Silvia M. Alderman

Silvia Alderman advises developers, agricultural businesses, industrial companies, public utilities and governmental entities on environmental and land use law. Her practice includes water resources and wastewater regulation, environmental permitting, and the negotiation and litigation of enforcement matters. She has served as statewide wetlands and threatened and endangered species counsel for a Fortune 10 company. At Akerman, she chairs the Water Task Force, a multidisciplinary team of legal professionals and consultants that advises clients on regulatory and environmental challenges.

Silvia’s work also covers coastal construction permits, sovereignty submerged land leases, state-owned upland leases and easements, contracts and land development. In local government matters, she has advised on growth and code compliance management and served as contract board counsel to the Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Commission/Local Planning Agency, the Board of Adjustment and Appeals, and the Leon County Code Compliance Board. She represents clients in connection with developments of regional impact and comprehensive plan amendment litigation.

Before entering private practice, Silvia was deputy general counsel of the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation, now the Department of Environmental Protection. She is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in State and Federal Government and Administrative Practice. Chambers USA has recognized her, citing her “wealth of knowledge representing utilities” and describing her as “very strong on administrative law.” She is also listed in the Florida Trend Legal Elite Hall of Fame.

Agricultural Client:

Successfully defended client against third-party challenge and judicial appeal of environmental permit encompassing tens of thousands of agricultural acres.

Coastal Construction:

Successfully defended nine coastal properties in third-party challenge to a permit to build 500 feet of seawall in Flagler County.

Top 10 Fortune Company:

Represented client as state-wide wetlands and threatened and endangered species counsel.

Natural Gas Client:

Represented client in regulatory actions involving an 80-mile natural gas pipeline easement and related permits, crossing more than 50 wetlands and a national forest.

• J.D., Florida State University College of Law, 1977
• B.S., Chadron State College, 1973, summa cum laude

Bars

• Florida

Courts

• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
• U.S. Supreme Court

• Board Certified in State & Federal Government and Administrative Practice, The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education
• Best Lawyers, 2009-2027, Listed in Florida for Environmental Law and Litigation – Environmental
• Best Lawyers, 2015, Named as “Lawyer of the Year” in Litigation - Environmental Law
• Chambers USA, 2019-2026, Ranked in Top Tier in Florida for Environment; 2009-2018, Ranked in Florida for Environment
• Lawdragon, 2021, 2023-2024, Listed in the “Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Environmental & Energy Lawyer Guide” for Environmental Law, esp. Water
• Super Lawyers Magazine, 2013-2026, 2006-2010, Listed in Florida for Environmental
• Super Lawyers Magazine, 2009-2010, 2020-2021, 2025 Listed in Florida as one of the “Top 50 Women Lawyers”
• Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, 2009, 2013, 2015-2016, 2018, Listed for Environment & Land Use; Legal Elite Hall of Fame, 2019-2022
• Real Estate Florida, 2009, Recognized as “Woman of Influence”
• Order of Malta, Dame 2024
• Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, Dame 2023

• Regulatory Team of the Central Florida Water Initiative, Member, 2014
• The Florida Bar
  • State and Federal Government and Administrative Practice Board Certification Grade Review Panel, Member, 2011
  • Second Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee, Member, 2011
  • Federal Judicial Nominating Commission, Florida Northern District, Member
  • Environmental and Land Use Law Section, Executive Council, Ex Officio Member
    • Past Chairman, 1986-1987
    • Past Chairman-Elect, 1985-1986
    • Past Secretary-Treasurer, 1984- 1985
    • Past Workshops Chairperson, 1982-1983
    • Past Executive Council, 1981-1988
    • Past Co-editor of the Section Reporter, 1981-1982
• Natural Resources Committee, Florida Chamber of Commerce, Member
• American Bar Association, Section on Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice, Member, Executive Council, 1993-1995
• Governor Lawton Chiles’ Environmental Transition Task Force, Past Member, 1990-1991
• Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More, Pastoral Council Member, Catechist, EM, Sacristan