Primary Office

215 South Monroe Street
Suite 601

Tallahassee, Florida
32301-1804

P: (850) 521-1707

F: (561) 671-2542

tcole@gunster.com

Terry Cole is a shareholder who joined the firm in 2012. Cole focuses his practice on environmental law, governmental administrative law and litigation. Prior to joining Gunster, he spent 25 years building his law practice at Oertel, Fernandez, Cole & Bryant in Tallahassee. Before that, Cole was the assistant secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation, as well as the general counsel, where he was involved with all department programs and directed the development of many of the rules. During his more than 12-year tenure, Cole played a key role in defining legislation including the Water Quality Assurance Act and the Wetlands Protection Act. Cole speaks at annual conferences and workshops on total maximum daily loads, air quality, water quality and wetlands.

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Practice Areas[ - ]

• Environmental Law
• Government Administrative Law
• Litigation

Education[ - ]

• Florida State University, J.D., 1970
• Florida State University, B.A., 1967

Reported Cases[ - ]

• Keyhaven Associated Enterprises v. State of Florida
• South Florida Water Management District v. Miccosukee Tribe of Florida, U.S. Supreme Court, 2004
• Rite Research Improves the Environment v. Fl. Department of Environmental Regulation, et al

Honors[ - ]

• The Best Lawyers in America, 2009-present
• Florida Super Lawyers, 2009-present
• Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, 2003-present
• Who’s Who Legal
• Bar Register Preeminent Lawyers
• AV Rated as independently determined by Martindale-Hubbell, 1990-present

Seminars & Presentations[ - ]

• Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School, Speaker
• Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association Annual Meeting, Speaker
• National Council for Air and Stream
• Improvement Southern Regional Meeting, Speaker

Publications[ - ]

• “Total Maximum Daily Loads in Florida,” Florida Administrative Practice, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004
• “Florida Environmental Law Treatise,” Florida Administrative Practice, 1999, 2002
• “Water Quality Discharge Permitting,” Florida Administrative Practice, 1997
• “State and Federal Regulation of Construction Activities in the Waters and Wetlands of Florida,” Florida Environmental Land Use Law, The Florida Bar, 1986, 1988, 1991
• “Practice before Environmental Licensing Agencies,” 2d Ed., Florida Administrative Practice, 1981, 1989
• “Groundwater and Practice Regulation,” Florida Administrative Practice, Second and Third Editions
• National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program, Florida Environmental and Land Use Law Section of the Florida Bar

Bar Admissions[ - ]

• The Florida Bar, 1971

Court Admissions[ - ]

• United States District Court
  Northern District of Florida, 1971
  Middle District of Florida, 1971
  Southern District of Florida, 1971
• United States Court of Appeals
  5th Circuit, 1971
  11th Circuit, 1971
• United States Supreme Court

Prior Professional Experience[ - ]

• U.S. Department of Interior, Federal Game Agent, 1970-present
• Florida Department of Environmental Regulation
  Assistant Secretary, 1981-85
  General Counsel, 1979-81
  Deputy General Counsel, 1977-79
  Enforcement Administrator, 1974-77
• U.S. Army, 1st Lt., 1970-71