Terry Cole

- Environmental & Land Use Law

- Real Estate Law

Terry Cole focuses his practice on environmental law, governmental administrative law and litigation. He is a member of the firm’s Technology Committee. Prior to joining Gunster, he spent 25 years building his law practice at Oertel, Fernandez, Cole & Bryant in Tallahassee.

Prior to moving to private practice, Terry was the assistant secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation, as well as the general counsel, where he was involved with all department programs and directed the development of many of the rules. During his more than 12 year tenure at DER, Terry played a key role in defining legislation including the Water Quality Assurance Act and the Wetlands Protection Act. Terry speaks at annual conferences and workshops on total maximum daily loads, air quality, water quality and wetlands.

Today, Terry provides guidance to clients in all industry sectors on important policy issues and strategies regarding water, air and wetlands permitting and regulation.

“Implementing Florida’s numeric nutrient criteria,” Florida Environmental Network’s Environmental Permitting Summer School, July 2017

“Special Course Series on Water Quality: Implementing Florida’s Numeric Nutrient Criteria,” moderator, 30th annual Environmenal Permitting School, Florida Chamber Foundation, July 2016

Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School, speaker

Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association Annual Meeting, speaker

National Council for Air and Stream

Improvement Southern Regional Meeting, speaker

New Directions in Energy and Telecommunications: Balancing Acts

Appellate Considerations in APA Proceedings

“Total Maximum Daily Loads in Florida,” Florida Administrative Practice, 1999, 2002-04

“Florida Environmental Law Treatise,” Florida Administrative Practice, 1999, 2002

“Water Quality Discharge Permitting,” Florida Administrative Practice, 1997

“State and Federal Regulation of Construction Activities in the Waters and Wetlands of Florida,” Florida Environmental Land Use Law, The Florida Bar, 1986, 1988, 1991

“Practice before Environmental Licensing Agencies,” 2d Ed., Florida Administrative Practice, 1981, 1989

“Groundwater and Practice Regulation,” Florida Administrative Practice, Second and Third Editions

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program, Florida Environmental and Land Use Law Section of the Florida Bar