About Steven
Mr. Diebenow is a partner at the firm. His primary focus is real estate, land use, zoning, and government law. As a registered lobbyist across a wide range of issues, Mr. Diebenow represents individuals, corporations, landowners and developers to secure business and development incentives as well as entitlements including land use, zoning, concurrency and mobility fee approvals. He also provides legal counsel in real estate transactions including the acquisition, entitlement, financing, and development of all types of commercial and residential properties.Mr. Diebenow began his professional career on the legislative staff of U.S. Senator Bob Graham in Washington, D.C. He went on to practice land use, zoning and environmental law at Rogers, Towers, Bailey, Jones & Gay, P.A., where he became a partner. Mr. Diebenow served as counsel to John Peyton in his successful campaign for mayor of Jacksonville and subsequently served on Mayor Peyton’s staff, first as Chief of Policy and Planning and then as Chief of Staff. At the Mayor’s direction, Mr. Diebenow led special projects such as: negotiating economic development incentive agreements and workouts; acquisition, disposition and redevelopment of properties involving local, state and federal agencies; and the attempted reconversion of a military airbase during the federal BRAC process. After leaving the Mayor’s Office, Mr. Diebenow was named a Principal at Rock Creek Capital, an alternative asset investment and management firm that has invested in land and timber for 20 years. He was actively involved in identifying, negotiating and structuring real estate investments.
Mr. Diebenow is a partner at the firm. His primary focus is real estate, land use, zoning, and government law. As a registered lobbyist across a wide range of issues, Mr. Diebenow represents individuals, corporations, landowners and developers to secure business and development incentives as well as entitlements including land use, zoning, concurrency and mobility fee approvals. He also provides legal counsel in real estate transactions including the acquisition, entitlement, financing, and development of all types of commercial and residential properties.
Mr. Diebenow began his professional career on the legislative staff of U.S. Senator Bob Graham in Washington, D.C. He went on to practice land use, zoning and environmental law at Rogers, Towers, Bailey, Jones & Gay, P.A., where he became a partner. Mr. Diebenow served as counsel to John Peyton in his successful campaign for mayor of Jacksonville and subsequently served on Mayor Peyton’s staff, first as Chief of Policy and Planning and then as Chief of Staff. At the Mayor’s direction, Mr. Diebenow led special projects such as: negotiating economic development incentive agreements and workouts; acquisition, disposition and redevelopment of properties involving local, state and federal agencies; and the attempted reconversion of a military airbase during the federal BRAC process. After leaving the Mayor’s Office, Mr. Diebenow was named a Principal at Rock Creek Capital, an alternative asset investment and management firm that has invested in land and timber for 20 years. He was actively involved in identifying, negotiating and structuring real estate investments.
Practice Areas
Education
Professional Affiliations
Awards & Recognition
- Lawyer of the Year: Government Relations Practice, Jacksonville (2026)
- Lawyer of the Year: Government Relations Practice, Jacksonville (2021)
- Lawyer of the Year: Land Use and Zoning Law, Jacksonville (2018)
- Recognized: Government Relations Practice
- Recognized: Land Use and Zoning Law
- Recognized: Real Estate Law
- Practice Area: Economic Development Law
- Practice Area: Litigation - Land Use and Zoning
- Practice Area: Municipal Law
- Practice Area: Utilities Law
- Practice Area: Water Law
- AV Peer Review Rated by Lexis Nexis | Martindale Hubbell
- Jacksonville Business Journal‘s 2018 Ultimate Attorneys
- Jacksonville Magazine‘s 2018 Lawyer of the Year
- Jacksonville Business Journal 40 Under 40