PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Sarah Johnston is a member of the Firm’s Government Counsel Services Practice Group. Ms. Johnston primarily focuses on representing cities, counties, special districts and local governments in all facets of local government legal matters. Her extensive experience includes providing legal representation in procurement, land use and zoning, public finance, real estate, public utilities, public private partnerships (P3), legislative matters, labor and employment, infrastructure development and project management. Ms. Johnston has represented local government agencies and community redevelopment agencies as special and general counsel.

Prior to joining BMO, Ms. Johnston was a partner at a Florida-based firm where she provided legal services to both public and private sector clients. Ms. Johnston previously served as City Attorney and Assistant Town Attorney for two cities in Miami-Dade County. She has served as lead attorney on procurement matters and P3 projects, including a P3 negotiation with an international soccer academy and charter school, and a $400M contract for the maintenance, operations and capital projects program for the second-largest water utility in Miami-Dade County. She is also experienced in providing legal counsel in matters regarding Sunshine Law compliance, ethics and elections, the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA), grant applications, bond issuance, union negotiations, and serving as counsel on charter review committees.

Sarah graduated with her Juris Doctor from St. Thomas University School of Law, her MBA from the University of Phoenix and her Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from the University of Central Florida.