• OVERVIEW
  • EXPERIENCE
  • INSIGHTS
  • RELATED PEOPLE

"Collectively and individually, they are experts in their field. We rely on them for detailed legal opinions on complex environmental matters."

- CHAMBERS USA source

Bilzin Sumberg's Environmental Group represents clients in a number of high-profile environmental regulation and enforcement cases by local, state and federal agencies. The Group provides innovative solutions to a wide range of environmental issues faced by Florida's development and redevelopment community. Its expertise lies in counseling clients through the most appropriate and the most cost-effective environmental remediation strategy averting unwelcomed litigation and adverse publicity for our clients. Additionally, the Group's attorneys, many drawing from previous career experience as land use and environmental planners, offer skilled guidance through strategic risk management and responsible growth planning.

Home to one of the largest wetland areas in the country, Florida's environmental regulatory scheme is especially complex. Bilzin Sumberg attorneys have frequently been involved with the drafting/revision of wetlands regulations in order to better serve the housing needs of the community as they have assisted clients with wetland permitting issues, including compliance and enforcement defense.

The Environmental Group regularly assists clients with redevelopment plans and strategies. We frequently counsel developers wishing to repurpose former golf course, landfill or agricultural lands along the eastern U.S. seaboard, which are often contaminated with residuals from chemical treatments. Bilzin Sumberg's Environmental Group often works in tandem with our Government Relations & Land Development and Real Estate practice groups, offering a cohesive approach to client development projects. The team is generally regarded as "among the best" in the State. Moreover, the Group is often consulted by clients regarding environmental issues in other markets, as a result of their significant experience with the active and sophisticated land use regime in Florida.

The Environmental Group supports all aspects of regulation, permitting, and enforcement actions related to:

  • Contamination assessment and remediation strategy – assisting clients in assessing property contamination and navigating the regulatory process for site remediation
  • Environmental counseling – assisting clients with due diligence and compliance for environmental regulations
  • Federal, state and local wetland regulations as they relate to the development of land, with an emphasis on the Bert J. Harris Act and the Florida Uniform Wetland Mitigation Assessment Methodology
  • Brownfields and impacted site redevelopment – converting contaminated property into environmentally safe and thriving projects
  • Stormwater management and permitting
  • Marina permitting and operation, sovereignty and submerged land leases and accompanying Environmental Resource Permits for docks and marinas
  • Landfills – site selection, landfill permitting, operating and compliance permits, periodic reporting, enforcement or regulatory defense and landfill closures
  • Regulatory permitting for residential, commercial and industrial uses
  • Hazardous waste – including compliance with CERCLA, RCRA, and OSHA; and assisting clients subject to environmental audits
  • Property rights protection – property right violations and compensation requests where property value is impacted
EXPERIENCE
Experience
Represent a subsidiary of Florida East Coast Industries with respect to the redevelopment of a 550-acre former construction and demolition debris landfill in North Miami-Dade County for use as an office and industrial park. Counsel to client on obtaining an environmental variance for the creation of...
Experience
Representation of a national homebuilder in an appeal of jurisdictional determination issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with respect to property located in South Florida. Advised on the creation and preservation of a jurisdictional record prior to development of the property and for the pro...
Experience
Representation of real estate developer, The Related Group, in pre-acquisition environmental due diligence and remediation for an $80 million mixed-use property redevelopment in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Experience
Representation of real estate developer with regard to the environmental investigation and remediation of the Boca Raton Municipal Golf Course, one of the largest remaining municipally owned golf courses in Florida, as part of its redevelopment. Advice on the scope of the assessment, review of all d...
Experience
Obtained emergency permits and authorization for reconfiguration of 400-acre golf course and golf course community in Lake Mary, Florida.
Experience
Representation of Glades Landfill, LLC, in the acquisition and operational permitting of a 300-acre construction and demolition debris landfill adjacent to Lake Okeechobee in Florida.
INSIGHTS
Development Conference May 15, 2025
The exclusive conference will highlight emerging real estate investment and development trends in South Florida. This year’s panels will delve into the rapidly evolving landscape of condominium redevelopment, critical considerations for mitigating environmental risk in new developments, expand...
Speaking Engagement March 13, 2025
Thomas F. Mullin moderates theClosing the Deal: Best Practices in Environmental Due Diligence panel at FAEP'sAnnual Statewide Conference and Training Symposium in Saint Petersburg, Florida.
Blog February 20, 2025
It is that time of the year again, and the Florida Legislature is gearing up for the start of the 2025 session, which begins on March 25. Over 360 bills have been filed but there are few bills that merit special attention as it relates to the potential impact it will have on Public-Private Partnersh...
Press Release December 19, 2024
Bilzin Sumberg is pleased to announce that Ellina Berdichevsky and Thomas Mullin have been elected as the firm’s newest partners. Effective January 1, 2025, they will become partners across their respective practice groups, Tax & Private Wealth and Environmental.
Client Alert December 11, 2024
On December 9, 2024, the EPA finalized rules under the 2016 Toxic Substances Control Act (“TSCA”) amendments to ban most uses of trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE) within one to three years, with limited exceptions for national security, critical infrastructure, and clim...
Speaking Engagement November 5, 2024
Howard Nelson moderates the 29th Florida Remediation Conference Opening Session panelsFDEP Cleanup Programs,FDOT Roadway Incident Spill Containment Standard OperatingProcedures and GIS Application Overview, and What in the PFAS is going on? An Update on PFAS Litigation,Regulation, and Legislation.
RELATED PEOPLE
Howard E. Nelson
Partner, Head of Environmental Practice
Savannah Bergeron
Associate
Dawn M. Cinquino
Of Counsel
Sonja C. Darby
Of Counsel
David Jessup, Jr.
Associate
Mary C. Stewart
Of Counsel