Staff Reports
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried on Friday named attorney Steven Hall as General Counsel for the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, according to a news release.
Hall first began with the Department as a law clerk in 2005 and became Deputy General Counsel in 2017.
He will serve as Chief Legal Counselor to Fried and other senior Department staff, and will lead the Office of General Counsel, including more than “20 attorneys and staff which provide legal counsel to all the Department’s 19 divisions and offices.”
“I’m proud to have Steven leading our legal efforts – his institutional knowledge, expertise in agricultural, water, and administrative law, and love for Florida’s natural lands and waterways make him an asset to our Department,” Fried said in a statement.
“I look forward to continuing to work with him to support our agriculture community, protect consumers, and conserve our environment.”
Hall worked his way up to Senior Attorney in 2008, Deputy General Counsel in 2017, and Acting General Counsel in 2018. The sixth generation Floridian still farms on family land in Jackson County.
“I’ve spent my life working to support our state’s agriculture community. It’s why I originally pursued a legal career – to help Florida’s farmers and ranchers,” Hall said.
“I’m thrilled for the opportunity to serve as General Counsel, and look forward to working with Commissioner Fried to continue supporting Florida agriculture and elevate the consumer services branch of the Department.”
