Practice Areas: Local government law, annexation, comprehensive planning, developments of regional impact, rezoning, and environmental law. karen Karen Z. Consalo
University: Rollins College – Bachelor of Arts In Environmental Studies, Magna Cum Laude, May 1997; recipient of full tuition scholarship; inducted into and graduated from the Honors Certification program; Named Outstanding Environmental Studies Major program.

Law School:University of Florida College of Law – Juris Doctorate, With Honors, May 2000

  • Recipient of the Terrye Coggin Proctor Memorial Scholarship which awarded three years of full tuition to the law school
  • Graduated with a Certificate in land Use and Environmental Law
  • Member of Justice Campbell Thornal Moot Court Board and Tournament Champion at William and Mary Law School competition
  • Member of Journal of International Law and Student Works Editor
  • Member of Phi Delta Phi Honor Fraternity

Legal Experience: City of Orlando, Assistant City Attorney and Private Counsel for City (2004-2009); in-house lead attorney regarding public and private land development matters.  Counsel for large and small scale “voluntary” and “involuntary” annexations efforts by the city.  Represented the city during the 2005-2006 Orange County Consolidation Committee Task Force.  Drafted and amended several of the joint planning and territorial service agreements between the city and Orange County.  Managed all large scale amendments to the city comprehensive plan, all amendments to the city’s various developments of regional impact, and the creation of Community Development Districts as well as amendments to existing Community Development Districts.  Served as Mayor’s staff liaison with the Greater Aviation Airport Authority; as private counsel, represented City interests in the 180+ acre redevelopment of the Florida Hospital Campus, including amendment to the hospital’s Future Land Use Map, Development of the Regional Impact, and comprehensive rezoning; Seminole County, Assistant County Attorney (2001-2004); Akerman Senterfitt, P.A., Litigation Associate (2000-2001); City of Cedar Key, Consultant, conducted research and provided findings of fact for the City Council to create a Community Redevelopment Agency for downtown Cedar Key; Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Law Fellow (1999-2000), conducted independent research projects regarding water rights and eminent domain; Florida Supreme Court, Intern, provided legal research, analysis, and opinion memoranda for Chief Justice Peggy Quince.

Personal Experience: Barry University School of Law, Adjunct Professor (2011-Present), Professor of both Florida Constitutional law and Water Pollution Law for this Central Florida law school; Rollins College, Core Adjunct Faculty (2006-Present) Professor of land use and environmental law courses in both the undergraduate and Masters of Civic Urbanism programs.  These courses teach students, as well as practitioners already in the field, how to work within the legal, political, and economic structures which govern land development in Florida.  Professor of undergraduate course entitled, “Environmental Law,” which addresses that statutes and court decisions governing environmental issues in land development at the State and federal level.
Recent Presentations:

  • Government Role in Development and Conservation, hosted at Barry University School of Law, sponsored by the Barry University Center for Earth Jurisprudence
  • Finding the Allusive Center, hosted at Orlando City Hall, sponsored by the Florida Surveying and Mapping Society
  • Dealing With Difficult People, sponsored and hosted by the Florida Association of County Attorneys

Phone: (407) 578-1334

Karen Z. Consalo has over eleven years of experience in annexation, local government, development, zoning, permitting, code enforcement, along with experience with taking disputes, transportation logistics, airports, special districts and inter-governmental coordination.  She is certified in City, County, and Local Government Law by the Florida Bar; certified in Land Use and Environmental Law by the University of Florida; certified as a Women-Owned Business by the State of Florida.