Environmental · Spanish-speaking
Top-Ranked Spanish-Speaking Environmental Lawyers in Coral Gables, Florida
Summary
As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked Spanish-speaking environmental lawyers in Coral Gables, Florida are Carlos Alberto Zarraluqui (LexRank 77.40), Estrellita Sofia Sibila “Estrella Sibila” (76.40) and Marbet Lewis (73.80).
This ranking lists 6 environmental lawyers in Coral Gables, Florida, whose Florida Bar profile lists Spanish, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 3 to 24 years in practice.
- Lawyers ranked
- 6
- Fully verified
- 6 of 6
The ranking
Ordered by organic LexRank score; paid placements are labelled and never affect a position. How we rank
Who is included: only lawyers whose sourced records list spanish among their languages: 6 of the 7 in Top-Ranked Environmental Lawyers in Coral Gables, Florida, 6 of them confirmed by a verified fact or an official record such as the state bar profile. Scores are the same LexRank scores; the context selects who is ranked and never changes a score.
- Rank1-No changeCZ
Carlos Alberto Zarraluqui
Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL
Verified- Speaks Spanish · sourced
- Environmental
- 24 years experience
77.40LexRankView profileWhy #1?
Ranks #1 with 77.40: strongest in Experience (28.8/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20).
Strongest
- Experience 28.8/30 (ranking avg 21.8)
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.2)
Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.
- Rank2-No changeES
Estrellita Sofia Sibila “Estrella Sibila”
Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL
Verified- Speaks Spanish · sourced
- Environmental
- 22 years experience
76.40LexRankView profileWhy #2?
Ranks #2 with 76.40: strongest in Experience (26.4/30) and Data quality (10/10). 1.00 points behind #1, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Experience 26.4/30 (ranking avg 21.8)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.3)
1.00 points behind #1 (Carlos Alberto Zarraluqui): Experience −2.4.
- Rank3-No changeML
Marbet Lewis
Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL
Verified- Speaks Spanish · sourced
- Environmental
- 21 years experience
73.80LexRankView profileWhy #3?
Ranks #3 with 73.80: strongest in Experience (25.2/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20). 2.60 points behind #2, mostly data quality.
Strongest
- Experience 25.2/30 (ranking avg 21.8)
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.2)
2.60 points behind #2 (Estrellita Sofia Sibila “Estrella Sibila”): Data quality −1.4, Experience −1.2.
Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.
- Rank4-No changeEM
Edward Orlando Martos
Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL
Verified- Speaks Spanish · sourced
- Environmental
- 18 years experience
71.60LexRankView profileWhy #4?
Ranks #4 with 71.60: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Experience (21.6/30). 2.20 points behind #3, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.3)
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.2)
Held back by
- Experience 21.6/30 (ranking avg 21.8)
2.20 points behind #3 (Marbet Lewis): Experience −3.6.
- Rank5-No changeAL
Annette López Teal “Annette Lopez”
Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL
Verified- Speaks Spanish · sourced
- Eminent Domain · Environmental
- 21 years experience
68.80LexRankView profileWhy #5?
Ranks #5 with 68.80: strongest in Experience (25.2/30) and Professional credentials (15/15). 2.80 points behind #4, mostly practice-area relevance.
Strongest
- Experience 25.2/30 (ranking avg 21.8)
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)
2.80 points behind #4 (Edward Orlando Martos): Practice-area relevance −5, Data quality −1.4.
Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.
- Rank6-No changeJC
Joel Andres Careaga
Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL
Verified- Speaks Spanish · sourced
- Environmental
- 3 years experience
53.60LexRankView profileWhy #6?
Ranks #6 with 53.60: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Experience (3.6/30). 15.20 points behind #5, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.3)
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.2)
Held back by
- Experience 3.6/30 (ranking avg 21.8)
15.20 points behind #5 (Annette López Teal “Annette Lopez”): Experience −21.6.
Environmental market in Coral Gables
LexRanked tracks 7 lawyers in environmental law in Coral Gables, Florida. 7 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 22, 2026.
- Lawyers
- 7
- Law firms
- 0
- Verified professional data
- 7 of 7
- Average rating
- Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
- Median review count
- Withheldtoo few sourced counts
- Median experience
- 21 years7 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. All lawyers in Coral Gables
What sets these Coral Gables Spanish-speaking lawyers apart
Every lawyer in this ranking has a The Florida Bar license verified as eligible to practice, and every fact shown links to its source. The figures below come from each lawyer's Florida Bar profile.
| Fact about the 6 ranked lawyers | Figure |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 3 to 24 (median 21) |
| Languages besides English | Spanish (6) |
| License status with The Florida Bar | Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer |
| Most common law school | St. Thomas University School of Law (2 lawyers) |
Who is included in this ranking?
Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Coral Gables office address and environmental as a practice area on record, whose Florida Bar profile lists Spanish among the languages they speak. It compares 6 Spanish-speaking environmental lawyers, using only facts with a cited source. The Florida Bar does not board-certify lawyers in environmental, so the practice area is the one each lawyer lists on their Florida Bar profile, which The Florida Bar does not review. How we rank.
Whatever language they speak: the full ranking of environmental lawyers in Coral Gables.
Working with a Spanish-speaking lawyer
You can discuss your case, documents and fees directly in Spanish, but court hearings and filings in Florida are in English.
- Ask whether the lawyer will speak with you in Spanish personally or through bilingual staff.
- Ask for the fee agreement and key letters in Spanish as well as English, so you know exactly what you sign.
- When a witness cannot understand or speak English well enough, the judge has a qualified interpreter sworn in (section 90.606, Florida Statutes).
Florida 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)) |
| Court | Where cases are heard |
|---|---|
| State court circuit | Miami-Dade County is in Florida's Eleventh Judicial Circuit |
How to choose among these lawyers
Confirm the license, ask who will handle your matter, and get the fee terms in writing before you sign.
- Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory and check the bar number shown on their LexRanked profile.
- Ask whether the lawyer you meet will handle your matter personally, and how many matters like yours they have handled recently.
- Ask how they charge and what costs are extra, and get the agreement in writing.
Further reading
Sources for the rules above
- The Florida Bar: member directory (license, certification, languages, admission dates)
- The Florida Bar News: Board certification continues to set Florida lawyers apart (July 2026)
- 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)
- Florida Statutes, section 90.606: interpreters and translators
Frequently asked questions
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.
Which court handles cases in Coral Gables?
State court cases in Miami-Dade County are heard in Florida's Eleventh Judicial Circuit.
How do I know a lawyer really speaks Spanish?
Every lawyer here lists Spanish on their Florida Bar profile, which LexRanked checked in November 2026. Ask at the first call whether the lawyer will handle your matter in Spanish personally.
Will my court hearing be in Spanish?
No. Court proceedings in Florida are held in English. When a witness cannot understand or speak English well enough, the judge has a qualified interpreter sworn in (section 90.606, Florida Statutes).
How is this ranking ordered?
By the LexRank score, calculated only from facts with a cited source: experience, practice-area relevance, awards on record such as board certification, professional credentials, data quality and location. Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Payment never changes a position.
Do client reviews affect the LexRank score?
Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Reviews are shown on profiles for information only, and Reputation counts only awards on record, such as board certification. How we rank
Which lawyers are verified?
6 of the 6 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Carlos Alberto Zarraluqui, Estrellita Sofia Sibila “Estrella Sibila”, Marbet Lewis, Edward Orlando Martos and Annette López Teal “Annette Lopez” and others.
What is the difference between the top two lawyers?
Carlos Alberto Zarraluqui scores 77.40 and Estrellita Sofia Sibila “Estrella Sibila” 76.40, a gap of 1.00 points, mostly in experience. Compare them side by side
About this ranking
- Last updated
- Methodology
- LexRank v1.2 - deterministic, reproducible scoring
- Editorial review
- LexRanked editorial team,
- Independence
- Positions are never sold. Paid placements, if any, are labelled and do not affect scores.
Related rankings
Top-Ranked Environmental Lawyers in Florida: the top environmental lawyers across Florida, with every city compared.
Criminal Defense · Florida
Top-Ranked Criminal Defense Lawyers in Florida
93 lawyers ranked · Updated November 1, 2026
View rankingFamily · Florida
Top-Ranked Family Lawyers in Florida
73 lawyers ranked · Updated November 1, 2026
View rankingImmigration · Florida
Top-Ranked Immigration Lawyers in Florida
59 lawyers ranked · Updated November 1, 2026
View rankingEstate Planning · Florida
Top-Ranked Estate Planning Lawyers in Florida
219 lawyers ranked · Updated November 1, 2026
View ranking