Practice Areas: Environmental, Energy & Natural Resources, Land Use & Zoning
Licensed in Georgia since: 2003
Education: Case Western Reserve University School of Law
Selected to Rising Stars: 2016 - 2018 Details
Laura W. Benz is the founding Principal of Benz Law Group, LLC. Ms. Benz’s practice emphasizes counseling public and private clients with environmental issues under the Clean Water Act, state stream buffer regulations, zoning/land use, local government and development matters. She further advises clients and drafts documentation to address regulatory matters with GA EPD and EPA pertaining to water and hazardous waste as well as assists clients in matters with Safe Dams.
First Admitted: 2003, Georgia
Professional Webpage: http://www.lwbenz.com/about-us.html
Bar/Professional Activity:
- State of Georgia Bar, Environmental Section, Executive Board - Member at Large (2016-2024)
- Leadership Georgia - Fanning Fellow
- Georgia Association of Water Professionals - Member; Secretary of Intergrated Master Planning Committee
- Georgia Child Care Association Advisory Board, 2015
- Atlanta Bar Association – Executive Board - Environmental & Toxic Tort Section , 2014
- Georgia Association of Environmental Professionals, 2015
- Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce
- Association of Women Environmental Professionals – Member
- Business Women of Fayette Coweta - Member
- Atlanta Bar Association –Chair Elect Environmental & Toxic Tort Section, 2011
- American Bar Association, Environment, Energy & Resources Section - Member, 2015
- Flint Basin Advisory Council , 2015
- Georgia Environmental Restoration Association - Member
- Chair Environmental & Toxic Tort Section - Atlanta Bar , 2012
- Atlanta Bar Association –Executive Board - Young Lawyers Division Committee - Member at Large (2011-2013)
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
- Summary Judgement to enforce a historic preservation easement against a developer making unauthorized changes on a National Register of Historic Places property in Atlanta. , 2024
Representative Clients:
- Successfully represented adjacent property owners in opposing the rezoning of a property for the construction of an approximately 800-acre solar farm. , 2023
- Represented a local government in enforcement and defense of compensatory mitigation property to obtain remediation as well as avoid federal regulatory enforcement for violations of a CWA permit. , 2024
- Represented developer in erosion and sedimentation control claims by local governing body. , 2024
- Obtained the necessary federal and state permits for the Cherokee C&D landfill expansion for WastePro
- Serve as project manager for the required state and federal permits for the Bear Creek Water Supply Project, South Fulton Municipal Regional Water & Sewer Authority
- Represented Florida Rock in Quarry assessment and expansions, obtained necessary permits
Transactions:
- Represented purchaser in property acquisition of HSRA property for redevelopment. , 2023
- Obtained withdrawal permit from the Chattahoochee River below Atlanta for the Middle Chattahoochee WSA. This was the first direct withdrawal permit from this section of the River over the past twenty years. , 2020
- Obtained local and state authorization for recycling facility and transfer station , 2017
- Served as special counsel and advised Authority in environmental factors with the sale of a jail., 2019
- Represent local government client in pursuit of large economic and recreational lake in Tennessee, 2018
- Represented client in resolution of the largest violation of the Metropolitan River Corridor Protection Act and other zoning matters in Johns Creek, 2019
- Negotiated the purchase of compensatory mitigation credits for a 404 permit to expand an existing reservoir, saving the client millions of what was originally offered and making the project financially feasible. , 2021
- Obtained 404 permit for the construction of the Parks Creek water supply project - City of Jefferson, 2014
- Handled a Cherokee Indian Repatriation on behalf of the City of Canton
- Obtained all necessary state and federal permits for the 410-acre Lake McIntosh Water Supply Reservoir - Fayette County, 2008
- Obtained the Hickory Log Creek Water Supply Reservoir 404 permit - City of Canton & Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority
- Obtained 404 permit for 960-acre Tired Creek Fishing Lake - the first non-DNR fishing lake permitted in the State of Georgia , 2010
- Obtained the 404 permit for the Hard Labor Creek Water Supply Reservoir - Walton County Water & Sewerage Authority, 2004
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Flint River Basin Advisory Council
- Georgia Child Care Association Advisory Board, 2015
- National League of Junior Cotillions, Coweta County, Advisory Board
- 100 Woman Coweta
- Coweta County Foundation - Executive Board (2017-2023)
- Rotary Club, Newnan
- Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), Coweta County, 2016
- Junior League of Atlanta, Sustainer
Honors/Awards:
- Alumni Board of Directors, Furman University (2013-2019), Alumni Board of Directors, Furman University
- Leadership Class, Catholic Charities, 2022
- Environmental Law Lawyer of Distinction, Lawyers of Distinction, 2024
- Environmental Law Lawyer of Distinction, Lawyers of Distinction, 2023
- Georgia Rising Stars, Super Lawyer, Super Lawyer, 2018
- Georgia Rising Stars, Super Lawyer, Super Lawyer, 2017
- Class of 2017 - Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership, Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership, 2017
- Leadership Coweta, Coweta County Chamber of Commerce, 2016
- Georgia Rising Stars, Super Lawyer, Super Lawyer, 2016
- Leadership Georgia , class of 2013, Georgia Chamber of Commerce, 2013
- Fellow of American Bar Foundation, American Bar Foundation
Educational Background:
- Columbia University - Biosphere, 1999
- Case Western Reserve University - J.D. , 2000-2023
- Furman University - Bachelor of Arts - Political Science, 1996-2000
- Furman University, Bachelor of Science - Environmental Science, 1996-2000
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- “Wetlands Permitting and Mitigation for Large Projects: Successfully Permitting a Water Supply Reservoir – New Reservoirs, New Alternatives, Protected Species, and Alternatives Analysis”, 10th Annual Wetlands and Water Law in the Southeast, February 16-17, 2011, Atlanta, GA., Speaker, Wetlands Permitting and Mitigation for Large Projects: Successfully Permitting a Water Supply Reservoir – New Reservoirs, New Alternatives, Protected Species, and Alternatives Analysis, 10th Annual Wetlands and Water Law in the Southeast, Legal, 2011
- spoke at the annual conference of the environmental section of the GA Bar , Presented, The Section 404 Wetlands Permitting Process, Environmental Law Section, Georgia Bar, 2010
- Spoke on the complexities between consultants and attorneys in dealing with environmental matters , Presented, The Relationship Between Lawyer and Environmental Consultant in Compliance and Permitting Matters: Special Problems, The Environmental and Toxic Tort Section of the Atlanta Bar, 2015
- presented on gun trusts and how to lawfully address firearms transfers in estate proceedings , Presenter, Firearms Bequests, Gun Trusts and Estate Administration, Gun Law: Advanced Issues, 2016
- Presented on water reservoirs and served on the panel discussing water needs/uses in Georgia , Presenter/Panelist, Water Law and Litigation Update (The Role of Reservoirs in Georgia's Water Future), Georgia Water Resources Conference, 2017
- Was the guest speaking about environmental law on the podcast , Guest, The Opening Statement Podcast, The Opening Statement Podcast, 2022
- presented in an online seminar discussing the development of water supplies , Presenter, Managing Finite Water Resources, Georgia's Water Rights and Regulations Seminar, 2023
- A discussion of the processes, challenges and strategies to obtain water withdrawal permits from EPD, specifically the challenges faced by the Middle Chattahoochee Regional Water and Sewer Authority. , Presenter, A long time coming: Middle Chattahoochee Regional WSA, Environment and Water Resources Institute, Engineering, Legal And Environmental Consultants, 2021
- “The Section 404 Wetlands Permitting Process”, Environmental Law Section, Georgia Water Law Seminar, Crown Plaza Hotel, July 29-30, 2010, Hilton Head, SC., Speaker, “The Section 404 Wetlands Permitting Process”, Environmental Law Section, Georgia Water Law, 2010
- Water Wise, volume 14, Summer, 404 Permitting and the Clean Water Act, 2015
- Update on permitting reservoirs and associated challenges , Reservoirs - To Be or Not to Be. Updates on Law, Regulation and Financing, 5th Annual Georgia Water Law & Regulation, Atlanta, GA.
- "Update to Wetland Rules & Permitting", Environmental Law Section, Georgia Bar Summer Seminar, King & Prince Resort, July 29-30, 2016, St. Simons, GA, Invited Speaker, Update to Wetland Rules & Permitting, Environmental Law Section, Georgia Bar Summer Seminar, 2016
- “Reservoir Permitting in Georgia – Caution Ahead: Reservoir Roadblocks and Detours”, 14th Annual Georgia Water Law & Regulation, February 27, 2015, Atlanta, GA., Invited speaker, Reservoir Permitting in Georgia – Caution Ahead: Reservoir Roadblocks and Detours, 14th Annual Georgia Water Law & Regulation, 2015
- “Reservoir Permitting in Georgia”, 13th Annual Georgia Water Law & Regulation, March 19, 2014, Atlanta, GA., Reservoir Permitting in Georgia, 13th Annual Georgia Water Law & Regulation, 2014
- “Endangered Species and 404 Permitting”, Endangered Species Act Law Seminar, March 14, 2013, Atlanta, GA., Speaker, Endangered Species and 404 Permitting, Endangered Species Act Law Seminar, 2013
- “Relationship between Lawyer, Client and Environmental Consultant”, Environmental & Toxic Tort Section, Atlanta Bar, March 8, 2013, Atlanta, GA, Speaker, Relationship between Lawyer, Client and Environmental Consultant, Environmental & Toxic Tort Section, Atlanta Bar, 2013
- “Putting it All Together – Permitting Strategies: A Panel Discussion”, 12th Annual Wetlands and Water Law in the Southeast, February 27-28, 2013, Atlanta, GA, Speaker, Putting it All Together – Permitting Strategies: A Panel Discussion, 12th Annual Wetlands and Water Law, 2013
- “Recent Developments in 404 Permitting”, Environmental Law Section, Georgia Bar, Summer Seminar, King and Prince Resort, August 5-6, 2011, St. Simons, GA., Speaker, Recent Developments in 404 Permitting, Environmental Law Section, Georgia Bar, 2011
Office location for Laura Benz
19 W Broad St
Newnan, GA 30263
Selections
3 Years Rising Stars
- Rising Stars: 2016 - 2018