About Me


James E. Charles

President

Prior Professional Experience

  • Mr. Charles was an adjunct professor of law at the Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, Florida, co-teaching Environmental Policy and Practice.
  • Mr. Charles was a teaching assistant for the University of Florida Law School's Conservation Clinic where he developed instructive components and supervised student project assignments. In addition to his position as teaching assistant, he was the Assistant Attorney for the Law School's Center for Government Responsibility where he provided professional services to public and private conservation initiatives and projects.


Professional, Civic and Community Involvement

  • The American Bar Association, Native American Resources Committee, Vice-Chair
  • The American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy and Resources, Member.
  • The Federal Bar Association, Federal Litigation, Environmental and Natural Resources, and Alternative Dispute Resolution Sections, Member.
  • The Florida Bar Association, Environmental and Land Use Law Section, Member.
  • Florida Rising Star, 2009.
  • GETABOARD Foundation, Member.
  • Florida Marine Contractors Association, Board of Directors, 2004-2013.
  • South Florida Marine Contractors Association, Director, 2004-2013.
  • The Lord's Place, Board of Directors, 2006-2013.


Publications and Presentations

  • Mr. Charles has been a guest speaker (2015 & 2016) at the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization IHE Delft Institute for Water Education regarding working with Indigenous Peoples in connection with environmental restoration and water control projects.
  • Mr. Charles has been a quest speaker at the 2017 Tidally United Summit concerning Indigenous Peoples and climate change.
  • Mr. Charles has frequently been a guest speaker at the United South & Eastern Tribes regarding protection of cultural resources and Government-to-Government consultations.
  • Mr. Charles has been a guest speaker at the Southeastern Archaeological Conference regarding protecting tribal cultural interests in connection with Everglades Restoration.
  • Mr. Charles has been a guest speaker for the Florida Earth Foundation regarding tribal water rights.
  • Mr. Charles was a guest speaker at the Florida Marine Contractors Association's annual convention in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010 where he discussed the various local, state, and federal legal issues surrounding marine construction throughout the state of Florida.
  • Mr. Charles was a guest speaker at the 2002 Forest Management Trust Workshop concerning negotiation tactics and theories for conservation easements.
  • We Come for Good: Archaeology and Tribal Historic Preservation at the Seminole Tribe of Florida, co-author, 2017.
  • Innovative Airport Responses to Threatened and Endangered Species, Airport Cooperative Research Program Report 122, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies of Sciences (Sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration), co-authored Section 5 “Innovative Process Solutions”, 2015.
  • “Water Wars in the Southeast”, Journal American Water Works Association, co-authored with Wayne Flowers, February 2014.
  • “Numeric Nutrient Criteria for Florida”, presented at the 35th Annual Local Government Law in Florida Conference on May 11, 2012.
  • “Numeric Nutrient Criteria for Surface Waters: Coming to a Neighborhood Near You”, Journal American Water Works Association, co-authored with Wayne Flowers, January 2012.
  • “Moving from Adoption to Implementation of Numeric Nutrient Criteria”, Journal American Water Works Association, co-authored with Wayne Flowers, August 2012.
  • “Numeric Nutrient Water Quality Criteria: Lessons from Florida”, Natural Resources & Environment Quarterly Magazine (American Bar Association Section of Environmental, Energy, and Resources), co-authored with Wayne Flowers, Winter 2012.
  • Mr. Charles has been a contributing author for the Florida Marine Contractors Association’s newsletter.


Education

J.D., with honors, University of Florida College of Law, 2002.

B.S., University of Florida, 1996.


Indomitable Freedom

Volya Innovative Solutions is not associated in any manner with, nor endorsed, recommended, or sponsored by Veolia Environmental, SA