Estrellita S. Sibila

Associate

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Estrellita focuses her practice on private land development. She represents property owners in complex matters involving land use, zoning, developmental approvals, comprehensive planning and code enforcement. She also has extensive experience in sustainable building with the implementation and application of sustainable land development codes and green building practices. She was the first attorney in Miami-Dade County to obtain the U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP) credential and is a frequent lecturer, author and quoted source on sustainable development issues including energy efficient land use planning, sustainable land development codes, urban environment and smart growth issues, and legal risks associated with green buildings. 

Estrellita appears before city and county boards throughout South Florida, including the cities of Miami, Miami Beach, Doral, Sunny Isles Beach, South Miami, Opa-Locka and Miami-Dade County. She has successfully obtained development approvals for multifamily and affordable housing developments, Class-A office buildings, sustainable development projects, religious facilities, and educational institutions, including colleges and universities and charter schools. As part of her representation, she advises clients on winning solutions and strategies aimed at saving clients valuable time and money, mitigating unforeseen costs, balancing private and community interests, and overcoming unique challenges in the land development field and the governmental approval process.  She has been profiled in Miami Today as “The Achiever” for her work advocacy work in sustainable development.

In addition to her legal experience, Estrellita has worked with various non-profit and civic organizations in Miami including Community Partnership for Homeless as a community relations ambassador, the United Way of Miami-Dade where she serves on the Young Leader Executive Committee, and The Archdiocese of Miami where she serves on the Estate and Gift Planning Advisory Board.  She is a former Director of Lawyer’s Credit Union and former Supervisory Committee Member of University Credit Union. 

Professional Licenses

  • Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional, 2007

Published Works

  • “Sustainable Florida Initiatives Proliferate Codes in 2009,” Florida Real Estate Journal, November, 2009
  • “Definitions and Goal-Setting Keys to Green Development,” Florida Real Estate Journal, April 16-30, 2009

Memberships

  • Cuban American Bar Association (CABA)
  • Dade County Bar Association, Land Use Environmental Law Section
  • The Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section

Awards and Recognitions

  • Super Lawyer
  • US Green Building Council LEED AP Logo
  • “40 Under 40 Outstanding Lawyers of Miami Dade County,” Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, October 2010
  •  “2010 Rising Star,” Florida Super Lawyer Magazine, June 2010
  • Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce HYPE “Go Getter Award,” March 2010
  • “2009 Rising Star,” Florida Super Lawyer Magazine, July 2009 
  • “Top 40 Under 40 Rising Stars of Florida Real Estate,” Real Estate Florida Magazine, June 2009
  • “The Achiever: Green Advocacy as a Legal Calling,” Miami Today, November 27, 2008
  •  “Up and Coming Attorney,” Florida Trend Magazine, July 2008
  • “Top 30 Under 30 in Commercial Real Estate,” Real Estate Florida Magazine, March 2008

Professional/Civic Activities

  • Miami Green Commission
    (appointed by Mayor Manny Diaz)
  • Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce
    Co-Chair of Green Task Force, 2008-2010
  • The Archdiocese of Miami Estate and Gift Planning Advisory Board
  • United Way of Miami-Dade
  • Young Leaders Executive Committee Member
  • Associate Legal Mingle Committee Member
  • Leadership Miami Graduate, 2008-2009 Class

Presentations

  • “Sustainable Development: Utilizing Sustainable Local Codes and Ordinances as a Development Tool and Incentive,” Ralph E. Boyer 23rd Institute on Real Property Law, October 2010 
  • “Environmental Issues in Sustainable Development,” University of Miami School of Law, August 2010
  •  “Legal Issues in Sustainable Development,” University of Miami School of Law, May 2009.
  • “Sustainability 101 for Lawyers: Green Buildings and LEED Certification,” Dade County Bar Association, October 2008
  • “The Greenhouse Effect: Today’s Green Building May Be Tomorrow’s Defect Suit, Construction Defect Suits - Strategies under Florida’s New Law,” November 2007
  • “Residential Real Estate Outlook For 2009,” Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce and Realtor Association of Greater Miami and the Beaches, October 2008
  • “Retrofit Green Buildings,” Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, March 2010
  • “Building A Green Future,” Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, January 2009

Languages

  • Spanish

Press Mentions