Victoria L. WeberVictoria L. Weber

123 South Calhoun Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301
850.222.7500

vweber@hgslaw.com


Experience

  • Represents Florida, national and multi-national businesses with Florida tax planning and controversies.
  • Served as General Counsel for the Florida Department of Revenue, and counseled the agency on the full range of state and local tax issues, including Florida’s ad valorem, corporate income, intangibles and sales and use taxes.
  • Served as Tax Counsel for the Florida House Finance and Taxation Committee, assisted in drafting Florida’s Truth in Millage legislation and was responsible for drafting the Florida sales tax on services.
  • Focuses on resolving clients’ state and local tax problems in the most appropriate and expeditious manner before the Florida Department of Revenue, in the Florida courts or the Division of Administrative Hearings or before the Florida Legislature.
  • Represents businesses before the Florida Legislature by monitoring and reporting on legislation, preparing amendments, testifying before legislative committees, developing coalitions and advocating clients’ positions to legislators and legislative staff.
  • Represents trade associations before the Florida Legislature,  state agencies, and court on tax and other public policy issues that have been addressed through the enactment of legislation or the adoption or amendment of agency rules and regulations.
  • Assists clients in developing and implementing strategies to obtain state and local tax abatement and other financial incentives for new and expanded capital facilities under Florida’s economic development laws.
  • Counsels and represents a wide range of corporate clients with Florida sales tax problems, including commercial rental transactions, real estate development, manufacturing operations, retail operations, construction, publishing, electric and telecommunications utilities, financial services and entertainment and hospitality industries.
  • Served on the Florida Department of Revenue’s Property Tax Administration Task Force.
  • Served on the Ad Valorem Tax Task Force appointed by Governor Chiles in 1997 to review state policy on the administration of ad valorem taxes.
  • Advised numerous study commissions and task forces on state and local tax policy, including IT Florida.com, Internet Task Force which reviewed the application of sales and use taxes on Internet transactions.
  • Represented businesses and trade associations on tax policy issues before the Florida Constitution Revision Commission, including the sales tax on services, personal income tax and proposed tax exemptions for pollution control equipment and special district property.
  • Served as Legislative Counsel to Governor Bob Graham, responsible for maintaining legislative relations on a wide range of issues, including state and local taxation.

Education

  • Florida State University, J.D., with honors, 1978
  • Florida State University, B.S., 1975

Bar and Court Admissions

  • Florida, 1978

Professional Affiliations

  • Florida Bar, Tax Section Executive Council and Member Tax and Administrative Law Sections
  • American Bar Association, State Tax Committee
  • Tax Counsel Network, Member
  • COST, Associate Member

Community Involvement

  • Florida Chamber of Commerce
  • Board of Directors, 1997-2000
  • Legislative Council, Member, 1995-present, Chair, 1997-1998
  • Committee on Finance and Taxation, Member, 1994-present, Chair, 1994-1996
  • Children’s Home Society of North Florida, Board Member, 1997-present, Chair, 2001-2003
  • Children's Home Society of Florida, Board Member, 2003-present
  • Florida Children’s Campaign, State Steering Committee, 1997-2007
  • Leon County Children’s Campaign, Chair, 1993-1994
  • Tallahassee Housing Foundation, Board Member, 1994-1997
  • Leadership Florida, Board Member and Regional Chair, 1996-1997, and 2007-2008

Publications and Presentations

Awards and Recognition

  • Listed in Chambers USA, America's Leading Business Lawyers, for Tax Law, 2003-2008 Edition.
  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America, for Tax Law, 2005-2008 Edition.
  • Listed as one of the "Florida Super Lawyers", for Tax Law and Administrative Law, in the annual publication of The Florida Super Lawyers, 2006-2008 Edition.
  • Listed in the 2004-2008 Edition of Florida Trend Magazine's "Legal Elite" for Tax Law.
  • Has achieved Martindale-Hubbell's highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards.

Victoria L. Weber Practices in: Administrative Law, Appellate Practice, Business Expansion and Relocation, Legislative Practice, Public Procurement and Bid Protests, State and Local Government Taxation