Akerman achieved an important victory on behalf of Sugar Farms Co-op. with an appellate decision that upholds the use of water release permits for sugar-cane growers. The Florida Audubon Society challenged the South Florida Water Management District's interpretation of the Everglades Forever Act, by alleging the permits do not adequately protect the Everglades. The court rejected Florida Audubon's argument and affirmed an administrative order upholding the state agency's interpretation of the law, granting permits for several sugar farms to discharge water into water treatment areas. The ruling backed previous district court decisions to issue permits that regulate the discharge of phosphorus in water that flows into the Everglades. Akerman partners Silvia Alderman and Thomas Range represented Sugar Farms Co-op.

In a Law360 article titled, "Fla. Appeals Court Upholds Sugar Farm Water Release Permits," Alderman explained that the court's decision validated the sound regulatory framework in place for Florida's sugar farm water.

"We are pleased that the court affirmed the agency and the administrative law judge's well-reasoned decision," Alderman told the publication. "The court's opinion recognizes that a long-term, multi-faceted restoration strategy approved by the Florida Legislature and developed by scientists, which imposes on farmers the most stringent best management practices anywhere in the world, is far superior to the ad hoc and arbitrary approach with no basis in law proposed by the appellants."