Aaron C. Dunlap Joins Carlton Fields

West Palm Beach, Fla. – Carlton Fields is pleased to welcome land use attorney Aaron C. Dunlap to its West Palm Beach office. A member of the firm’s Government Law and Consulting practice group, Dunlap is also a key addition to the firm’s real estate practice, which has added seven new attorneys (including Dunlap) nationwide — six in South Florida — in the last four months.  

Dunlap brings a multifaceted perspective to his work on behalf of land use clients, including private developers and governmental bodies. Prior to joining Carlton Fields, Dunlap worked for a Florida municipality, the Florida state land planning agency, and in private practice. His insider’s understanding of each party’s priorities helps him find common ground and collaborate to craft solutions that benefit his clients.

“Aaron is a natural fit for our real estate practice in South Florida because of his deep experience and knowledge of the multiple issues confronting developers, lenders, and municipalities as they reshape the region’s growth,” said John R. Hart, the firm’s West Palm Beach Office Managing Shareholder.

Nancy G. Linnan, chair of the firm’s Government Law and Consulting practice, added: “We are thrilled that Aaron has joined us. Having represented various stakeholders in real estate, planning, and zoning matters, he has broad litigation experience and a keen understanding of the goals and strategies that opposing counsel and state regulators would deploy before a commission vote or in court.”

Prior to joining the firm, Dunlap served as assistant village attorney for the village of Wellington, Fla. His primary tasks included assisting in the village’s rewrite of its land development regulations, drafting ordinances and resolutions, representing boards and village council during public hearings, and ensuring compliance with Sunshine and ethics laws. Before that, Dunlap gained state agency experience as an assistant general counsel for the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO). He was the only land use attorney at DEO. In that role, his responsibilities included managing litigation; analyzing proposed state and federal bills and rules; managing all legal aspects of state land use and planning issues, including Developments of Regional Impact (DRIs) and Areas of Critical State Concern (ACSC); managing all legal aspects of community assistance programs such as the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance program and Disaster Recovery Initiative grants; and managing all legal aspects of economic development programs such as the State Small Business Credit Initiative.

Dunlap began his career as a real estate litigator at Shubin & Bass, P.A. in Miami. He handled commercial real property matters that included lawsuits between developers and municipalities, primary and mezzanine lender litigation, personal guarantee litigation, large-scale commercial foreclosure,  large-scale land use and zoning litigation, and Public Records Act requests, and related litigation. 

“I welcome the return to private practice, especially at Carlton Fields,” said Dunlap. “The firm is known for its collaborative culture and strong reputation in litigation. This is a natural step for me and I welcome the opportunity to build upon my existing experience in the real estate and government sectors.”

Dunlap received his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law, where he served as editor-in-chief of the Business Law Review. He received his B.A., cum laude, from the University of Miami. He is a member of The Florida Bar and the State Bar of California.

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