MIAMI – June 15, 2023 – Five attorneys from global law firm Greenberg Traurig, P.A.’s Environmental Practice will present at the Florida Chamber Foundation’s 37th Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School July 18-21 in Marco Island, Florida.
The annual event aims to keep Florida Chamber members and organizations informed of environmental and growth management laws and regulations affecting Florida. It is the largest event of its kind in the state and is attended by more than 1,000 attorneys, consultants, engineers, state and local government officials, developers, landowners, and others with a strong interest in environmental issues in Florida.
These firm attorneys are presenting:
- Kerri L. Barsh: NEPA, CWA, and ESA Updates on Evolving Regulations and Policies Under the Biden Administration
- John V. Chibbaro: Avoiding Public Hearing Pitfalls: Preparation, Presentation, and Legal Challenges
- Maribel N. Nicholson-Choice: Florida Brownfields: A Comprehensive Technical, Regulatory, and Legal Update
- Bernadette M. Rappold: Federal Environmental Regulation and Enforcement Update
- Christopher Torres: Environmental Permits Under Attack: Preparing for and Defending Your Permits and Other Approvals
Barsh is co-chair of the firm’s Environmental Practice in the Miami office and represents public and private clients on an array of environmental regulatory, permitting, and litigation matters, including transactional support and due diligence, environmental assessment and liability matters, including brownfields, climate change, energy and infrastructure projects, wetlands and coastal permitting, complex land use projects, air quality matters, hazardous materials contamination, and other compliance and enforcement cases.
“Navigating the ever-changing legal issues involving Florida’s environment can be challenging, which is why The Florida Chamber’s annual Environmental Summer School is a great way to stay informed about the changes to the federal statutes,” Barsh said. “I look forward to providing attendees with useful strategies and information about what we can expect under the current administration.”
Torres is a member of the Environmental & Toxic Torts Litigation Practice and is the administrative shareholder of the firm’s Tampa office. He has an active litigation practice, with an emphasis on business, environmental, toxic tort, real estate, land use, and other challenging matters. He represents clients in class actions, mass torts, and other complex litigation.
“I am particularly pleased to be speaking on the topic of environmental permitting because it is essential for those doing business in Florida to understand how it affects their interests and the strategies that can be employed to obtain and defend the approvals they need,” Torres said. “A company’s success can rely on these issues, so I plan to offer attendees tips that will help them achieve the right outcomes.”
Chibbaro is a member of the Real Estate Practice and focuses his practice on complex environmental and land use matters. He advises developers, utilities, and other clients on virtually all aspects of development, from initial permitting and entitlement strategy, contamination assessment and remediation, through government approvals; and incorporating political and public relations issues. Chibbaro works with a range of federal and state agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Departments of Environmental Protection and Transportation, as well as local agencies such as the Miami-Dade County's Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources - Division of Environmental Resources Management (DERM).
Nicholson-Choice has 30 years of experience which includes local government, environmental, land use, brownfields, and construction with an emphasis in negotiating and resolving complex environmental permitting, due diligence, and litigation matters. Her practice includes counseling and litigation on environmental aspects in real estate transactions, commercial foreclosure proceedings, bankruptcy cases, environmental investigations, remediation projects, brownfields development, and evaluating risks and costs associated with potential environmental cleanup and third-party liability, as well as on regulatory and permitting technical aspects of complex contamination remediation projects.
Rappold, based in Washington, D.C., focuses her practice on federal and state regulatory issues related to energy, manufacturing, and the environment. She has substantial litigation experience and advises clients on regulatory compliance as well as the environmental, safety, and health aspects of numerous business and real estate transactions, including water, air, and chemical hazards. Rappold offers clients perspective gained through years of service at the Environmental Protection Agency.
Greenberg Traurig is also serving as a sponsor of the event, which is organized by the Florida Chamber’s Florida Environmental Network, Inc.
About Greenberg Traurig’s Environmental Practice: Greenberg Traurig’s Environmental Practice represents clients with issues under the environmental and natural resource laws that affect their businesses. The firm’s environmental attorneys assist with securing permits and approvals; negotiating and closing transactions; defending clients in enforcement actions; handling a broad range of environmental and toxic tort litigation; ensuring the understanding and satisfaction of regulatory requirements; preparing for and responding to emergencies; crafting approaches for legacy cleanup issues; and developing solutions for product regulation, market access, and environmental policy challenges. Greenberg Traurig received a Band 1 ranking in the Florida Environment category in the 2023 Chambers and Partners USA Guide and was selected as “Practice Group of the Year” by Law360 for 2022.
About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has more than 2650 attorneys in 45 locations in the United States, Europe and the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. The firm is a 2022 BTI “Highly Recommended Law Firm” for superior client service and is consistently among the top firms on the Am Law Global 100 and NLJ 500. Greenberg Traurig is Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certified Plus by The Diversity Lab. The firm is recognized for powering its U.S. offices with 100% renewable energy as certified by the Center for Resource Solutions Green-e® Energy program and is a member of the U.S. EPA’s Green Power Partnership Program. The firm is known for its philanthropic giving, innovation, diversity, and pro bono. Web: www.gtlaw.com.