Florida Office

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Rachel has just moved to St. Petersburg, where she works as the Programs Assistant in WildLaw’s Florida Office. Rachel recently graduated from Antioch College (Yellow Springs, Ohio) where she studied History, Literature and Philosophy, receiving her B.A. in Philosophy after three years. Throughout the last several years Rachel has worked for and interned with various nonprofit environmental groups including the Environmental Working Group, Ohio Citizen Action and Global Community Monitor as well as Wilkes University, where she worked as a field technician for the Biology Department.

Rachel Gelbmann,
Florida Program Assistant

Brett Paben, Senior Staff Attorney

Brett Paben started at WildLaw after graduating from the University of Oregon School of Law in 2000, with his J.D. and a certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law. Brett also holds bachelors' degrees in International Affairs and Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Florida. Brett works on public lands, endangered species and anti-pollution related issues, with a particular focus on National Forests. 

Sarah Schwemin, Staff Attorney

Sarah is a Florida native who has lived in Miami, the Keys, Naples and Orlando.  She graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in finance and went on to earn her J.D. from Barry University's Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law in Orlando, Florida, where she was the valedictorian of the class of 2009.  After passing the Florida Bar, she joined WildLaw as a Staff Attorney in September of 2009.