023
• The Best Lawyers in America guide, Cannabis Law, 2022-2024
• Awesome Attorneys, Orlando Family Magazine, 2023
• Rising Star, Florida Super Lawyers, 2017-2023
• Game Changers, Orlando Business Journal, 2023
• Women of the Year, Orlando Magazine, 2022
• Central Florida Power Players, Orlando Business Journal, 2021
• 40 Under 40, Orlando Business Journal, Class of 2020
• Florida Association for Women Lawyers (FAWL), 2015 Class of Leaders in the Law
• District Alumni Achievement of the Year Award, Florida Panther District of the National Speech and Debate Association, 2014-15

University of Florida Levin College of Law:

• University of Florida Levin College of Law Adjunct Professor
• Order of the Coif, University of Florida Chapter
• Book Awards: Evidence; Trial Practice; Interviewing, Counseling and Negotiation; Cross-Cultural Counseling; The Human Side of Lawyering; Social and Behavioral Sciences in the Law and Trial Team; Torts
• University of Florida Trial Team, President
• The Florida Law Review, Communications Department Editor
• Student of the Year Award, 2012
• Order of the Barristers Award
• Outstanding Graduate Award
• Gerald T. Bennett Outstanding Service Award
• Pro Bono Outstanding Achievement
• Irving Cypen Scholastic Achievement Award
• Student Commencement Speaker, University of Florida Levin School of Law, 2012 
• Teaching Assistant: Trial Practice, Legal Research & Writing and Appellate Advocacy
• Best Team Award, Levin College of Law Final Four Trial Competition
• Best Advocate Award, Levin College of Law Final Four Trial Team Competition
• Finalist, National Trial Advocacy Competition, 2011

Wake Forest University:

• All American Attorney Award, 2008
• All Regional Attorney Award, 2007
• Top Attorney Awards for Defense and Prosecution: Harvard Crimson Classic, Eastern Kentucky University Invitational; Arizona State University Invitational, Demon Deacon Invitational and the Great American Mock Trial Invitational at the DC Federal Courthouses.
• Senior Award for Excellence in the Study of Communication
• National Champion in Lincoln Douglas Debate, National Catholic Forensics League National Championships, 2004, 2005
• State of Florida Champion in Lincoln Douglas Debate, 2005

Community Activities

• CoStar Impact Awards Judge, 2023

Professional Certifications & Memberships

• Florida Education Foundation, Civics & Debate Committee, Chair, 2024; Audit Committee, past Chair
• Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Appointee to and Chair of the Inaugural Hemp Advisory Committee
• Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Appointee to the Inaugural Industrial Hemp Advisory Council
• Ninth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission Member, Chair, 2019-2020
• Law 360 Cannabis Editorial Advisory Board, 2021
• Economic Development Advisory Board, City of Winter Park, Board of Directors, Vice-Chair, 2019
• Center for Leadership Development at the Rollins Crummer Graduate School of Business, Leadership Center Business Advisory Board Chair, 2018-2019
• Florida Debate Initiative, Founder, Board Chair and Former Executive Director
• CREW - Commercial Real Estate Women, Programs Committee
• Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Leadership Team
• Greater Orlando Builders Association Representative for Orange County School Impact Fee Study Advisory Committee
• OCBA Law Week Committee, A Day in the Life of a Judge, Co-Chair
• American Bar Association Cannabis Task Force
• National Speech and Debate Association
• University of Florida Law Alumni Council, Board Member
• University of Florida Law Alumni Student Mentor
• The Florida Bar Association
• Florida Blue Key
• Orange County Bar Association, Real Property Committee
• Phi Delta Phi International Honor Society
• Utilities Advisory Board in Winter Park, Board of Directors, 2015-2017
• BETA Center, past Board of Directors
• Wake Forest University Young Alumni Development Board, past Member
• Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers, past Board of Directors
• Elevate Orlando Young Professionals Board Council, Chair, 2015-2018
• University of Florida Alternative Dispute Resolution Team, Coach, 2012
• Support Our Scholars Committee, past Member
• Orlando Women’s Auxiliary of The Salvation Army, past Member
• American Cancer Society, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Survivor Committee, past Member

As Chair of the firm's Cannabis and Controlled Substances Group, Tara is well-known for providing legal and lobbying representation for a wide range of cannabis clients. She and her team work with physicians, lenders, real estate developers, landlords, ancillary service providers, banks, licensed adult use and medical marijuana companies, cultivators, processors, retailers and license applicants, helping them to navigate the ever-changing regulatory landscape of marijuana and hemp regulations.

Additionally, Tara regularly assists clients in the national hemp industry in obtaining licensing and approvals for processing, retailing, cultivation and other forms of secondary byproduct monetization. Her deep knowledge of regulatory laws and understanding of operations and logistics for cannabis companies, along with her ability to make connections and build partnerships, bring strategic value to her clients. 

Tara is the only person in the state of Florida to be appointed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to both the inaugural Industrial Hemp Advisory Council created under Senate Bill 1020 and to the state’s Hemp Advisory Committee.