MIAMI – July 9, 2025 – Six attorneys from global law firm Greenberg Traurig, P.A.’s Environmental Practice will speak at the Florida Chamber Foundation’s 39th Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School, which will take place July 15-18 in Marco Island.
The annual event aims to keep Florida Chamber members and organizations informed about the latest changes in environmental and growth management laws and regulations affecting the state, local businesses, and developments. According to its website, the conference brings together 1,200+ attorneys, consultants, developers, state and local government officials, engineers, landowners, and others with an interest in Florida environtmental issues.
Among the 300+ speakers, the following Greenberg Traurig attorneys will present:
- Kerri L. Barsh: “NEPA, CWA, and ESA Updates on Evolving Regulations and Policies Under the Trump Administration”
- John V. Chibbaro: “Avoiding Public Hearing Pitfalls: Preparation, Presentation, and Legal Challenges”
- Julie P. Kendig-Schrader and Christopher Torres: “Environmental Permits Under Attack: Preparing for and Defending Your Permits and Other Approvals”
- Maribel N. Nicholson-Choice: “Florida Brownfields: Strategies for Smarter Cleanup and Stronger Communities”
- Bernadette M. Rappold: “Federal Environmental Regulation and Enforcement Update”
As co-chair of the firm’s Environmental Practice, Barsh represents public and private clients on an array of environmental regulatory, permitting, and litigation matters. These include transactional support and due diligence, environmental assessment and liability matters, climate change, energy and infrastructure projects, wetlands and coastal permitting, complex land use projects, air quality matters, hazardous materials contamination, and other compliance and enforcement cases.
“This event is an opportunity for industry leaders to come together to discuss the latest changes in environmental law affecting both Florida and the nation,” Barsh said. “It’s important for business owners and companies to understand the current policy shifts and their implications, anticipate emerging challenges and strategies to address them, and follow best practices to ensure compliance.”
Torres is a member of the Environmental & Toxic Torts Litigation Practice and is the administrative shareholder of the firm’s Tampa office. He has an active litigation practice, with an emphasis on business, environmental, toxic tort, real estate, land use, and other challenging matters. He represents clients in class actions, mass torts, and other complex litigation.
“A company’s success often depends on its ability to keep projects compliant and resilient in the face of potential legal challenges,” Torres said. “For businesses in Florida, it’s essential to stay informed about effective strategies for securing and defending the permits they require.”
Chibbaro is a shareholder in Greenberg Traurig’s Miami Real Estate Practice. He focuses on complex environmental and land use matters advising clients on virtually all aspects of development from initial permitting to government approvals. Chibbaro has represented homebuilders in site analysis and remediation, navigating federal and state regulations, and negotiated contracts across diverse industries.
Nicholson-Choice, a shareholder based in Tallahassee, has 30 years of experience in local government, environmental, land use, and brownfields law, with an emphasis on complex environmental permitting, due diligence, and litigation matters. She participated in writing Florida’s environmental justice legislation and served on the Florida Environmental Equity and Justice Study Commission.
Rappold, a shareholder based in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., focuses her practice on federal and state regulatory issues related to energy, manufacturing, and the environment, including wide-ranging litigation experience. As a former EPA director, Rappold led enforcement of major environmental statutes across diverse industries.
Kendig-Schrader, a shareholder based in Orlando, focuses her practice on land use, environmental matters, and administrative litigation. With sustainability concerns and initiatives cutting across virtually all sectors of business today, she strives to keep her clients ahead of the curve to maximize opportunities and minimize unnecessary costs and risks. Prior to joining the firm, Kendig-Schrader was with the South Florida Water Management District Office of Counsel.
Greenberg Traurig is also serving as a sponsor of the event, which is organized by the Florida Chamber Foundation’s Florida Environmental Network, Inc.