Edward Cole
Edward Cole is a litigator who practices in the areas of commercial litigation, real estate litigation, and natural resources law. He represents businesses and property owners in litigation. In his natural resources work, he represents landowners and other private parties before state and federal permitting agencies on wetlands, water use, and endangered species issues as well as with mineral ownership. Edward is admitted to practice in both North Carolina and Florida, as well as before the Eleventh Circuit of the US Court of Appeals, the Northern, Southern, and Middle District Courts of Florida, and the Middle and Western District Courts of North Carolina.
Edward has been recognized by Super Lawyers in their “Rising Stars” and has been listed in Chambers USA. A 2002 honors graduate from the University of North Carolina School of Law, Edward also holds a B.S. in Forestry from Auburn University in 1999. Edward has authored articles and presented at numerous
meetings on environmental law.
Edward brings more than 20 years of environmental, land use, forestry, and wetlands management experience to the firm’s thriving real estate practice.
PRACTICE FOCUS
- Civil Litigation
- Environmental & Natural Resources
CONTACT EDWARD
EDUCATION
University of North Carolina School of Law, Juris Doctor, 2002, with honors
- North Carolina Journal of International Law and Commercial Regulation, Editor; Holderness Moot Court Board, Member
Auburn University, BS, Forestry, 1999
- summa cum laude
- Outstanding Senior Award, Recipient
North Carolina State University; School of Forestry
HONORS, AWARDS
- Chambers USA 2013-2015, Ranked in Florida for Environment
- Florida Super Lawyers Rising Star; 2011-2015, Environmental, Business Litigation, and Real Estate
- U.S. News/Best Lawyers Best Law Firms Family Law Section since 2016
- U.S. News/Best Lawyers Best Law Firms Litigation - Real Estate Section 2020
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
- Summit Charter School, Board Member and Past Board Chair
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- North Carolina State Bar, Member
- 30th Judicial District Bar Association, Member
- North Carolina Bar Association, Member
- The Florida Bar, Member
- Florida Forestry Association, Vice President
- Society of American Foresters
ADMISSIONS
- The Florida Bar
- The North Carolina Bar
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Western District of North Carolina
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
LEGAL EXPERIENCE
- Assistant State Attorney, Fourth Judicial Circuit, (Duval, Clay, Nassau County) Florida, 2002-2003
- Radey Thomas Yon & Clark, Tallahassee, Florida, 2003-2007
- Akerman LLP, Jacksonville, Florida 2007-2016 (partner)
- Coward, Hicks & Siler, Cashiers, North Carolina, since 2016 (partner)
PRESENTATIONS
- Florida Forestry Association Annual Meeting, Speaker,”Conservation and Agricultural Ad Valorem Taxes,” September 2010
- Society of American Foresters Annual Meeting, Speaker, “Markets for Wetlands and Species Banking,” October 2008
- Florida Forestry Association Annual Meeting, Speaker, “Wetland Mitigation Banking in Florida,” September 2008
- Southeastern Society of American Foresters Annual Meeting, Speaker, “Conservation Easements in Florida,” September 2007
PUBLICATIONS
- Florida Forests, Author, “Wildlife BMPs” Spring/Summer 2015
- Florida Forests, Author, “The Evolving Wetland Mitigation Banking Market in Florida,” Fall/Winter 2008
- North Carolina Journal of International Law and Commercial Regulation, Author, “What Difference Does It Make Whether You Are Deportable or Excludable? The Supreme Court Refuses to Say,” Spring 2003