This panel provides practical and legal insights into managing public hearings before local governments from both the private party and local government perspectives. It specifically addresses issues arising in connection with public hearings and how to deal with denials by and challenges to local government decisions. This presentation will focus on strategic matters, provide useful tips, examine new and developing legal issues, and address technical issues. Attendee participation will be encouraged.
John 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... Read More →
Mr. Melchiori brings over 30 years’ experience in land acquisition, entitlement, permitting, design, and construction of industrial, commercial, and highly amenitized residential and mixed use projects. Early in his career, he founded an architectural and engineering firm and through... Read More →
Land Use, Zoning, Real Estate Development, Areas of Critical State Concern, Developer-Side HOA and Condo Issues, Construction and Lending Due Diligence, Fiction, Film, Greyhounds.
Thursday July 23, 2026 8:30am - 10:10am EDT Calusa 12
This course will give you the latest information on water quality BMPs, water use and reuse on agricultural lands, and other policy changes resulting from the Legislative Session and implementation by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, including adoption of new BMP Manuals. Come hear from West Gregory, the Water Policy Director, and a panel of water policy experts on the latest updates affecting agriculture and Florida’s water resources.
Executive Director, Suwannee River Water Management District
Hugh Thomas began working with the Suwannee River Water Management District in August 2016 in the Agriculture and Environmental Project Division as a Project Manager. In July 2017, he was appointed by the Governing Board as Executive Director of District.
Prior to working with the District, Hugh was employed with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Office of Agriculture Water Policy as Environmental Administrator for North Florida. Hugh worked for FDACS for 14 years and prior to that worked as an enviro... Read More →
This course will provide environmental engineers, attorneys, and other brownfield stakeholders with a practical, detailed overview of how to navigate the redevelopment of contaminated sites in Florida. Participants will learn how current state and federal rules, including recent changes from the 2025 Florida Legislative Session, directly impact liability management, site cleanup, and redevelopment financing. The panel will walk through replicable processes for addressing risk, satisfying regulatory requirements, and structuring public-private partnerships that align with legal and technical best practices. Case examples will be used to illustrate how successful projects have been executed, with a focus on the technical, financial, and legal strategies that made them work. By the end of the course, attendees will have a clear understanding of how to approach brownfield redevelopment projects efficiently and in compliance with applicable laws.
Managing Partner, The Goldstein Environmental Law Firm, P.A.
Michael R. Goldstein is the Managing Shareholder of The Goldstein Environmental Law Firm, P.A., where he practices environmental law, contaminated property transactions, environmental redevelopment, and environmental risk management exclusively. Recognized by Chambers and Partners... Read More →
Chair, Environment and Natural Resources Practice, Akerman LLP
Robyn Neely focuses her practice on environmental site contamination issues related to real estate and corporate sales and acquisitions, and leases, including pre-acquisition, pre-leasing and pre-foreclosure due diligence analysis. Her practice also includes managing the investigation and remediation of contaminated properties and brownfield rede... Read More →
Backed by 30 years of multidisciplinary experience across environmental, land use, and corporate transactions, Maribel Nicholson-Choice is a regulatory and transactional counsel focusing on due diligence and risk analysis for complex real estate, corporate, and M&A transactions involving... Read More →
Michael Spievack, PE is an Associate in Langan's Miami office. Michael is a graduate of the University of Florida and Georgia Tech, and has been a practicing environmental engineer for over 20 years. Michael is a licensed engineer in 12 states throughout the southeast, and has extensive... Read More →
Thursday July 23, 2026 1:30pm - 3:10pm EDT Calusa 12
Florida agriculture plays a significant role in meeting the food and commodity needs of a growing world population and in environmental stewardship. This course will discuss new and ever-evolving topics – including land use management and preservation, water use, and wetland and wildlife conservation – and their effect on Florida’s agricultural community. Expect the expert panelists to discuss recent state and federal legislation affecting agriculture in Florida, best management practice (BMP) developments, industry trends, historic and predicted changes in water use and availability, permitting strategies, and more! Don’t miss it!
Shareholder, Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson
As an environmental attorney, Felicia has experience in local, state, and federal environmental permitting, compliance, and permit defense. In the land use realm, Felicia develops entitlement strategy for large industrial, resource extraction, and energy operations. She often navigates... Read More →
Cortney Cortez is Senior Economist of The Balmoral Group, an economic and engineering firm focused on public policy, socioeconomic impacts, and design within infrastructure, water resources, and the environment.
Principal Engineer with EcoStasis, LLC. EcoStasis develops nature-based, watershed-scale solutions integrating ecological restoration, infrastructure, finance, and land stewardship to improve water resources and climate resilience.
