Gary Hunter
Gary Hunter is a partner at Holtzman Vogel, where he maintains a broad governmental law practice with emphasis on state government affairs, land use entitlements, property rights advocacy and environmental issues.
In over three decades of practice in Florida, Gary has represented Florida’s largest landowners in complex land use strategic development, litigation, and large area planning. He has been equally privileged to represent everyday landowners in protecting property rights from regulatory intrusion or securing needed entitlements. Gary’s experience includes counseling clients through the maze of the federal Superfund and hazardous waste programs with litigation of both cost recovery actions as well as private landowner suits resulting from the migration of pollutants beyond property boundaries.
In addition to his land use and property rights expertise, Gary spends considerable hours with Florida’s policymakers, both in the capital and throughout the state advocating for legislative policy on behalf of large land interests, community developers, Florida’s timeshare industry, the world’s largest energy company, Florida agriculture, and an international leader in the pharmaceutical industry, among others.
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Representative Matters
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- Represents clients federal and state truck funeral addressing property contamination issues relating to the migration of contaminants as well as the associated issue of securing compliance with federal, state and local regulatory programs.
- Advises numerous commercial and construction firms on regulatory compliance and litigation of construction and commercial disputes.
- Litigates silviculture and aquaculture cases for agricultural interests.
- Counsels clients on citing cellular communication towers including appearing before and litigating against local governments in securing approvals of such facilities.
- Represents clients before local government boards on land use permitting/entitlements, including comprehensive plan amendments, rezoning’s, variances and other related aspects of securing development authorizations.
- Counsels and advocates on behalf of clients before various Florida executive branch agencies, including primarily the department of economic opportunity, Department of Environmental protection, Department of Business and professional regulation, Department of Transportation, Department of Agriculture and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
- Advocates before the Florida legislature for legislative policy development in the area of land development, property rights, timeshare interest, energy production, and others. Recent efforts include the overhaul of Florida’s Comprehensive Planning Act, improvements to the Bart J. Harris private property rights act, and an update for timeshare statutes.
- Litigates Bert J. Harris property rights claims against local and state government on behalf of private owners.
- Represents clients in federal and state tribunal addressing property contamination issues related to the migration of contaminants as well as the associated issues of securing compliance with federal, state and local regulatory programs.
- Advises numerous commercial construction firms on regulatory compliance of litigation of construction and commercial disputes.
- Litigates silviculture and aquaculture cases for agricultural interests.
- Counsels clients on citing cellular communication towers including appearing before and litigating against local governments in securing approvals of such facilities.
Community Involvement
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- The Florida Bar (Environmental & Land Use Law, Past Chair 2009, Real Property and Probate Law, Trial Lawyers)
- The State Bar of Georgia
- The Tallahassee Bar Association
- The Pacific Legal Foundation
- Wade Hopping Institute Round Table of Advisors, 2012-present
- Second Judicial Circuit Judicial Nomination Commission, 2006-2010; Chair, 2009-2010
- The Maclay School, Board of Directors, 2007-2014; Chair, 2012-2014
- Urban Land Institute
- North Florida District Council Advisory Board; Member, 2013-present
- First District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission; 2013-present
- The Goodwood Gardens Board of Trustees
- The Tallahassee Exchange Club
- Middle school / JV football coach at the Maclay School
Awards & Recognition
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- Best Lawyers in America, for Litigation-Land Use & Zoning Law, and Environmental Law, 2010-2025 editions
- Best Lawyers, “Lawyer of the Year” in Tallahassee for Litigation-Land Use & Zoning, 2012-2019
- Florida Super Lawyers, 2007, 2012-2024 editions
- Chambers USA, 2009-2021, 2024 editions
- Florida Trend Magazine’s “Legal Elite,” 2009-2010,2014-2022 editions
- Achieved Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards.
Presentations/Events
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- Environmental and Land Use Law Webcast Series, Annual Legislative Preview (2009-Present)
- Florida Chamber Short Course, Frequent Lecturer on various Growth Management Topics (2005-Present)
Publications/Articles
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- "Standing to Appeal an Administrative Order: Cautions from Martin County Conservation Alliance v. Martin County," The Florida Bar Journal, Vol. LXXXVIII, No. 3 (March 2014) (Co-author).
- "Conquering the Maze of Certiorari Review of Local Government Quasi-Judicial Land Use Decisions," The Florida Bar Journal, Vol. LXXVIII, No. 9, (October 2004)(Co-author).
- "Statutory Strict Liability for Environmental Contamination: A Private Cause of Action to Remedy Pollution or Mere Legislative Jargon?," The Florida Bar Journal, Vol. LXXII, No.1 (January 1998)
- "Florida Case Law Update," Florida Environmental and Land Use Law Section Reporter (2005-present)
Education
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The University of Georgia College of Law, J.D., cum laude
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The University of Georgia, B.S., Business Administration
Bar & Court Admissions
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- The Florida Bar
- Georgia Bar
- Colorado Bar (inactive)
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals (Eleventh Circuit)
- U.S. District Court (Northern District of Florida, Middle District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, Middle District of Georgia)
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The University of Georgia College of Law, J.D., cum laude
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The University of Georgia, B.S., Business Administration
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- The Florida Bar
- Georgia Bar
- Colorado Bar (inactive)
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals (Eleventh Circuit)
- U.S. District Court (Northern District of Florida, Middle District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, Middle District of Georgia)
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