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Overview
Ralph DeMeo practices primarily environmental, land use, and administrative law within the Intersection of Business and Government Group. His clients include businesses, landowners, individuals, and government entities throughout Florida and nationally whom he represents in state and federal courts, before state and federal agencies, and through legislative initiatives.
Ralph’s practice includes environmental and land use issues, administrative matters, representation before government regulatory agencies, domestic and industrial wastewater and solid waste releases, toxic torts, and brownfields, as well as real estate due diligence, condemnation, construction defects, energy and utility law, transportation law, and animal law, with emphasis in civil and administrative litigation.
His experience includes Superfund/CERCLA, RCRA, FIFRA, CWA/NPDES, petroleum, dry cleaners, landfills, power plants, solar energy, agricultural lands, mines, and other contaminated properties. He has also represented plaintiffs and defendants in class action litigation and represented animal welfare groups in civil litigation. Ralph’s commitment to environmental and animal law has led to his participation in developing many Florida and local government environmental, land use, and animal laws, regulations, and ordinances.
Prior to attending law school, Ralph received an M.A. in English from Stetson University, leading to his position as Assistant Professor of English and Humanities at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, where he taught English literature, film, theatre, and creative writing, all of which has contributed to his keen analytical and legal documentation skills. He also taught creative writing seminars at Stetson University.
Ralph’s dedication to education includes law, serving as Adjunct Professor of Environmental & Animal Law at FSU College of Law; Adjunct Professor of Environmental & Animal Law at Stetson College of Law; Adjunct Professor of Legal Studies and Political Sciences at Tallahassee State College; and Adjunct Professor of Environmental Regulation and Policy in the Environmental Sciences Institute, at Florida A&M University (FAMU). He is also a frequent lecturer - primarily on environmental, land use, and animal law - at law schools, bar associations, and private continuing legal education (CLE) seminars, and a frequent author, with over 35 published articles.
Community Involvement
- Founder/CEO, Pets Ad Litem, Inc. (501c3 charity animal welfare & advocacy)
- Member, Tallahassee Police Department Citizens Advisory Council
- Member, City of Tallahassee Community Human Services Partnership (Team Leader)
- Member, City of Tallahassee Bridge Committee (Chair)
- Member, City of Tallahassee Animal Crimes Task Force
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Education
- Florida State University College of Law, J.D. with honors| 1984
- Stetson University, M.A. | 1980
- Stetson University, B.A. | 1976
Bar Admissions
- Florida
Court Admissions
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
- United States Court for the District of Columbia
Recognitions
- Chambers USA - Recognized Practitioner in Environment: Florida (Top 10 Environmental Lawyers in Florida)
- Martindale-Hubbell AV-Preeminent 5.0 (highest rating for attorney legal ability and ethical standards)
- Best Lawyers in America® (top 5% of lawyers in America)
- Florida Super Lawyers for Environmental Law (top 5% of lawyers in Florida)
- Who’s Who Legal of Florida
- Lexology Index (top environment and climate change lawyers worldwide)
- Deborah M. Smoot Memorial Award for Exception Editorial Service (twice), The Florida Bar Journal, News Editorial Board
- Judy Florence Memorial Outstanding Service Award, ELULS
- Stephens/Register Memorial Award (twice), ELULS
- Animal Law Section Attorney Achievement Award
- National Legal Counsel of the Year Award, March of Dimes
Education
- Florida State University College of Law, J.D. with honors| 1984
- Stetson University, M.A. | 1980
- Stetson University, B.A. | 1976
Bar Admissions
- Florida
Court Admissions
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
- United States Court for the District of Columbia
Publications
Ralph is a prolific author on environmental and animal law topics, including:
- Author or co-author of more than 35 law journal/review articles
- Five chapters in The Florida Bar Treatise on Environmental and Land Use Law
- One chapter in The Florida Bar Treatise on Administrative Law
- One chapter in The Florida Bar Ethics Manual.
- Lead author and editor of a Florida Bar Journal “Special Issue on Animal Law in Florida”
- Authored a chapter entitled “Animal Law: Lessons Learned from the Environmental Law Movement,” in the law school text What Can Animal Law Learn from Environmental Law? (Abate 2020).
Education
- Florida State University College of Law, J.D. with honors| 1984
- Stetson University, M.A. | 1980
- Stetson University, B.A. | 1976
Bar Admissions
- Florida
Court Admissions
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
- United States Court for the District of Columbia
Affiliations
- Pets Ad Litem, INC., CEO
- Tallahassee Community Human Services Partnership, Tallahassee Police Department Community Advisory Council, Tallahassee Leon County Animal Crimes Task Force, Tallahassee Bridge Committee, Member
- Tallahassee Community College Legal Studies Advisory Board, Member
- The Florida Bar Environmental and Land Use Law Section (ELULS), Former Chair
- The Florida Bar Animal Law Section, Former Inaugural Chair and Current Executive Council Member
- The Florida Bar Animal Law Committee (ALC), Former Chair
- The Florida Bar Environmental and Land Use Law Section (ELULS), Former Chair and Executive Council Member
- ELULS Treatise on Environmental and Land Use Law, Former Managing Editor
- The Florida Bar Administrative Law Section, Former Executive Council Member
- The Florida Bar Administrative Law Section, Former Chair and Editorial Board Member
- The Florida Bar Journal, News Editorial Board, Former Chair and Editorial Board Member
- The Florida Bar Administrative Law Section Executive Council, Former Member
Education
- Florida State University College of Law, J.D. with honors| 1984
- Stetson University, M.A. | 1980
- Stetson University, B.A. | 1976
Bar Admissions
- Florida
Court Admissions
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
- United States Court for the District of Columbia
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