Areas of Practice
Education
- B.A., University of Florida 1969
- J.D., magna cum laude, Florida State University School of Law 1977
Bar Admissions
- Florida
Memberships
- Executive Council of the Administrative Law Section, Florida Bar
Suite 815
Tallahassee, FL 32301
TEL: 850-412-2004
877-270-7135 (fax)
FAX: 850-412-1304
Ms. Smallwood has concentrated in the area of environmental law for the past 23 years. From 1981 to 1986 she served as General Counsel to the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation, now the Department of Environmental Protection ('DEP'). In that capacity she supervised a legal staff in excess of 25 attorneys who handled all of the agency's legal matters, represented the agency in permitting and enforcement cases before the Environmental Regulation Commission, and lobbied before the Florida Legislature. During 1986 and 1987, Ms. Smallwood served as Director of the Division of Environmental Permitting for DEP where she was responsible for each of the agency's six district offices around the state and for the permitting of major projects in Tallahassee. While at DER, she worked closely with the federal environmental agencies, other state agencies, the water management districts and local environmental programs.
Since joining Ruden McClosky, she has represented a variety of private and public sector clients in matters including groundwater remediation for petroleum contamination, federal Superfund cleanups, dredge and fill permitting, air pollution, and surface water management.
She has worked with the Environmental Protection Agency, DEP, the water management districts and many local governments. She has handled such diverse matters as air pollution permitting and enforcement, major marina permitting and medical waste incinerators. Ms. Smallwood served on the Executive Council of the Environmental and Land Use Law Section of the Florida Bar from 1986 to 1997 and was Chair of that Section in 1995 - 1996; she also served as Chair of the Administrative Law Section (2000-2001). She has lectured extensively and authored various publications in the areas of land use, environmental and administrative law.
While attending law school, Ms. Smallwood was a member of the Editorial Board of the Law Review.
Ms. Smallwood has been recognized in Florida Super Lawyers, 2006-2008. She is AV® rated by Martindal Hubble.