Alexandra K. Barshel
Associate
305-350-7233
abarshel@bilzin.com
Area of Focus:
Environmental
"Alexandra is a very sharp attorney." - Chambers USA source
Alexandra K. Barshel
Associate
305-350-7233
GET TO KNOW
ALEXANDRA
Alexandra is an environmental attorney who works with clients that want to acquire, remediate, and develop property. Working with regulators and environmental consultants, Alexandra assists clients in matters related to environmental permitting, contamination assessments, and remediation. She also works on compliance and permitting matters for clients already operating at sites.
Q & A
What is the significance of the law enhancing wetlands mitigation banks?
The amendment to Section 373.4135, Florida Statutes, known as the Florida Wetlands Mitigation Bill, opens the door for economic driver projects in the region to move forward, streamlines the development process by reducing delays, supports local conservation projects, and increases the overall supply of wetlands that can be restored or enhanced through credit purchasing. It also keeps development projects on track when state and federal mitigation options are unavailable.
Which government agencies do you interact with most frequently for your clients?
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the primary federal agency for wetlands protection. Locally, we work with county regulators, such as the Miami-Dade Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM), on environmental permitting relating to water quality, code compliance, flood protection, contamination and clean up. Environmental resource permits are handled through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and regional water management districts.
What made Bilzin Sumberg’s Environmental Law Group the best career choice for you?
The Group is well known as one of the few dedicated teams of environmental attorneys who handle complex, large-scale development projects throughout Florida and along the East Coast. I am fortunate to work with a collegial group of lawyers who are committed to each other's and our clients’ success. The firm also takes mentoring very seriously. My mentor is proactive; we have collaborated on a career plan with specific objectives tied to my personal trajectory.
EXPERIENCE
Analyzed cleanup strategies in order to resolve soil and contamination issues on homebuilder client’s property in Broward County, Florida. Negotiation with the Broward County Environmental Protection Division to obtain a restrictive covenant to allow for residential development on the property.
Representation of client in the environmental aspects related to the formation of a multi-parcel, multi-state land bank.
Representation of developer in respect to the environmental investigation of a former golf course in Cape Coral, Floridafor sale to the City of Cape Coral.
Representation of an international REIT based in Canadain its undertaking of a site remediation consistent with a previously approved Soil Remediation Plan for a golf course in Boca Raton. Advisedthe client and related consultants with respect to assessment and remediation of impacts arising from th...
Representation of joint venture developers in environmental issues related to the acquisition and conversion of the famous 200-acre Great White Course golf course located in Doral, a suburb in Miami-Dade County, Florida, for residential development.
INSIGHTS
Alex Barshel serves as a speaker for the panel Minimizing Environmental Risk in Development at Bilzin Sumberg’s Development Conference. The session surveys the timely legal and environmental issues affecting real estate development in Florida, and what developers should keep top of mind in pur...
On December 9, 2024, the EPA finalized rules under the 2016 Toxic Substances Control Act (“TSCA”) amendments to ban most uses of trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE) within one to three years, with limited exceptions for national security, critical infrastructure, and clim...
Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) announced the final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (“NPDWR”) for a group of previously emerging contaminants, per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (collectively known as “PFAS”). The NPDWR establishes...
The EPA has just released the final Clean Water Act (CWA) rule, a response to the recent US Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA (2023). This new rule brings significant changes to the definition of 'Waters of the United States' (WOTUS) and goes into immediate effect. Learn more about the revise...
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is in the process of significantly updating the state stormwater rules and Environmental Resource Permitting process for the design and operation of stormwater systems, in accordance with a new draft rule published on February 3, 2023. The regulator...
On December 15, 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency published a final rule recognizing ASTM E1527-21 as the new standard for performing a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (“ESA”). With this final rule, the “-21 standard” will become the governing standard to satisf...
CREDENTIALS
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University of Florida, J.D., magna cum laude, 2018University of Florida, B.A., Environmental Science, cum laude, 2015
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Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW)
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Florida
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Chambers USA, Environment, Associates to watch, 2023 - present
Daily Business Review, Most Effective Lawyers, Government/Regulatory - 2019
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PRACTICES