About

Provided by Akerman LLP

Akerman offers a highly skilled Florida environmental practice that regularly works side by side with transactional and land use lawyers handling urban redevelopment, sophisticated financing, large land deals, and major construction projects, as well as distressed real estate, loan origination and recovery. Our core strengths include legal work surrounding contaminated property, environmental litigation, Brownfields redevelopment, wetlands permitting and enforcement.


Akerman serves as environmental counsel to Fortune 500 companies, publicly traded REITs, developers, and other public and private entities. We have extensive experience evaluating and managing contaminated property portfolios, obtaining Brownfield designation for these properties, and maximizing liability protection benefits for a range of property types including those sites formerly utilized for solid waste disposal/landfills, industrial manufacturing, golf courses, and gas and electricity generation. Our team has extensive experience in all facets of environmental counseling, permitting, due diligence, and litigation, including civil and criminal enforcement defense arising out of the major federal environmental statutes, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, CERCLA, FIFRA, RCRA, TSCA, and EPCRA. Akerman is the "go-to" law firm in Florida for wetlands permitting and enforcement matters due to our proven track record representing major corporations and developers. 

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Environment - Florida

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Akerman LLP offers solid strengths in transactional, regulatory and litigation matters, with notable strengths in forestry issues and wetlands permitting. It leverages its impressive strengths in its real estate practice to offer expertise in due diligence, environmental cleanup and wider development work - including, but not limited to, PFAS and significant chemical matters. The firm offers additional capabilities in handling urban redevelopment matters. It represents both public and private clients, including Fortune 500 companies and developers.

Work Highlights

  • Akerman represented Sims Metal in the acquisition of Baltimore Scrap handling agreement negotiations, diligence requests and environmental legal review.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Robyn Neely
1
Robyn Neely
1
Band 1

Robyn Neely works on a range of environmental matters, including advising clients on regulatory issues. She is noted for her work advising clients on environmental review related to real estate transactions. She is chair of the firm's environment group.

Robyn is very strong in every aspect.

Robyn is great, I love working with her in every capacity.

Robyn is highly communicative and responsive to inquiries and requests.

Silvia M Alderman
1
Silvia M Alderman
1
Band 1
Silvia Alderman is highly regarded for her contentious and noncontentious practice and she is considered an authority on environmental permitting and compliance.

Silvia is wonderful to work with.

She is highly competent, an expert in her field and an efficient worker.

Jason Lichtstein
2
Jason Lichtstein
2
Band 2

Jason Lichtstein is active in redevelopment and environmental cleanup work. He is particularly knowledgeable of brownfield matters and is recognized for his work on legislation in the space.

His commercial vision is strong. He is knowledgeable, thoughtful, and deliberate.

Jason is very sharp.

He is a good guy and a great lawyer.

3
Sarah Campbell Smith
3
Band 3

Sarah Campbell Smith is commended for her work securing environmental clearance on behalf of clients engaged in large corporate transactions. She also applies her skill set to advise on real estate transactions.

Ranked Lawyers at
Akerman LLP

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Florida

Environment

Robyn Neely
1
Robyn Neely
1
Band 1
Silvia M Alderman
1
Silvia M Alderman
1
Band 1
Jason Lichtstein
2
Jason Lichtstein
2
Band 2
3
Sarah Campbell Smith
3
Band 3

Clients

Provided by Akerman LLP

Bear Creek Timber, LLC

City of Miami, Florida

FedEx Ground

Florida Crystals

Huizenga Holdings

Landstone Communities, LLC

Tohopekaliga Water Authority

Industries

Provided by Akerman LLP

Banks

Chemicals

Construction & Materials

Energy

Financial Services

Forestry & Paper

Mining & Metals

Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences

Private Clients / Individuals

Real Estate

Retail

Technology, Hardware & Electronics

Telecommunications

Utilities