Driver, McAfee, Hawthorne & Diebenow, PLLC

01/14/2026

Driver, McAfee, Hawthorne & Diebenow is pleased to announce the election of Maggie Howell Travis to partnership, effective January 1, 2026. Maggie’s promotion reflects the firm’s continued growth in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida. Maggie is a member of the firm’s Real Estate practice group, where she represents owners, developers, investors, and institutional lenders in the acquisition, disposition, and financing of commercial real estate transactions. Maggie earned her J.D. degree with Honors from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and a B.A. degree from Duke University.

10/10/2025

Congratulations to Sam Garrison for being designated as the next Speaker of the Florida House. Thank you for the outstanding service you provide to the citizens of Florida. - Steve Diebenow
We are excited to have Sam on our team!

House Republicans officially elected Rep. Sam Garrison to take the helm of the chamber as Speaker after the 2026 elections for a two-year term.

08/21/2025

Driver McAfee Hawthorne & Diebenow is pleased to announce our honorees voted for Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Carley Self Menyhart and Maggie Howell Travis! Carley is selected in the field of Corporate Law and Merger and Acquisitions Law and Maggie is selected by her peers in the field of Real Estate Law.
These awards highlight thousands of emerging legal talents, showcasing their exemplary work as voted on by their peers. Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America is committed to honoring the finest legal talent who have been in practice between five and ten years.
We are incredibly proud to have them on our team and look forward to their continued contributions to the legal community!

08/21/2025

DMH&D's Best Lawyers in America 2026 honorees have been released. We are pleased to announce our lawyers recognized as Lawyer of the Year: Matt Breuer (Real Estate Law), Steve Diebenow (Government Relations Law), Ray Driver (Corporate Governance Law), Phil Gibbs (Business Organizations), Rick Hawthorne (Commercial Transactions/UCC Law), and Trey Mills (Government Contracts). We also congratulate the rest of our team for their exemplary work in their respective fields.
The founding principles of Best Lawyers® in America for identifying top legal talent remains unchanged since their foundation in 1981 and forms the basis of their transparent methodology: the best lawyers know who the best lawyers are. Inclusion in Best Lawyers is based on a rigorous peer-review survey. This year’s results were determined using more than 13 million confidential evaluations by top attorneys. It is exclusively these attorneys who selected this year’s honorees, which makes recognition in Best Lawyers a true reflection of talent in the industry.
We are very proud to have them on our team and grateful for their contributions to the legal community. Congrats!!

06/11/2025

DMHD is pleased to announce that Mike Sittner is a member of the Influence JAX Cohort 1 program for 2025-2026!
This program is designed for business professionals who aim to influence government for the betterment of their community and industry. Leaders who are eager to serve their city through elected office, on boards or nonprofits. Those dedicated to government affairs, policy, or advocacy for their companies, and individuals striving to enhance their communication, crisis management, and decision-making skills under pressure, shaping a brighter future for all - whether as elected officials, engaged citizens or business professionals working within or alongside the government.
MIke will bring a level of expertise from his years in Land Use, Zoning and Government Relations Law, and Real Estate Law to the group. We are excited for him and the amazing community leaders and for the year to come. Well done!

https://members.jaxchamber.com/news/newsarticledisplay.aspx?ArticleID=1517

05/05/2025

We are excited to announce that Kristin Driver has joined the DMHD firm as an associate. Kristin will focus her practice on corporate law, including corporate formation issues, mergers and acquisitions, private offerings and securities law, corporate finance, and contracts in those areas. She also works with our information technology group, where she counsels clients on non-disclosure agreements, privacy policies, vendor agreements, and other information technology-related contracts.
Congratulations to Kristin!

01/15/2025

Driver, McAfee, Hawthorne& Diebenow represented Miller Electric Company in a definitive agreement to sell to EMCOR Group, Inc. for $865 million in cash. Miller Electric is a leading electrical contractor serving high growth areas across the southeastern United States. EMCOR is a Fortune 500 leader in mechanical and electrical construction services, industrial and energy infrastructure and building services. The announcement was made in a Jan. 14 press release https://emcorgroup.com/investor-relations/press-releases/2025-news/emcor-group-inc-release

Congratulations to Henry and Daniel Brown, and the entire Miller Electric team!!

Acquisition Expands EMCOR’s Electrical Capabilities Through a Suite of Complementary and Comprehensive, Mission-Critical Services, Increasing Presence in High Growth Sectors

12/12/2024

We are humbled and honored to partner once again with Guardian ad Litem Florida First Coast for their annual holiday donation drive.
Everyday on Florida's First Coast, children face fear and uncertainty alone. GAL works to support abandoned, abused and neglected children in our community by pairing them with volunteer Guardian ad Litem. Please join us in supporting this amazing organization and valuable asset to our community.

https://www.sagepayments.net/eftcart/forms/donate.asp…

11/04/2024

Thank you to Lawrence Gierum with Driver McAfee Hawthorne & Diebenow PLLC and Matthew Clark with Colliers International for their CLE presentation for Jacksonville Bar Association environmental and real property section. We are so grateful for their expertise in their respective fields!

11/04/2024

Have the vision of what you want to achieve and the courage to pursue it.

08/28/2024

Congratulations to Cyndy Trimmer and Carley Self Menyhart for their appointments on the Jacksonville Bar. Cyndy will bring her talents and knowledge as co chair on the Environmental and Real Property committee, and Carley will bring her expertise and hard work as vice chair to the Transactional Law committee. We look forward to much success for the Bar for the 2024-2025 year!

08/15/2024

DMH&D is pleased to announce our lawyers that are listed as the Best Lawyers in America 2025 edition. Special congratulations to Ray Driver (corporate and securities law), Trey Mills (administrative/regulatory law) and Cyndy Trimmer (government relations practice, land use and zoning law) for being recognized as Lawyer of the Year in their respective fields. The founding principles of Best Lawyers®in America for identifying top legal talent remains unchanged since their foundation in 1981 and forms the basis of their transparent methodology: the best lawyers know who the best lawyers are. Inclusion in Best Lawyers is based on a rigorous peer-review survey. This year’s results were determined using more than 13 million confidential evaluations by top attorneys. It is exclusively these attorneys who selected this year’s honorees, which makes recognition in Best Lawyers a true reflection of talent in the industry.
We are very proud to have them on our team and grateful for their contributions to the legal community. Congrats!!