Born: Jacksonville, Florida.
Practice Areas: Environmental; Government; Land Use; Petroleum; Transportation; Utilities; Administrative & Regulatory; Education.
Admitted: 1986, Florida; U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida; U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court.
Education: University of Florida (B.A., 1981); Hamline University (J.D., 1985); University of Arkansas (LL.M., 1989).
Professional Associations & Memberships: The Florida Bar (1986) – Environmental and Land Use Law Section (ELULS), Past Chair 2001-02; Judy Florence Outstanding Service Award, 1992, 2000; Florida Bar Bill Sadowski, Jr., Memorial, Public Service Award, 2015; The Jacksonville Bar- Environmental and Land Use Law Section, Chair, 1993-1995; American Bar Association – Environment, Energy and Resources Section - Constitutional Law Committee, Chair, 2013-15; Former Co-Editor of Environment, Energy, and Resources Law Year in Review; Florida Coastal School of Law, Adjunct Professor in Water Law 2010; Jacksonville University, Marine Science Research Institute Graduate School, Adjunct Professor in Coastal and Ocean Law, 2013 - present. General Counsel to the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind from 2005 through 2008. Board Counsel to School Board of Indian River County, 2023-24.
Awards & Recognitions: AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell; Fellow of the American Bar Foundation; “Who’s Who in American Law”; “Jacksonville Magazine” “Best Lawyers” in Jacksonville, Energy Law and Administrative Law, 2010-2014; Super Lawyers, 2008-2024; Best Lawyers in America, Administrative Law and Energy Law, 2009-2013, and Administrative/Regulatory Law, Appellate Practice, Energy Law, Environmental Law, Litigation-Environmental and Litigation-Land Use and Zoning 2014-24; Leading Florida Attorneys: Real Estate and Environmental Law (top 1 percent of specialty); Florida Trend, Legal Elite, 2004-2005, 2012-2013, 2016-2017, 2020-2021; Daily Business Review, Top Rated Lawyer, Energy, Environmental and Land Use Law, 2013; Best Lawyers in America – 2014-15, 2020-21 and 2022-24: Jacksonville Litigation – Environmental Lawyer of the Year; Best Lawyers in America, 2017-18 and 2019-20, and 2023-24: Jacksonville Environmental Lawyer of the Year; Best Lawyers in America, 2021-22, 2024: Jacksonville Administrative/Regulatory Lawyer of the Year.
Community: St. Johns County Weed and Seed Committee, Member, 2002-2007; West Augustine Community Redevelopment Agency Steering Committee, Counsel, 2002-2007; West Augustine Historical Community Development Corporation, Counsel, 2012-present; Counsel, St. Augustine Youth Services; Former Counsel to INK!; Former Counsel to Emergency Services and Homeless Coalition; Former Counsel to and Board Member of JCA; Regional Community Institute of Northeast Florida (RCINEF) - First Coast Vision, Member, 2013; Affordable Housing Committee, Member, 2010; Northeast Florida Regional Council, Leadership Academy, 2010; Former Chair of Board of Directors of Clara White Mission; Former Chair of Board of Directors of Learn to Read; Former Counsel to and Vice Chair of Board of, St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum.
Publications: 100+ publications in professional journals and law reviews. Also helped write the environmental lending policy manuals for multiple statewide banks.