Mark received his Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in political science and Master of Arts with honors in political science, emphasizing public administration, both from the University of Florida in 1980 and 1982, respectively. Mark went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from Stetson University College of Law, where he served as Associate Editor of the Law Review, graduating cum laude in 1987. Before engaging in the practice of law, Mark served in the U.S. Marine Corps, worked as a Planner for Hillsborough County, and was Planning Director for the City of Oldsmar, Florida. In 1989, Mark achieved membership in the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). He is one of the few lawyers in the state of Florida who has achieved this prestigious designation.
Mark is Board Certified by The Florida Bar as an expert in City, County, and Local Government Law. Board certification is the highest level of recognition by The Florida Bar, and recognizes an attorney’s special knowledge, skills, and proficiency, along with professionalism and ethics in practice. Mark’s expertise included eminent domain litigation, land use, zoning, mediation, noise regulation, billboard regulation, and governmental and administrative law. Mark has represented numerous private property owners against various condemning authorities around the state, as well as various governmental entities in eminent domain and land use matters.
Mark received the highest peer review rating of AV published by the Martindale-Hubbell attorney directory. Mark was chosen as a Florida SuperLawyer from 2008-2015. SuperLawyers are nominated by their peers in recognition of their professional accomplishments. Mark has also been selected by Best Lawyers® from 2011 - 2015 to be recognized in both their national and regional Best Lawyers publications. Mark was also recognized for his achievements by Florida Trend magazine and was chosen as a 2015 Legal Elite. Locally, Mark has been recognized as one of Tampa Bay's Best Lawyers from 2010 - 2015 by Tampa Bay Magazine as well as included in 2015 Tampa's Top Rated Lawyers, an achievement that exclusively recognizes "AV" rated attorneys. Mark Bentley, P.A. was selected as one of the best law firms in the U.S. for 2015 by U.S. News and World Report.
Along with his representation of clients concerning property rights and land use matters, Mark presently is also an adjunct professor teaching land use law for the University of South Florida’s Urban and Regional Planning Master’s Degree Program. He also serves as a special master involving disputed land use cases under Florida’s Land Use and Environmental Dispute Resolution Act. Mark is also a frequent speaker at various seminars and events locally and nationally.
Mark is very active within the community. He was Chairman of the Ybor City Development Corporation Board of Directors from 2001 to 2002, which is a non-profit organization established by the City of Tampa to coordinate redevelopment in Ybor City’s Historic District, and Mark is still very active with this organization. Mark is also a member of the Board of Directors of Central Park Village Youth Services, Inc., which is a non-profit corporation assisting in providing educational opportunities for disadvantaged children. Mark also represents the Italian Club of Tampa, non-profit which owns and operates one of the oldest social clubs in the City, who's mission is to preserve and recognize the traditions and culture of Tampa's Italian community.
Mark is also involved in the Sun Coast Section, Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association and has been recognized for his service with two awards – the 2009 Planner of the Year Award and the 2006 Distinguished Service Award. These awards are given to individuals who have had an outstanding career in planning and have made significant contributions to the planning profession.
