Michelle Diffenderfer

Michelle Diffenderfer

Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A.
  • Environmental Law, Gov & Administrative Law, Native American Law ...
  • Florida
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Claimed Lawyer Profile
Biography

Mrs. Diffenderfer is Shareholder and President of Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A. and holds an AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Michelle assists landowners, businesses and governments with local, state and federal, environmental, natural resource and land development legal requirements. Michelle helps clients navigate these laws and regulations in the permitting of their land development and infrastructure projects.

Michelle volunteers for a number of organizations dear to her, including, the American Bar Association's Section of Environment, Energy & Resources, the Gulfstream Council for Leadership Florida and the Episcopal Church of Bethesda by the Sea. Michelle is also a member of Leadership Palm Beach County, the Executive Women of the Palm Beaches, the Palm Beach County Bar Association, the Florida Association of Environmental Professionals, and the Caribbean Bar Association. Michelle previously chaired and remains involved with: Girls II Women, Inc., the Environmental and Land Use Law Section of the Florida Bar, and the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches. Michelle is a proud supporter of the American Bar Foundation and the United Way’s Women’s Leadership Council.

Michelle has been recognized for her community work and legal achievements as follows: Florida Super Lawyers, Florida Trend’s Florida Legal Elite; South Florida Legal Guide; The International Who’s Who of Environmental Lawyers; Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches ATHENA® Award; Florida Achievement Award from the Commission on the Status of Women; Key to the City of West Palm Beach; Families First of Palm Beach County, Harriet Goldstein Award; University of Miami School of Law Alumni Association, Alumni Achievement Award; Caribbean-American Democratic Club of Palm Beach County Community Change Maker Award for Environmental Advocacy; Business Leader Magazine’s Women Extraordinaire Award; The Palm Beacher magazine’s “Local Women in Power” issue.

Practice Areas
Environmental Law
Gov & Administrative Law
Administrative Law, Election Law, Government Contracts, Government Finance, Legislative & Government Affairs
Native American Law
Real Estate Law
Commercial Real Estate, Condominiums, Easements, Eminent Domain, Homeowners Association, Land Use & Zoning, Mortgages, Neighbor Disputes, Residential Real Estate, Water Law
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Florida
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Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
Professional Experience
President
Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A.
- Current
Shareholder
Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A.
- Current
Education
University of Miami School of Law
J.D. (1994) | Juris Doctor
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Honors: Order of the Coif
University of Miami School of Law Logo
Brown University
B.A. (1990) | Educational Studies
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Brown University Logo
Awards
AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated
Martindale Hubbell
Florida Super Lawyer
Super Lawyers
Top Lawyer in Environmental Law
South Florida Legal Guide
Florida Achievement Award
The Florida Commission on the Status of Women
Harriet Goldstein Award
Families First of Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County’s Woman of Corporate Power
EmpowHER of the Palm Beaches
Alumni Achievement Award
The University of Miami School of Law
Women in Power
The Palm Beacher Magazine
Community Change Maker Award for Environmental Advocacy
The Caribbean-American Democratic Club of Palm Beach County
Women Extraordinaire Award
Business Leader Magazine
Who’s Who of Environmental Lawyers
The International Who’s Who
Legal Elite in Environmental and Land Use Law
Florida Trend Magazine
ATHENA® Award
The Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches
Professional Associations
American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy and Resources
Past Chair
Current
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American College of Environmental Lawyers
Fellow
Current
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Leadership Florida
Class of XXXIII
Current
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American Bar Foundation
Fellow
Current
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Girls II Women, Inc.
Past Chair
Current
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Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches
Past Chair
Current
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The Florida Bar, Environmental and Land Use Law Section
Past Chair
Current
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Leadership Palm Beach County
Class of 2000
Current
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Executive Women of the Palm Beaches
Member
Current
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Florida Association of Environmental Professionals
Member
Current
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Palm Beach County Bar Association
Member
Current
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Caribbean Bar Association
Member
Current
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Florida State Bar  # 50016
Member
- Current
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Publications
Articles & Publications
Looking Out to Sea: Resurging Interest in Seawater Desalination Projects Face the Twin Specters of Technical Challenges and Permitting Complexity
American Bar Association
New USEPA Report on Connectivity of Streams and Wetlands May Affect CWA Jurisdiction
Journal of American Water Works Association
Florida's New Crop: Is Water Farming For You?
Journal of the American Water Works Association
Secondary and Cumulative Impacts Analysis and the Clean Water Act
Journal of the American Water Works Association
Secondary and Cumulative Impacts Analysis in the Environmental Context for Assessing Environmental Damage
WestLaw Journal: Environmental
Who Gets the Water? A Competition for a Limited Resource
Journal of the American Water Works Association
Greenwashing: A Guide to the Ethical Advertising of Green Products
Manatee Chamber of Commerce
Greenwashing: What Your Client Should Know to Avoid Costly Litigation and Consumer Backlash
American Bar Association
Two Tribes Embrace Green Development Practices for Off-Reservation Projects
Natural Resources & Environment
What is an ARNI and Why Should You Care?
American Bar Association's Natural Resources & Environment Publication
Speaking Engagements
The Winds of Change…Storming into the Future, Florida Association of Special Districts Annual Conference
Florida Water Law: Limited Availability in the Land of Abundance, Water Sustainability Plenary AIChE Spring National Meeting
Cumulative Impacts Analysis and Global Threats, ABA Section of Environment, Energy and Resources Law Summit
Clearer or More Confusing? Final Waters of the U.S. Rule Change Remains Murky, Florida Bar Environmental and Land Use Section Conference
EPA Clean Water Rule, American Bar Association Spring Conference
Lake Okeechobee and the Estuaries, Florida Chamber Environmental Permitting Summer School
Lake Okeechobee and the Estuaries, Florida Chamber Environmental Permitting Summer School
Hot Topics in Wetlands and Water, Local Government Law in Florida Conference
Websites & Blogs
Website
Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A. Website
Contact & Map
Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A.
515 North Flagler Drive
Suite 1500
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Telephone: (561) 640-0820
Fax: (561) 640-8202