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Top-Ranked Environmental Lawyers in Orlando, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.223 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of October 31, 2026, the top-ranked environmental lawyers in Orlando, Florida are Leonardo Francisco Brito Jr. “Leo” (LexRank 80.00), Scott A Cookson (80.00) and James T Hetz (80.00).

This ranking lists 23 environmental lawyers in Orlando, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 1 to 57 years in practice. 2 of the 23 list Spanish on their Florida Bar profile.

Lawyers ranked
23
Fully verified
23 of 23

The ranking

Ordered by organic LexRank score; paid placements are labelled and never affect a position. How we rank

  1. No change

    Leonardo Francisco Brito Jr. “Leo”

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 39 years experience
    • Environmental
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #1?

    Ranks #1 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.1)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
  2. No change

    Scott A Cookson

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 28 years experience
    • Environmental
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #2?

    Ranks #2 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.1)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
  3. No change

    James T Hetz

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 29 years experience
    • Environmental
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #3?

    Ranks #3 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.1)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
  4. No change

    Matthew Stephen Smith “Matt”

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 29 years experience
    • Environmental
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.1)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
  5. No change

    Karen Zagrodny Consalo “Kara”

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 26 years experience
    • Environmental
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.1)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
  6. No change

    John Kingman Keating

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 40 years experience
    • Environmental
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #6?

    Ranks #6 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.1)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
  7. No change

    Mary B Meeks

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 38 years experience
    • Environmental
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #7?

    Ranks #7 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.1)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
  8. No change

    William L Pence

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 46 years experience
    • Environmental
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #8?

    Ranks #8 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.1)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
  9. No change

    Thomas Richard Sullivan

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 24 years experience
    • Environmental
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #9?

    Ranks #9 with 78.80: strongest in Experience (28.8/30) and Data quality (10/10). 1.20 points behind #8, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 28.8/30 (ranking avg 22.1)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)

    1.20 points behind #8 (William L Pence): Experience −1.2.

  10. No change

    Ted R Brown

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 57 years experience
    • Environmental
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #10?

    Ranks #10 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20). 0.20 points behind #9, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.1)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.6)

    0.20 points behind #9 (Thomas Richard Sullivan): Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  11. No change

    Matthew William Rearden

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 25 years experience
    • Environmental
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #11?

    Ranks #11 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.1)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.6)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  12. No change

    Charlie Stone Martin

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 24 years experience
    • Environmental
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #12?

    Ranks #12 with 77.40: strongest in Experience (28.8/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20). 1.20 points behind #11, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 28.8/30 (ranking avg 22.1)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.6)

    1.20 points behind #11 (Matthew William Rearden): Experience −1.2.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  13. No change

    Shannon Dianne Hoagland

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 17 years experience
    • Environmental
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #13?

    Ranks #13 with 70.40: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Experience (20.4/30). 7.00 points behind #12, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.6)

    Held back by

    • Experience 20.4/30 (ranking avg 22.1)

    7.00 points behind #12 (Charlie Stone Martin): Experience −8.4.

  14. No change

    Kyle Austin Stevens

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 15 years experience
    • Environmental
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #14?

    Ranks #14 with 68.00: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Experience (18/30). 2.40 points behind #13, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.6)

    Held back by

    • Experience 18/30 (ranking avg 22.1)

    2.40 points behind #13 (Shannon Dianne Hoagland): Experience −2.4.

  15. No change

    Sara Margaret Cunnard

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 16 years experience
    • Environmental
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #15?

    Ranks #15 with 67.80: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Experience (19.2/30). 0.20 points behind #14, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.6)

    Held back by

    • Experience 19.2/30 (ranking avg 22.1)

    0.20 points behind #14 (Kyle Austin Stevens): Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  16. No change

    Carolyn Rose Haslam

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 16 years experience
    • Environmental
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #16?

    Ranks #16 with 67.80: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Experience (19.2/30).

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.6)

    Held back by

    • Experience 19.2/30 (ranking avg 22.1)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  17. No change

    Joseph Alexander Kovecses Jr. “Joe”

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 14 years experience
    • Environmental
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #17?

    Ranks #17 with 66.80: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Experience (16.8/30). 1.00 points behind #16, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.6)

    Held back by

    • Experience 16.8/30 (ranking avg 22.1)

    1.00 points behind #16 (Carolyn Rose Haslam): Experience −2.4.

  18. No change

    Tara Love Tedrow

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 14 years experience
    • Environmental
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #18?

    Ranks #18 with 65.40: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Experience (16.8/30). 1.40 points behind #17, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.6)

    Held back by

    • Experience 16.8/30 (ranking avg 22.1)

    1.40 points behind #17 (Joseph Alexander Kovecses Jr. “Joe”): Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  19. No change

    Chelsea Catherine Vanadia

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 13 years experience
    • Environmental
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #19?

    Ranks #19 with 64.20: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Experience (15.6/30). 1.20 points behind #18, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.6)

    Held back by

    • Experience 15.6/30 (ranking avg 22.1)

    1.20 points behind #18 (Tara Love Tedrow): Experience −1.2.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  20. No change

    Joan Towles Matthews “coleman”

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 12 years experience
    • Eminent Domain · Environmental
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #20?

    Ranks #20 with 58.00: strongest in Local relevance (5/5); held back by Experience (14.4/30). 6.20 points behind #19, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Experience 14.4/30 (ranking avg 22.1)

    6.20 points behind #19 (Chelsea Catherine Vanadia): Practice-area relevance −5, Experience −1.2.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  21. No change

    Victoria Ann Arthington

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 5 years experience
    • Environmental
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #21?

    Ranks #21 with 56.00: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Experience (6/30). 2.00 points behind #20, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.6)

    Held back by

    • Experience 6/30 (ranking avg 22.1)

    2.00 points behind #20 (Joan Towles Matthews “coleman”): Experience −8.4.

  22. No change

    Erik Payne Clifton

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 2 years experience
    • Environmental
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #22?

    Ranks #22 with 52.40: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Experience (2.4/30). 3.60 points behind #21, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.6)

    Held back by

    • Experience 2.4/30 (ranking avg 22.1)

    3.60 points behind #21 (Victoria Ann Arthington): Experience −3.6.

  23. No change

    Eliza Jane Sweeney

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 1 year experience
    • Eminent Domain · Environmental
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #23?

    Ranks #23 with 46.20: strongest in Data quality (10/10); held back by Experience (1.2/30). 6.20 points behind #22, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)

    Held back by

    • Experience 1.2/30 (ranking avg 22.1)

    6.20 points behind #22 (Erik Payne Clifton): Practice-area relevance −5, Experience −1.2.

Environmental market in Orlando

LexRanked tracks 23 lawyers in environmental law in Orlando, Florida. 23 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 22, 2026.

Lawyers
23
Law firms
0
Verified professional data
23 of 23
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
24 years23 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 Orlando

What sets these Orlando 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 23 ranked lawyers Figure
Years in practice 1 to 57 (median 24)
Languages besides English Spanish (2)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school University of Florida, Fredric G. Levin College of Law (11 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Orlando office address and environmental as a practice area on record. It compares 23 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.

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 Orange County is in Florida's Ninth 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.

  1. Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory and check the bar number shown on their LexRanked profile.
  2. Ask whether the lawyer you meet will handle your matter personally, and how many matters like yours they have handled recently.
  3. Ask how they charge and what costs are extra, and get the agreement in writing.
  4. If you prefer to work in another language, check the languages listed on each profile.

Further reading

Sources for the rules above

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 Orlando?

State court cases in Orange County are heard in Florida's Ninth Judicial Circuit.

Are there Spanish-speaking environmental lawyers in Orlando?

Yes. 2 of the 23 ranked lawyers list Spanish on their Florida Bar profile. Each LexRanked profile shows the languages on record.

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?

23 of the 23 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Leonardo Francisco Brito Jr. “Leo”, Scott A Cookson, James T Hetz, Matthew Stephen Smith “Matt” and Karen Zagrodny Consalo “Kara” and others.

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.

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