Rick Burgess

Overview

Rick Burgess joined the firm in 1994. He is a Martindale-Hubbell AV rated attorney who practices exclusively in the area of environmental law for a broad range of clients, including developers, agricultural interests, public and private companies and financial institutions.

Rick has extensive experience in providing legal support on environmental issues in mergers and acquisitions, real estate and business transactions, including pre-acquisition due diligence and post-acquisition compliance. Rick negotiates and drafts environmental provisions in purchase, lease, development and financing agreements, including environmental representations, warranties, releases and indemnifications. He is also involved in the array of environmental regulatory matters, such as economic assessment and valuation of environmental policy, as well as enforcement, permitting and litigation in the areas of water pollution, solid and hazardous waste regulations, natural resource damages and groundwater contamination.

In addition, Rick represents clients in federal and state courts and before administrative law judges on a wide array of environmental permitting, compliance and regulatory claims issues.

Honors

  • Chambers USA, Member of Gunster's environmental law practice ranked "Band 1", 2017-21
  • The Best Lawyers in America®
    • Environmental Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Fort Lauderdale, 2018, 2021, 2024
    • Environmental Law "Lawyer of the Year” in Miami, 2014
    • Environmental Law, 2025
    • Environmental Litigation, 2006-25
  • South Florida Business Journal, “Heavy Hitters” in Commercial Real Estate, 2011
  • Daily Business Review, “Top Dealmakers of the Year”, 2011
  • Chambers & Partners, “Leaders in Their Field," Environment, 2009-24
  • Chambers USA, Environmental Law, 2004
  • Florida Trend, “Legal Elite,” 2009, 2013
  • AV Rated as independently determined by Martindale-Hubbell
  • The US Legal 500, Real Estate and Construction, Land Use & Zoning

Education

  • University of Miami, J.D., 1982
  • Rollins College, B.A., 1979

Admissions

  • Florida, 1982, Environmental and Land Use Law Section
  • United States District Court, Southern District of Florida, 1983
  • United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, 2005

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