Atty. Richard S. Geller
Mr. Geller is a partner in Fishback Dominick.
Profile Summary
About Richard S. Geller at a glance
Richard S. Geller is a Partner based in Winter Park, Florida, practicing at Fishback Dominick. They have 34+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1992. Their practice focuses on business, zoning, litigation, government, and appellate. Admitted to practice in Pennsylvania (Inactive) (1992), Kentucky (1995), and Florida U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida U.S. District Court, Southern District of Fl (1997). Educated at Temple University (J.D., 1992) and Miami University (B.A., 1988). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Active member of The Florida Bar Orange County Bar Association Florida Municipal Attorneys Association. Serands clients in Winter Park, FL and the surrounding metropolitan area.
Want to Get Service From This Attorney?
Sign up free and choose one of the two methods below.
Have a legal question? Sign up free, submit it through the Ask the Attorney module and receive a focused answer from a specialist.
- Free to ask a question
- Answers from specialist attorneys
- Optional private / anonymous question
Request an online video meeting or an in-person consultation at the attorney's office. Pick a time that works for you and share the details securely.
- Online video meeting
- In-person at the attorney's office
- Secure messaging and payment
About
- Mr. Geller is a partner in Fishback Dominick
- An attorney for more than 30 years, Rick Geller is a tireless advocate for his clients’ interests, and often comes to the table with creative solutions to legal challenges
- Board certified by the Florida Bar in City, County, and Local Government Law, Rick serves as Deputy City Attorney to Winter Park, Winter Garden, DeBary, and Belle Isle, Florida
- He frequently sits with City Commissions and Councils, Planning and Zoning Boards, Code Enforcement Boards, Boards of Zoning Adjustment, and Election Canvassing Boards
- In 2023, the City of Ocoee retained Rick as facilitator for its Charter Review Commission
- He also served as special counsel to the City of Groveland in the development of their cutting-edge, form-based zoning code, which aims to revitalize their downtown
- For his municipal clients, Rick advises on parliamentary procedure, quasi-judicial procedures and due process, the Florida Sunshine Act and public records laws, comprehensive planning and zoning, and ethics compliance for public officers
- He drafts resolutions and ordinances, code enforcement orders, and reviews proposed public contracts for compliance with Florida law
- Rick sits as a Special Magistrate for the City of Cape Canaveral, adjudicating code enforcement proceedings
- Rick has a perspective not shared by many other city attorneys—more than 30 years’ experience as a civil trial attorney in Federal and State courts
- In the area of municipal and local government law, for the last fifteen years Rick has handled court and quasi-judicial proceedings involving construction defects and delays, cell tower denials, code enforcement prosecutions and appeals, competitive bid challenges, public contracts, billboard location denials, and land use and zoning entitlements
- For private clients, Rick has litigated and gone to trial on a multitude of challenging issues, including allegations of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, deceptive and unfair trade practices, actions to remove trustees, and civil racketeering
- An Orange County Planning and Zoning Board Commissioner (2008-2012), Rick adjudicated countless comprehensive plan and zoning applications
- He helped to amend the County’s Horizon West Code to improve aesthetics and walkability
- As counsel to the City of Winter Garden, he helped craft the city’s Downtown Historic Code, contributing to the downtown’s revitalization
- From 2011-14, Mr. Geller taught land use law and urban zoning codes as an adjunct professor in Rollins College’s Master of Planning program
- Rick is a recreational cyclist, runner, and swimmer
- He is vice-chair of Bike/Walk Central Florida and past-chair of the Florida chapter of the Congress for the New Urbanism (2018-2023), the country’s most innovative and influential organization dedicated to revitalizing and creating great urban cities, towns, and neighborhoods
- A champion of pedestrian and bicyclist safety, Rick has written extensively on the subjects of safe road design and walkable neighborhood schools
- His articles have appeared in the Orlando Sentinel, the Florida State University Law School’s Journal of Land Use and Environmental Law, and Public Square, the national publication of the Congress for the New Urbanism
- EDUCATION Temple University, Juris Doctor, cum laude, 1992 Associate Research Editor, Temple Law Review, 1991-1992 Member, Temple Law Review, 1990-1991 Judicial intern to Judge Stanley Brotman, U.S
- District Court, District of New Jersey, 1991-1992 Judicial intern to Judge Carl B. Rubin, U.S
- District Court, Southern District of Ohio, 1991 Miami University, Bachelor of Arts, 1988 COURTS OF PRACTICE Florida State Courts U.S
- District Courts, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida U.S
- Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES Special Magistrate for code enforcement, City of Cape Canaveral, 2020 – present Deputy City Attorney, City of Winter Garden, 2008-present Deputy City Attorney, City of DeBary, 2014-present Deputy City Attorney, City of Winter Park, 2015-present Deputy City Attorney, City of Belle Isle, 2017-present Adjunct Professor teaching Land Use Law, Rollins College, Master of Planning in Civic Urbanism program, Winter Park, Florida, 2011 – 2014 Speaker, “Making Neighborhood Schools Safe to Access and Legal Again,” 27th Congress for the New Urbanism, Louisville, Kentucky, 2019
- Speaker, “A Cycle Track for Winter Park” at the Florida Summit of the Congress for the New Urbanism, Sarasota, Florida, 2014 Speaker, “Walkable Thoroughfares: Incorporating an ITE Recommended Practice in FDOT Standards,” at the Florida Statewide Conference of the Institute of Transportation Engineers, Naples, Florida, 2011 Speaker, “Complete Streets: How do we Convince the Florida Legislature?” at the Florida Statewide Conference of the Congress for the New Urbanism, Seaside, Florida, 2011 Guest participant, “What’s the Verdict?–A Mock Trial” on the topic of record documentation at the National Conference of the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association, Hollywood, Florida Orange County Bar Association Florida Municipal Attorneys Association RATINGS & CERTIFICATIONS AV – Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell Orlando’s Top Lawyers, 2010-Present Board Certified by The Florida Bar as a specialist in City, County and Local Government Law, August 2019
- COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES Chair, Congress for the New Urbanism – Florida Chapter, 2018-2023 District 1 Commissioner, Orange County Planning and Zoning Board, 2009-2012 Winter Park Health Foundation, Healthy Communities Work Group, 2013-2017 Board of Directors, Bike Walk Central Florida, 2013-present
- Vice chair, 2018-Present Co-chair, Florida Summit of the Congress for the New Urbanism, Orlando and Winter Park, Florida, 2015
Practice Areas Explained
Richard S. Geller's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Richard S. Geller handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
Richard S. Geller is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Florida →
Richard S. Geller is one of 40,226 zoning attorneys indexed nationally. Browse zoning attorneys in Florida →
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
Richard S. Geller is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in Florida →
Attorneys for administrative law, agency hearings, government contracts, licensing, and public benefits.
Richard S. Geller is one of 132,225 government attorneys indexed nationally. Browse government attorneys in Florida →
Appellate attorneys for civil and criminal appeals at state and federal court.
Richard S. Geller is one of 86,319 appellate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse appellate attorneys in Florida →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Florida
Practicing law in Florida. Legal matters in Florida are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Winter Park are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Florida state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Florida brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Florida courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Florida attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Winter Park or all attorneys in Florida.
Frequently Asked
Common questions about Richard S. Geller
Where is Richard S. Geller's law office located?
What practice areas does Richard S. Geller handle?
How long has Richard S. Geller practiced law?
Where did Richard S. Geller go to law school?
How can I contact Richard S. Geller for a consultation?
What awards or recognition has Richard S. Geller received?
Practice Areas
Education
Awards
Bar Admissions
Reviews
No reviews yet.