Bio of Sonja Knighton Dickens, City Attorney
Ms. Dickens has served as the City Attorney for the City of Miami Gardens since February, 2004. She provides full legal service to the City in all legal areas, including: litigation, interpretation, drafting and administration of municipal ordinances and contracts, real estate transactions and land use matters. She provides general legal advice to the City on various matters, including, but not limited to, labor relations, civil service rights, bond issues, planning and zoning, code enforcement, and community redevelopment.

Ms. Dickens represents both governmental and private clients. Her municipal legal experience includes representing the City of Lauderdale Lakes and the City of West Palm Beach. She has also served as special council on matters for the City of Riviera Beach.

Ms. Dickens is a Partner in the law firm of Arnstein & Lehr LLP’s, Fort Lauderdale office. She is an AV-rated attorney, whose areas of specialty also include commercial litigation, appellate and first impression land use litigation, local government law, real estate litigation, and employment litigation.

Ms. Dickens holds a J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law and a B.S. in Sociology (cum laude) from Spelman College of Miami.