Skip to main content

Cristina Arana Lumpkin

Of Counsel
305-350-7241
Area of Focus:

Environmental

"[V]ery easy to work with, very knowledgeable and a strong and effective client advocate." - Chambers USA source
  • OVERVIEW
  • EXPERIENCE
  • INSIGHTS
  • CREDENTIALS
GET TO KNOW Cristina

Cristina is an environmental lawyer who thinks like her developer clients. She recognizes that the regulations her clients must follow come with real-world compliance costs. Whether her clients are building single-family residential projects, multifamily units, mixed use, commercial space, or industrial sites, Cristina knows her clients need creative, practical guidance.

Cristina provides counsel on a wide range of environmental compliance issues, including pre-acquisition due diligence, contamination cleanup, and permitting. She works extensively with clients in highly regulated industries such as landfills and scrap-metal recycling. Cristina regularly represents clients responding to enforcement actions, helping them assess their options and develop a strategic approach to achieving compliance and, when possible, avoid litigation.

Q & A
What differentiates you from other environmental lawyers?
My approach to environmental law is very technical and practical. My clients don’t want a long memo on the state of the law. They need to understand the environmental conditions on the property and receive step-by-step guidance through the pathway to resolve those conditions. Clients want real-world answers and a clear path forward, and that’s what I provide.
How does this practical approach work?
It means getting creative. For example, for remediation, we think beyond standard, often expensive, solutions such as simply digging up and removing contaminated soil for disposal at a landfill. We think about whether there are more innovative approaches that might work, such as blending contaminated soil with the clean fill the developer needs for site development. We comply with all regulations and do what is needed to create a safe site for the future occupants, but we do it in a way that saves the client time and money. 
How do you work collaboratively with other practice groups?
I frequently engage with our transactional lawyers who require my input on pre-acquisition due diligence. While I’m looking at the environmental issues, someone else might be working on title issues, land use, or permitting. It helps tremendously that we’re all in the same office. This very close collaboration is one of the key benefits of working at Bilzin Sumberg. 
My PRACTICES
Environmental Homebuilders Retail
EXPERIENCE
EXPERIENCE
Formation of Land Bank
Representation of client in the environmental aspects related to the formation of a multi-parcel, multi-state land bank.
EXPERIENCE
$105 Million Acquisition of 16 Texas Industrial Properties
Representation of Rialto Capital Management, a private real estate investment management company, in the $105 million acquisition of 16 industrial properties in Texas. Bilzin Sumberg's cross-practice team handled various elements of the complex transaction, including joint venture, acquisition, fina...
EXPERIENCE
Successful Resolution in Mediation of Homebuilder's Alleged Violation of the Cle...
Defense of homebuilder alleged to have violated the Clean Water Act by failing to timely and adequately complete certain mitigation requirements for a 450-acre townhouse development. We negotiated a favorable settlement with the government during mediation.
EXPERIENCE
Environmental Counsel to National Homebuilder in South Florida
Environmental counsel to a large national homebuilder converting multiple sites in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties from agricultural use to residential products. Representation includes environmental assessment and remediation recommendations, review of all reports prepared by environme...
EXPERIENCE
Brownfield Remediation for Redevelopment of 9.6-Acre, Mixed-Use Property
Representation of developer in connection with the environmental investigation and remediation for the redevelopment of a 9.6-acre, mixed-use property within a Midtown Miami brownfield site.
EXPERIENCE
Environmental Due Diligence in $150 Million Land Purchase
Representation of homebuilder in environmental due diligence related to its $150 million purchase of a Florida development site. We handled environmental permitting issues related to the development of the site, a large portion of which was formerly used for agricultural purposes.
INSIGHTS
CREDENTIALS
  • University of Miami, J.D., Summa cum laude, 2006
    University of Hawaii at Manoa, M.A., Geography, 1998
    University of Hawaii at Manoa, B.A., Geography, 1996
  • American Bar Association
    Centro Campesino Farmworker Center, Inc.
    Board of Directors, 2012 - 2015
    Commercial Real Estate Women Miami
    Immediate Past President, 2017
    President, 2016
    President Elect, 2015
    Network Liaison Director, 2014
    Hospitality Committee Co-Chair, 2013
  • Florida
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
    U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida

  • Band 3, Chambers USA, Environmental, 2017- Present

    Chambers USA, Environmental, Associate to Watch, 2012 - 2013; Star Associate, 2014; Up and Coming, 2015 - 2016

    The Best Lawyers in America, Environmental Law, 2021

    Florida Super Lawyers, Florida Rising Stars, 2013 - 2016