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Daniel Fernandez

Instructor in Law

Daniel Fernandez began his teaching career as an Adjunct Professor at Stetson University College of Law. He comes to Vanderbilt Law School from Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) where he was an Associate Professor teaching Business Law. He published 14 scholarly articles in 12 years in the doctrinal areas of Administrative Law, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Environmental Law, Intellectual Property, Real Estate, and Torts. The Scholarship Committee awarded Fernandez one best paper and several top tier awards. Upon leaving FGCU, Fernandez was awarded the status of Associate Professor Emeritus, the highest academic title held by faculty.

Prior to his academic career, Fernandez was a practicing attorney focusing on Administrative and Environmental Law, with a special emphasis on Water Law. In addition to his years in private law practice, Fernandez served as Director of the United States Department of the Interior Eastern Water Law Center, Assistant General Counsel to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Staff Director and General Counsel to the Florida Senate Natural Resources Committee, and General Counsel to the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

On a personal note, Fernandez has been a martial arts practitioner for many years and is a Six-Degree Black Belt Aikido Sensei.

Research Interests

Legal Research and Writing
Water Law
Environmental Law

Additional Courses

Legal Writing I
Legal Writing II