Biographical Information
Douglas Sale has retired from the firm. If you are in need of assistance, please contact Kevin Obos, Florida Managing Lawyer, at 850-769-3434 or kobos@handfirm.com.
Douglas J. Sale is a Founding Partner with the Firm. He served as General Counsel for the Bay County Tourist Development Council and the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau, Inc., from 1992 through 2025. In addition, he handled the creation of the Panama City Beach Community Redevelopment Agency and served as its general council until succeeded by Ms. Myers. He was City’s lead representative in the financing and development of the Pier Park redevelopment project on Panama City Beach.
Mr. Sale earned his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Florida, where he served on the Law Review and as a Member of the Order of the Coif. He earned his B.A., magna cum laude, from Vanderbilt University, majoring in Political Science with additional emphasis on Economics, and was chosen to be a Member of the Tennessee Alpha Chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society.
Admissions
- The Florida Bar
- Federal Court for the Northern District of Florida.
Education
- J.D., University of Florida, cum laude, 1976
- B.A., Political Science, Vanderbilt University, magna cum laude, 1972
Additional Information
Civic and Professional Affiliations
- 2017 Florida Municipal Attorneys Association Lifetime Distinguished Service Award
- 2017 Florida League of Cities Home Rule Hero Award
- Florida League of Cities 1999 Municipal Attorney of the Year
- Member and Former President of Florida Municipal Attorneys Association
- The Florida Bar
- Former Member of the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors
- Former President of the Bay County Bar Association
- Elected 2007 and 2014 Florida Trend’s Legal Elite in Government and Administrative Law
- Former Board Member, Secretary and Commodore of the St. Andrew’s Bay Yacht Club
- Recipient of the Florida Bar President’s 2006 Pro Bono award for the 14th Judicial Circuit
- Former member of the Vestry, St. Andrew Episcopal Church
Publications and Presentations
- Free Enterprise vs. Economic Incentives: The Evolution of the “Public Purpose” Fulcrum
BY: DOUGLAS J. SALE
Published in Stetson Law Review, May 2017 - Ethics Seminar for Florida Government Officials, 2016, 2017 and 2018
- Florida Public Records and Public Meetings Laws Florida League of Cities University presentation 2020
- Legal & Practical Considerations of Joint Public and Private Water Reuse Projects, Florida Municipal Attorneys Assoc. (FMAA) presentation 1990
- FEMA Post Disaster – The Rules Have Changed, FMAA presentation 1996
- Community Redevelopment, FMAA 2005
- Use of Public/Private Partnerships and Economic Incentives in Community Development, FMAA 2015
- Regulating Special events and Spontaneous Gatherings Constitutionally, FMMA 2016
