Edward P Delaparte Jr.
Verified
Practice area
Top-rated environmental lawyers
Environmental lawyers and law firms, ranked by location with the LexRank methodology.
273 lawyers0 law firms17 rankings273 with verified professional data
LexRanked tracks 273 lawyers in environmental law. 273 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.
LexRanked ranks 273 environmental lawyers in Florida in 14 cities; the largest city rankings are Tallahassee (36 lawyers), Tampa (32 lawyers) and Miami (26 lawyers). Every position follows the LexRank score, calculated only from facts with a cited source, such as each lawyer's Florida Bar profile; payment never changes a position.
Rankings
17 rankings, each ordering lawyers by the LexRank score; the statewide ranking, which compares every city, comes first.
- Boca Raton
- Coral Gables
- Fort Lauderdale
- Jacksonville
- Miami
- Orlando
- Pensacola
- Sarasota
- St. Augustine
- St. Petersburg
- Tallahassee
- Tampa
- West Palm Beach
- Winter Park
Boca Raton
- Environmental · 9 lawyers
Coral Gables
- Environmental · 7 lawyers
- Environmental - Spanish-speaking · 6 lawyers
Fort Lauderdale
- Environmental · 7 lawyers
Jacksonville
- Environmental · 20 lawyers
Miami
- Environmental · 26 lawyers
- Environmental - Spanish-speaking · 13 lawyers
Orlando
- Environmental · 23 lawyers
Pensacola
- Environmental · 5 lawyers
Sarasota
- Environmental · 6 lawyers
St. Augustine
- Environmental · 6 lawyers
St. Petersburg
- Environmental · 12 lawyers
Tallahassee
- Environmental · 36 lawyers
Tampa
- Environmental · 32 lawyers
West Palm Beach
- Environmental · 9 lawyers
Winter Park
- Environmental · 5 lawyers
Market statistics
- Lawyers
- 273
- Law firms
- 0
- Verified professional data
- 273 of 273
- Average rating
- Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
- Median review count
- Withheldtoo few sourced counts
- Median experience
- 24 years273 lawyers
Calculated by LexRanked from its own records on ; data verified . Ratings and review counts count only when backed by a source; figures from fewer than three profiles are withheld.
By city
The highest-scoring lawyers on this page, grouped by city; each ranking above lists every lawyer.
Highest-scoring environmental lawyers
The 12 highest LexRank scores on this page; each profile shows the sources behind its facts.
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What does a environmental lawyer do?
An environmental lawyer handles permits, compliance and disputes involving air, water, wetlands and land use, for property owners, developers, businesses, governments and citizen groups.
- Environmental permits and compliance
- Wetlands and water quality
- Contamination and cleanup
- Land use and zoning
- Development order challenges
- Bert Harris property rights claims
When do you need a environmental lawyer?
Talk to an environmental lawyer early: a development order challenge is due within 30 days, and permit defects are cheaper to fix before an application is filed.
- You need a state or federal environmental permit
- A regulator sent you a warning letter or notice of violation
- A neighboring project threatens your property or water
- A new rule reduced what you can do with your land
Who are the best environmental lawyers in Florida?
The statewide ranking lists the top 25 of the 273 environmental lawyers LexRanked tracks in Florida, in order of their LexRank score. See the best environmental lawyers in Florida.
Where can I find a environmental lawyer in Florida?
Environmental rankings cover 14 Florida cities; Tallahassee has the most lawyers compared (36).
How much does a environmental lawyer cost in Florida?
Environmental lawyers usually bill by the hour. In a citizen suit under the Environmental Protection Act the prevailing party is entitled to costs and attorney fees, so a losing plaintiff can owe the other side its fees; a property owner who prevails on a Bert Harris claim recovers reasonable costs and attorney fees. Under The Florida Bar's rules, a lawyer who has not represented you before must explain the basis or rate of the fee and costs, preferably in writing, and no fee may be clearly excessive.
Florida environmental rules to know
Florida gives citizens the right to sue to stop violations of environmental laws, after first filing a verified complaint and giving the agency 30 days to act.
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Citizen suits | A citizen may sue for an injunction against anyone violating laws that protect Florida air, water and natural resources (Fla. Stat. § 403.412(2)(a)) |
| Complaint first | The citizen must first file a verified complaint with the responsible agency, which has 30 days to act (§ 403.412(2)(c)) |
| Development order challenges | A challenge that a development order is inconsistent with the comprehensive plan must be filed within 30 days after the order (§ 163.3215(3)) |
| Property rights claims | An owner whose property is inordinately burdened by a government action may seek compensation under the Bert J. Harris, Jr. Act (§ 70.001(2)) |
| Bert Harris deadlines | The claim must be presented within 1 year after the law is first applied, at least 90 days before suit, with an appraisal (§ 70.001(4)(a) and (11)) |
Are environmental lawyers board certified in Florida?
No. Environmental is not one of the fields in which The Florida Bar board-certifies lawyers, so LexRanked includes lawyers who list environmental as a practice area on their Florida Bar profile. The lawyer adds that practice area, and The Florida Bar does not review it, so ask how much of the lawyer's work is environmental. Lawyers in these rankings may still hold a board certification in a related field, which their profiles show. About 4.9% of Florida lawyers hold a board certification in any field.
How to choose a environmental lawyer
Confirm the license in The Florida Bar's directory, then compare experience, certification and how often the lawyer handles cases like yours.
- Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory: the license must show as eligible to practice, and public discipline is listed there.
- Ask how much of the lawyer's work is environmental: practice areas on a Florida Bar profile are added by the lawyer and are not reviewed by The Florida Bar.
- Ask for the fee agreement in writing before work starts.
- Ask: Have you worked with this agency on similar permits?
- Ask: Which deadline applies to my matter?
- Ask: Will we need technical experts, and what will they cost?
How LexRanked ranks environmental lawyers
By the LexRank score: experience, practice-area relevance, awards on record such as board certification, professional credentials, data quality and location, using only facts with a cited source. Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Data checked October 2026 against each lawyer's Florida Bar profile. Payment never changes a position. See how we rank.
Sources
- Florida Statutes, section 403.412 (Environmental Protection Act)
- Florida Statutes, section 163.3215 (challenges to development orders)
- Florida Statutes, section 70.001 (Bert J. Harris, Jr. Private Property Rights Protection Act)
- Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, Rule 4-1.5 (fees and costs for legal services)
- The Florida Bar: Find a Lawyer directory
Frequently asked questions
What does a environmental lawyer do?
An environmental lawyer handles permits, compliance and disputes involving air, water, wetlands and land use, for property owners, developers, businesses, governments and citizen groups.
How much does a environmental lawyer cost in Florida?
Environmental lawyers usually bill by the hour. In a citizen suit under the Environmental Protection Act the prevailing party is entitled to costs and attorney fees, so a losing plaintiff can owe the other side its fees; a property owner who prevails on a Bert Harris claim recovers reasonable costs and attorney fees.
Can a citizen sue a polluter in Florida?
Yes. Under the Environmental Protection Act a citizen may seek an injunction against anyone violating laws that protect air, water and natural resources (section 403.412), after filing a verified complaint with the agency and giving it 30 days to act.
How long do I have to challenge a development approval?
30 days after the development order, or after local appeals are exhausted, for a challenge that it is inconsistent with the comprehensive plan (section 163.3215(3)).
What is a Bert Harris claim?
A claim for compensation when a specific government action inordinately burdens an existing use of real property (section 70.001). It must be presented within 1 year after the law is first applied and at least 90 days before suit, with an appraisal.
Where are the best environmental lawyers in Florida?
LexRanked ranks environmental lawyers in 14 cities; the largest rankings are Tallahassee (36 lawyers), Tampa (32 lawyers) and Miami (26 lawyers). The statewide ranking compares all of them.
Are environmental lawyers board certified in Florida?
No. Environmental is not one of the fields in which The Florida Bar board-certifies lawyers, so LexRanked includes lawyers who list environmental as a practice area on their Florida Bar profile. The lawyer adds that practice area, and The Florida Bar does not review it, so ask how much of the lawyer's work is environmental.
How do I check a environmental lawyer's license in Florida?
Search the lawyer's name in The Florida Bar's Find a Lawyer directory: it shows whether the lawyer is eligible to practice, any board certification and public discipline. Concerns about a lawyer go to The Florida Bar's Attorney Consumer Assistance Program (ACAP), 866-352-0707.
Editorially reviewed by LexRanked editorial team on October 30, 2026.