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Michelle Diffenderfer
Areas of Practice
Environmental, Water, Natural Resources, Sustainability and Land Use
- Represents clients before local, state and federal government bodies, agencies, and courts in environmental, administrative, zoning and land use issues.
- Gains permitting and approvals for projects involving complex development issues related to jurisdictional wetlands, mitigation, threatened and endangered species, marinas, docking facilities, development of regional impacts, water quality and drainage.
- Represents local governments and special districts as general counsel and special counsel related to environmental, land use and special assessment issues, including related litigation.
- Represents clients in the development and approval of LEED certified projects including interpretation of related requirements and regulations.
- Represents clients in the development and implementation of the Lower East Coast Regional Water Supply Plan, the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, including the development of related water law and policy.
- Represents clients before the South Florida Regional Planning Council, Department of Community Affairs, South Florida Water Management District Governing Board, Water Resources Advisory Commission, South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force and Working Group.
- Represents clients in the development of United States Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Opinions, Habitat Conservation Plans and in the issuance of Incidental Take Permits and related consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
- Represents Seminole Tribe of Florida as special environmental counsel including casino related development and water resource issues on Tribe’s various reservations and land holdings.
- Successfully represented clients in establishing “bona fide prospective purchaser” and “innocent third party” defenses as defined under recent CERCLA amendments.
- Represents clients in due diligence and brownfields designation for sites in South Florida.
- Represents clients in ongoing permit compliance issues with the South Florida Water Management District, Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Professional, Civic and Community Involvement
- American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy and Resources Executive Council (2008-2011)
- The Florida Bar, Environmental and Land Use Law Section, Past-Chair.
- Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches, General Counsel.
- Palm Beach County Homeless Advisory Board; Chair Policy and Legislation Committee.
- Girls II Women, Inc., Board Member, Co-Founder, (Local non-profit organization dedicated to mentoring students in Palm Beach County).
- Leadership Palm Beach County, Class of 2000.
- Executive Women of the Palm Beaches, Member.
- United Way Leadership Circle.
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV Rating.
- American Bar Foundation Fellow.
- ATHENA® Award 2008, honoring individuals that have achieved professional excellence, actively served the community, and helped women to reach their leadership potential.
Education
- J.D., cum laude, University of Miami, 1994.
- B.A., with honors, Brown University, 1990.
Articles and Presentations
- Greenwashing: A Guide to the Ethical Advertising of Green Products
- Federal Stimulus for Sustainability
- Environmental Permitting and Land Planning in a Down Market
- What is an ARNI and Why Should You Care?
- Endangered Species Conservation Banking
- Florida Water Law: Limited Availability in the Land of Abundance
- Overview of Federal and State Wetlands Protection Regulations
- The Winds of Change…Storming into the Future
- Evolving Issues in Eastern Water Law
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