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Alexander Johnson E English

also known as Alexander J. E. English, Alexander English
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Avvo Rating9.0
  • Silver Spring, MD
  • Licensed for 7 years
  • Free consultation
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About Alexander

I am a graduate of Vermont Law School, with a focus on water law & policy. I earned my J.D., a Master's degree in Environmental Law & Policy, and a Certificate in Water Law. I also earned a Certificate of Academic Excellence in Alternative Dispute Resolution. I am a member in good standing of the Maryland Bar, and admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for D.C. and Maryland.

 

I am in the process of building my public interest environmental and federal practices in the DC/Maryland area. In addition, I represent citizens and journalists on matters arising under public records statutes such as the Freedom of Information Act. My practice also includes land use, zoning, and agricultural law issues.

 

Prior to hanging my shingle as GreenSpring Legal, I was a Law Clerk at Hall & Associates (www.hall-associates.com), working on behalf of municipalities and other regulated entities to ensure that they comply with the mandates of the Clean Water Act, and that such mandates are properly applied/enforced. 

 

In May 2014, I completed a 6-month term as a pro bono Associate Attorney at the Office of the Attorney General - Maryland Department of the Environment. During the summer of 2012, I interned at the District of Columbia's Department of the Environment, working on DC's TMDL consolidation plan. Prior to law school, I was an English teacher & international development professional: I served as a Volunteer in the Peace Corps from 2007-2009, and worked for an international development nonprofit after I completed my service. 

 

Languages spoken: English, Bulgarian (novice), Spanish (novice).

 

Areas of Expertise: Research, water law & policy, conservation, water quality, Clean Water Act (CWA), TMDL, NPDES, FOIA, Administrative Law, Environmental Justice, stormwater, advocacy, communications, international development, teaching, education, legal research, legal analysis, green infrastructure, water resource management, government administration

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Practice areas

OtherLitigationLand use and zoningAdministrative lawEnvironmental and natural resources
  1. Environmental and natural resources: 30%

    Including Clean Water Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and Natural Gas Act

    8 years

  2. Administrative law: 20%

    Primarily federal and state environmental regulations and the Freedom of Information Act / Privacy Act, as well as the Maryland Public Information Act.

    8 years

  3. Land use and zoning: 20%

    Including easements and eminent domain

    8 years

  4. Litigation: 20%

    Representing plaintiffs in public interest cases and challenges to administrative agency action, as well as contractual disputes

    8 years

  1. Contracts and agreements: 10%

    8 years

Languages spoken

English

Photos and videos

4568467 1448930740

Contact

1509 Rainbow Dr.
Ste. 101
Silver Spring, MD, 20905

    Resume

    License
    StateStatusAcquiredUpdated
    MDActive201308/28/2021
    We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.
    Avvo Contributions
    Legal answers84
    Legal guides0
    Awards
    Award nameGrantorDate granted
    Certificate of Academic Excellence - ADRVermont Law School2013
    Certificate in Water Resources LawVermont Law School2013
    Work Experience
    TitleCompany nameDuration
    Managing AttorneyGreenSpring Legal, LLC2014 - Present
    Associate AttorneyThe Law Offices of Carolyn Elefant, PLLC2016 - 2017
    PartnerNew England Law Group2015 - 2015
    Law ClerkHall & Associates2014 - 2015
    Volunteer AttorneyMaryland Department of the Environment2013 - 2014
    Legal InternD.C. Department of the Environment (DDOE)2012 - 2012
    VolunteerUnited States Peace Corps2007 - 2009
    Associations
    Association namePosition nameDuration
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth CircuitAdmitted to Practice2017 - Present
    U.S. District Court for the District of MarylandAdmitted to Practice2016 - Present
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia CircuitAdmitted to Practice2016 - Present
    Maryland State Bar Association, Agricultural Law SectionCommittee Member2015 - Present
    U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaAdmitted to Practice2015 - Present
    Maryland State Bar Association, Administrative Law SectionMember2015 - Present
    Maryland State Bar Association, Solo and Small Firm Practice SectionMember2015 - Present
    Maryland State Bar Association, Agricultural Law Section, Case Law CommitteeCo-chair2015 - Present
    Maryland State Bar Association, Environmental Law SectionMember2014 - Present
    American Bar AssociationMember2013 - Present
    American Bar AssociationStudent Member2010 - 2013
    Publications
    Publication nameTitleDate
    Texas Environmental Law Journal, Vol. 47-1Calming the Waters: Environmental Mediation and Water Resources Disputes2017
    International RiversLet All Rivers Run to the Sea: Climate Change Mitigation through Reservoir Removal & Watershed Management2013
    D.C. Bar Continuing Legal Education ProgramDevelopment and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: Zoning, Permits, and Environmental Law Issues2012
    Education
    School nameDegreeGraduated
    American Law Institute – Continuing Legal Education11.25 Continuing Legal Education credit hours2016
    Vermont Law SchoolJD - Juris Doctor2013
    Vermont Law SchoolMA - Masters2013
    University of GeorgiaBA - Bachelor of Arts2006
    Speaking Engagements
    Conference nameTitleDate
    Environmental Career PanelEnvironmental Careers2015
    Legal cases
    Case nameOutcome
    Tuttle v. Crossed Wires Communications, LLC, et al$276,000.00 Judgment in favor of client
    Mikhailov v. NextGen Construction & Renovation, et al.Settled
    Eaton v. FBIClosed; agency provided withheld records
    Nagdimunov v. United Life Ins. Co.Success
    Kenneth Bosley, et al. v. Maryland Department of the Environment, et al.Remanded to Agency for further proceedings
    See all Legal Cases

    Reviews

    (6)
    5 Star
    		67%
    4 Star
    		17%
    3 Star
    		0%
    2 Star
    		0%
    1 Star
    		17%
    Review Alexander English

    Formidable Litigator

    Posted by

    I filed a Public Information Act Request with the Maryland State Police. Mr. English filed a circuit court complaint and won on Summary Judgment before a Judge who is notoriously "pro-state" Judge McGann. Alexander Alexander English is simply a very competent lawyer. He also represented me in a Federal Case quite satisfactorily.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Saved My Business

    Posted by

    I was going to sell my company for an offer that was nearly impossible to refuse. This sale would have changed my life for the better, but I would have given up my intellectual property and gotten a job within the new company. Alex looked over the documents with a critical eye and consulted a colleague as well. He did a complete assessment. The terms were vague and I would not have had any security or legal recourse. He recommended against signing off on the sale. I declined to sell the company. I later found out that the buyer had no intention of keeping me on. I would have lost every thing. To this day, I am grateful to Alex for helping me make the right decision. Thanks!
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Respectful and responsive to my thoughts and suggestions as a client

    Posted by

    Mr. English has been helping me with a rare and complex case over the past few weeks. In my experience with Mr. English, I find that despite the relatively recent nature of his practice, he is quite knowledgeable and extremely thorough in his approach to my case. He has taken the time and effort to learn the details of the case, which as I said is both multifaceted and rare, and conduct the necessary research in order to equip himself for the hearing. He has also been respectful and responsive to my thoughts and suggestions as a client, and has taken them into consideration, building upon them where appropriate. Ultimately this complicated case was decided in my favor thanks in large part to Mr. English's diligence. Lastly, what appealed to me even further in Mr. English's approach is the flexibility he has shown in his fee structure. Without going into detail, I can say that he has been reasonable and willing to work with me as a client on the timing of payments to a greater degree than other lawyers I have approached.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    A great FOIA attorney

    Posted by

    Mr. English has handled several Freedom of Information Act requests to federal agencies for me, from administrative appeals through litigation. Throughout, I've found him to be a consummate professional and a very capable attorney. He's especially skilled at FOIA, and I recommend him highly.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    David Versus Golaith?

    Posted by

    OK, maybe the title is overly dramatic. We faced a dispute with the local water/sewer agency over their proposal to build a temporary road on our property and through our woods to service a manhole in the adjacent park. The agency was proposing to use our property for a year without compensating us. Alex helped us navigate the process of proposing a compensation level that could be defended by standard practice and communicating our proposal to the agency. Ultimately, we prevailed -- not by receiving just compensation, but by the agency choosing a different route. We view this as a positive outcome and it would not have been possible without Alex.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Unbelievably bad support

    Posted by

    Mr. English represented me on a Maryland Public Information Act case. I was sanctioned by the court for filing subpoenas late for which Mr. English sent. He also filed a motion for summary judgement the day before our hearing and the judge admonished him for not allowing the defendant 18 days to respond. I received sanctions for that also. He sent me a bill for $3,600 immediately after the hearing where sanctions were discussed. I had already paid him $2,000 and the only work he had done was 1 letter and the two items for which I was sanctioned. When I refused to pay him for work that I got sanctioned for, he filed a district court case against me asking for over $12,000. The attorney I hired to represent me against Mr. English stated that his contract with me was highly irregular in the section about firing Mr. English. So, be careful what you sign with him.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney
    Alexander English's response: I regret that my firm was not able achieve this client’s goals after doing our utmost to salvage a matter which had been earlier compromised by the client’s decision to represent herself. Any negative consequences suffered by her were the direct result her taking or directing us to take actions against our express advice or having engaged us very late in the matter. Otherwise, our bills were fair, reasonable and reflect work done at her express request. We do sincerely regret that she is unhappy and wish her well.

    Attorney endorsements

    (3)
    Are you an attorney? Endorse this lawyer

    Seth Polansky, Environmental and natural resources Attorney on Dec 1, 2015
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    Alex is both a friend and colleague. I've known him for many years and I am always impressed by his insight and quick wit. I highly endorse Alex and his practice.

    Souha Al-Samkari, Environmental and natural resources Attorney on Sep 18, 2015
    Relationship: Co-worker

    Alex is a professional in every sense of the word--he is diligent, zealous, ethical, and courteous in his representation of his clients. His legal writing skills are among the best I've encountered in the field, and as a litigator he is a forced to be reckoned with. I endorse him without reservation.

    James Ostendorf, Environmental and natural resources Attorney on Jun 7, 2014
    Relationship: Worked for lawyer

    I strongly endorse Alexander English. Alex is an outstanding attorney and a passionate advocate. I have worked with Alex for four years both in law school and as new young attorneys. I can speak to his zealous advocacy and his knowledge of a great number of environmental issues.

    Cost

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        30 minutes
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