Administrative Hearings & Appeals
Sidney C. Bigham, III
Partner
For Sid Bigham, the top priority is always to provide clients with the highest caliber of service in an efficient manner. He became a lawyer to help clients, and Sid believes that an attorney is there to navigate the law and to make it work in the face of aggressive government or other adversaries. He puts his clients’ interests first and derives great pleasure from being able to bring assistance to large and small clients alike.
Sid Bigham is based in Tallahassee and is a partner on Berger Singerman’s Government and Regulatory Team as well as the firm’s Dispute Resolution Team. In his practice, Sid handles environmental, governmental, administrative, eminent domain, and land use matters, as well as civil litigation and related appeals. In particular, Sid has extensive experience providing counsel regarding environmental permitting, land use, and comprehensive planning issues. He also advises clients on a broad range of civil and administrative litigation involving government, such as regulatory compliance, professional licensure, enforcement, eminent domain, and defense, contracts, and due diligence. Sid’s broad perspective, experience in diverse fields of law, dedication, and unique connections at all levels of local, regional, state, and federal government enable him to provide clients with efficient and effective representation.
During his career, Sid has been recognized for his stellar work in his field. He was named to The Best Lawyers in America® for 2022 and was named among the Legal Elite by Florida Trend Magazine on multiple occasions.
Representative Matters 
- Major upgrades of the Key West Resort Utilities wastewater treatment facility, which services all of the lower keys, with upgrades including advanced wastewater treatment upgrades and installation of two deep injection UIC wells. Last Stand et al v. KW Resort Utilities Corp. and Florida Department of Environmental Protection, DOAH Case No.: 14-5302 (RO Jan. 15, 2016) adopted with modifications (FO Feb. 24, 2016) (I successfully defended FDEP’s permit as lead and sole counsel for FDEP, from petition intake to final order, conducted entirety of ten (10) day hearing in Key West without litigation support from other attorneys or staff). As sole counsel for FDEP on this case, I handled this matter from initial petition intake, through referral to DOAH, case strategy development, development of exhibits, motion practice, discovery, including written discovery and witness preparation and depositions, final hearing, and post-hearing submittals.
- The construction of a new low-pressure (rather than traditional gravity) wastewater collection and transmission system. Dump the Pumps, Inc. et al. v. Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority and Florida Department of Environmental Protection, DOAH Case Nos.: 14-2416, 14-2417, 14-2420, and 14-2421, (RO Feb. 3, 2015) adopted in toto (FO Mar. 16, 2015) (successfully defended permit as lead counsel, from petition to final order, conducted entirety of three (3) day hearing in Key West with minimal litigation support). As lead counsel for FDEP, I handled this matter from initial petition intake, through referral to DOAH, case strategy development, development of exhibits, motion practice, discovery, including written discovery and witness preparation and depositions, final hearing, and post-hearing submittals with limited litigation support from co-counsel who handled one witness at the final hearing.
- The construction of the Sabal Trail Natural Gas Pipeline. WWALS Watershed Coalition v. Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC and Florida Department of Environmental Protection, DOAH Case No.: 15-4975, (RO Dec. 11, 2015) adopted in toto (FO Jan. 15, 2016) (successfully defended permit as co-counsel, from petition to final order, conducted three (3) day hearing in Jasper with another attorney). As co-counsel for FDEP, I handled this matter from initial petition intake, through referral to DOAH, case strategy development, development of exhibits, motion practice, discovery, including written discovery and witness preparation and depositions, final hearing, and post-hearing submittals with litigation support from lead counsel.
- Martin County and St. Lucie County v. All Aboard Florida Operations, LLC, Florida East Coast Railway, LLC, and South Florida Water Management District, DOAH Case Nos. 16-5718 and 17-2566 (RO Sept. 29, 2017) adopted in toto (FO Nov. 16, 2017) (challenged permit and obtained favorable project modifications valued far in excess of legal costs for client, prosecuted case as co-counsel from drafting of petition to final order, conducted nine (9) day hearing in West Palm Beach with other attorneys). As co-counsel for the Petitioners, I handled this matter from drafting the initial petition, case strategy development, development of exhibits, motion practice, discovery, including extensive written discovery and witness preparation and depositions, including conducting over 20 expert witness depositions at different locations around the state within a matter of weeks, handled witness preparation and witness examination at final hearing for several witness, and was the primary draftsman of post-hearing submittals with litigation support from lead counsel.
- BG Mine, LLC v. City of Bonita Springs, DOAH Case No. 17-3871GM (RO Dec. 18, 2018) (challenged City’s comprehensive plan updates, prosecuted case as co-counsel from drafting of petition to drafting initial appellate brief, which remains pending, conducted six (6) day hearing, part in Bonita Springs and part in Tallahassee, and drafted initial appellate brief on related appeal) on appeal BG Mine, LLC v. City of Bonita Springs, Fla. First DCA Case No. 1D19-1403 (in abeyance pending settlement negotiations). As co-counsel for the Petitioner, I handled this matter from drafting the initial petition, case strategy development, development of exhibits, motion practice, discovery, including written discovery and witness preparation and depositions, handled witness preparation and witness examination at final hearing for several witness, and was the primary draftsman of post-hearing submittals and the initial appellate brief, with litigation support from lead counsel.
Awards & Honors
- The Best Lawyers in America®, 2022; 2025
- Florida Trend Magazine, Legal Elite
Community Activities / Associations
- 2024-2025 President Elect of the Tallahasse Bar Association
- The Florida Bar (Administrative Law Section; Environmental; Land Use Law Section)
- Member, Executive Committee, Florida Bar Environmental and Land Use Law Section (2023-2025)
- 2023 President Elect, Board of Directors of the Tallahassee Bar Association (Board Member, 2013-Present)
- 2013-2014 President, Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Foundation of Tallahassee (Board Member, 2012-2016)
- Member, Board of Directors of the Goodwood Museum and Gardens, Inc.; 2013-2016
- Leadership Tallahassee, Class 31, 2014
In the News
Fifty-Six Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2025 Edition of Best Lawyers In America
August 15, 2024
Law360 Quotes Sid Bigham in, "What's Behind Gainesville Inclusionary Zoning Fight Tensions"
December 21, 2022
Forty-Three Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2023 Edition of Best Lawyers In America
August 18, 2022
Yahoo! News, "How the federal infrastructure bill could improve Florida’s Capital Region | Opinion"
November 21, 2021
Thrity-nine Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2022 Edition of Best Lawyers In America
August 19, 2021
Berger Singerman Hosts Its First Ever Weather Week
February 23, 2021
Law360 Features Sid Bigham in, "Berger Singerman Adds Environmental Atty As Partner"
February 5, 2021
February 1, 2021
Publications
Sidney Bigham, III Inducted as President of the Tallahassee Bar Association
January 10, 2024
November 30, 2022
Tallahassee Democrat, "How the federal infrastructure bill could improve Florida’s Capital Region"
November 21, 2021
“Burden Shifting in Third Party Challenges to Environmental and Regulatory Authorizations”,
January 26, 2016
Events & Speaking Engagements
July 20, 2022
October 14, 2021
July 1, 2020
July 1, 2019
October 1, 2015
Prior Affiliations
- Oertel, Fernandez, Bryant and Atkinson, PA
- Florida Department of Environmental Protection
- Ausley & McMullen, PA