Joe W. Fixel

Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Rating: 5 out of 5 – AV Rated*

*The “A” portion indicates a “very high to preeminent” rating for legal ability, while the “V” is a general recommendation rating that indicates faithful adherence to ethical standards, professional reliability, diligence and other relevant factors.

Prior Professional Experience:

Since 1987, Mr. Fixel has been designated by Martindale Hubbell as an AV rated attorney. 

Mr. Fixel has worked on most of the over 3,000 property owner and business recoveries secured by attorneys with the Fixel Law Firm.  Over the last five decades, he has personally handled jury trials throughout the state.  For example, Mr. Fixel has conducted jury trials in Bay, Collier, Gadsden, Hernando, Lake, Lee, Leon, Madison, Manatee, Orange, Pinellas, and Sarasota counties.  In addition, Mr. Fixel has achieved favorable eminent domain settlements without the necessity of a jury trial in the aforementioned counties, as well as in nearly all other counties in the state of Florida (e.g., Alachua, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Columbia, Duval, Escambia, Gulf, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Marion, Okaloosa, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Polk, Santa Rosa, Seminole, Sumter, Volusia, Washington, Wakulla and Walton counties).

Mr. Fixel has represented clients against a variety of condemning authorities throughout Florida.  Some of these condemning authorities include Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Board of Education, Bay County, Calhoun County, Escambia County, Gilchrist County, Jackson County, Lake County, Leon County, Okaloosa County, Orange County, Osceola County, Santa Rosa County, Walton County, Washington County, City of Milton, City of Orlando, City of Panama City Beach, City of Tallahassee, Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency, Orlando-Orange County Expressway, Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative, Inc., Emerald Coast Utilities Authority, Florida Gas Transmission Company, Florida Power, Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative, Gulf Power, Orlando Utilities Commission, Power South Energy Cooperative, Progress Energy and South Walton Utility Company, among others.

Notable Publications And Lectures:

• Co-Author of “Eminent Domain Mediation,” Thirteenth Edition (2024), Twelfth Edition (2021), Eleventh Edition (2019), Tenth Edition (2017), Ninth Edition (2014), Eighth Edition (2012), Supplement to Seventh Edition (2010), Seventh Edition (2008), and Sixth Edition (2003), Eminent Domain Practice and Procedure, The Florida Bar Manual
• Lecturer: “Application of the Florida Supreme Court Doerr Decision in Eminent Domain Cases,” Florida Bar Eminent Domain Committee Seminar, Tampa, Florida (2016)

• Lecturer: “What Every Business and Its Valuation Expert Should Know About Preserving and Maximizing Business Damages When Confronted With Florida’s Eminent Domain Law,” Florida Institute of CPA’s, Ft. Lauderdale, FL (2003)

• Co-Author of “Order of Taking,” Supplement to Fifth Edition (2000), Fifth Edition (1996), and Supplement to Fourth Edition (1992), Eminent Domain Practice and Procedure, The Florida Bar Manual

• Lecturer: “Experts’ Roles and Special Concerns Regarding Eminent Domain Mediation,” Association of Eminent Domain Professionals Education Conference, Tampa, Florida (1999)

• Lecturer: “Peculiar Practicalities of Eminent Domain Mediation,” CLE International Eminent Domain 2^nd Annual Conference, Tampa, Florida (1998)

• Lecturer: “Non-Monetary Benefits Secured for Property Owners in Eminent Domain,” Florida Bar Eminent Domain Committee Seminar, Orlando, Florida (1993)

• Lecturer: “Ethics in Eminent Domain,” Florida Bar Eminent Domain Practice and Procedure Seminar, Tampa, Florida (1990)