Richard W. Hawthorne

Richard W. Hawthorne

Jacksonville, FL recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2016
Driver, McAfee, Hawthorne & Diebenow PLLC

16 Best Lawyers awards

Driver, McAfee, Hawthorne & Diebenow PLLC logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Commercial Transactions / UCC Law Banking and Finance Law Real Estate Law
*Named the "Lawyer of the Year" in this practice area in the 2026 edition in Jacksonville.

Biography

Richard W. Hawthorne is a partner at DMHD, where he focuses on real estate and banking law. He represents buyers and sellers in commercial and residential real estate transactions, landlords and tenants in commercial leasing and developers of multifamily housing and retail buildings. He also has significant experience representing buyers and sellers of debt obligations.Mr. Hawthorne previously worked for Arthur Anderson & Co. (Jacksonville, Florida) as a tax accountant, Foley & Lardner LLP (Jacksonville, Florida), first as an associate then as a partner, and as general counsel and project manager for Thomas-Pierce & Company (Tallahassee, Florida) before joining DMHD in 2009 as a partner.
Driver, McAfee, Hawthorne & Diebenow PLLC

16 Best Lawyers awards

Driver, McAfee, Hawthorne & Diebenow PLLC logo

Overview

  • University of Florida, J.D. with honors, graduated 1992
  • University of Florida, B.S. with honors (Accounting), graduated 1988

  • Florida, 1993

  • American Bar Association - Member
  • Beaches Habitat for Humanity - Board of Directors
  • Community Hospice and Palliative Care - Board of Directors
  • International Council of Shopping Centers - Member
  • Museum of Contemporary Art - Vice-chair, Board of Trustees
  • The Jacksonville Bar Association - Member
  • Urban Land Institute - Member
  • Florida, 1993
  • American Bar Association - Member
  • Beaches Habitat for Humanity - Board of Directors
  • Community Hospice and Palliative Care - Board of Directors
  • International Council of Shopping Centers - Member
  • Museum of Contemporary Art - Vice-chair, Board of Trustees
  • The Jacksonville Bar Association - Member
  • Urban Land Institute - Member
  • University of Florida, J.D. with honors, graduated 1992
  • University of Florida, B.S. with honors (Accounting), graduated 1988

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2026 - Commercial Transactions / UCC Law
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Commercial Transactions / UCC Law, Jacksonville (2026)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Banking and Finance Law
  • Commercial Transactions / UCC Law
  • Real Estate Law
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Commercial Finance Law
Awards:
  • AV Peer Review Rated by Lexis Nexis | Martindale Hubbell
  • Florida Trend’s Legal Elite
  • Jacksonville’s Top Lawyers in Jacksonville Magazine

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