Steven Diebenow

Mr. Diebenow was born in St. Louis, Missouri.  He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Florida in 1991 and his Juris Doctorate degree, with honors, from the University of Florida in 1994.  Mr. Diebenow was admitted to the Florida Bar and the Washington, D.C. Bar in 1995 and is a Partner in the Firm.

Mr. Diebenow represents individuals, corporations and landowning entities in general business, real estate transactions, land use, zoning and in government relations as a registered lobbyist across a wide range of governmental affairs issues.  He also provides legal counsel in the acquisition, entitlement, financing and development of all types of commercial and residential properties; the acquisition, sale and leasing of agricultural lands; the creation of mitigation and conservation banks; and the acquisition and disposition of large tracts of rural land.

After law school Mr. Diebenow was a member of United States Senator Bob Graham’s legislative staff in Washington, D.C. for the 104th Congress.  Subsequently Mr. Diebenow practiced land use, zoning and environmental law and was elected Partner at Rogers, Towers, Bailey, Jones & Gay, P.A. in 2003.  Mr. Diebenow served as counsel to John Peyton’s successful campaign for mayor of Jacksonville, Florida.  Mr. Diebenow joined Mayor Peyton at the City as his Chief of Policy and Planning before being named Chief of Staff in 2005.  In these roles, Mr. Diebenow directed the day to day operations of the mayor's office; helped form and implement the mayor’s agenda at the local, state and federal levels; vetted and made recommendations for appointments to all City volunteer boards and commissions; and served as the mayor's primary counselor.  At Mayor Peyton’s direction, Mr. Diebenow also lead special projects including: negotiating economic development incentive agreements and workouts of the same; acquisition, disposition and re-development of numerous properties involving local, state and federal agencies; the attempted re-conversion of a military airbase during the federal BRAC process; negotiating operating budgets with several elected constitutional officers, including the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office four year officer expansion funding plan; reprioritizing the Better Jacksonville Plan overpass/road program; negotiating collective bargaining agreements with all city bargaining units; drafting and implementing the Jacksonville Small and Emerging Business (JSEB) purchasing program; and twice negotiating to extend the Georgia/Florida college football game lease agreement.  Mr. Diebenow left the Mayor’s office in 2008 and 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.  In this role, Mr. Diebenow was primarily responsible for identifying, negotiating and structuring select real estate investments.  In addition, Mr. Diebenow served as the primary marketing contact and developed extensive relationships with numerous family offices, foundations, endowments and pension plans.

During his career Mr. Diebenow has been an active member of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, Federal Issues Task Force Chair; the First Coast Manufacturers’ Association, co-chair of the Government Relations and Environmental committees; and JCCI, serving on the management team for the Improving Regional Cooperation study.  Mr. Diebenow was also a founding member of JCCI FORWARD, serving as the co-chair of Community Growth and Development Committee, and previously served on the Board of Directors for JAXCARE, a non-profit seeking to provide health care for working uninsured individuals.  Mr. Diebenow was named an Up and Comer (40 Under 40) by the Jacksonville Business Journal and is a member of Leadership Jacksonville’s Class of 2005.  Currently Mr. Diebenow serves on the board for the Riverside Presbyterian Day School.  In his spare time, Steve enjoys playing golf and running. Email Steven Diebenow.

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