Amanda M. Hessein

Amanda M. Hessein

Amanda M. Hessein is a shareholder at Rutledge Ecenia, P.A. whose practice focuses on administrative law, healthcare regulation, alcoholic beverage regulation, professional licensing, local government licensing, and complex regulatory compliance matters before state and local governmental agencies. Since joining the firm as a law clerk in 2016, Amanda has developed a broad regulatory and administrative law practice representing businesses, healthcare providers, licensed professionals, and regulated entities throughout Florida.

Amanda has extensive experience in healthcare law and regulation, representing healthcare providers, facilities, management companies, and other healthcare organizations in matters involving state and federal regulatory compliance, healthcare licensure, Medicaid and Medicare enrollment, provider credentialing, reimbursement issues, agency investigations, audits, and administrative proceedings. She regularly advises clients on compliance with regulations administered by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), including healthcare facility and provider licensure, Medicaid provider enrollment and revalidation, change of ownership transactions, healthcare compliance programs, operational and regulatory requirements, and administrative enforcement matters. Amanda also assists healthcare clients with Medicaid-related legal issues, including provider eligibility, reimbursement disputes, administrative appeals, audit responses, regulatory investigations, and compliance with state and federal healthcare laws and regulations. Her experience includes counseling clients through complex regulatory challenges and representing them before state agencies in administrative and licensing matters.

Amanda has also developed a substantial practice representing manufacturers, distributors, retailers, restaurants, bars, hotels, entertainment venues, and other licensed businesses in all aspects of Florida alcoholic beverage law and regulation. She regularly advises clients on the acquisition, transfer, renewal, and maintenance of alcoholic beverage licenses and permits, including quota licenses, special food service licenses, temporary permits, and local government approvals. Amanda assists clients with licensing transactions, corporate restructuring matters affecting licensure, change of ownership applications, and regulatory compliance issues before the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, as well as local governments throughout Florida.

Her alcoholic beverage practice includes counseling clients regarding tied-house restrictions, vendor and distributor relationships, trade practice regulations, responsible vendor requirements, disciplinary proceedings, administrative enforcement actions, and contested licensing matters. Amanda works closely with hospitality industry clients to navigate regulatory requirements, secure necessary approvals, and develop practical compliance strategies that support business objectives while minimizing regulatory risk. She also advises clients on alcohol-related regulatory issues arising in mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, lease negotiations, and corporate restructuring matters involving licensed establishments.

In addition to her healthcare and alcoholic beverage practices, Amanda represents clients in matters involving local government licensing and permitting, professional and occupational licensure, corporate compliance, administrative litigation, and regulatory advocacy. She routinely appears before state agencies and local governments on behalf of clients seeking licenses, permits, approvals, and regulatory relief, and represents clients in administrative proceedings and contested regulatory matters.

While attending law school, Amanda served as a Legislative Assistant for the Florida Press Association, a Legal Intern for the Office of Chief Counsel, Large Business & International Division of the Internal Revenue Service, Treasurer of the Entertainment, Sports and Arts Society, and Secretary of the Health Law Society.

Amanda earned her Juris Doctor from the Florida State University College of Law and is admitted to practice law in Florida and New Jersey. She is actively involved in the legal community and previously served as President of the Tallahassee Bar Association Young Lawyers Section during the 2023–2024 bar year, as well as the Section’s Representative to the Tallahassee Bar Association Board of Directors. Amanda earned bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Political Science from Pace University, graduating cum laude. She is also a member of the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society and the Golden Key International Honor Society.