St. Johns Law Group
Board Certified Local Government Attorney | Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator
James G. Whitehouse
Land Use • Local Government • Commercial Litigation • Mediation
James G. Whitehouse represents developers, property owners, businesses, investors and governmental clients in land use, zoning, local government, commercial litigation and related matters. He also serves as a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator in significant business, real estate, construction and governmental disputes.
St. Johns Law Group
St. Augustine Area’s Largest Law Firm
15 Attorneys
Full-Service Legal Team
300+ Years
Combined Legal Experience
100+ Jury Trials
Trial Experience Across the Team
1,000s of Closings
Real Estate Transactions
About James
Government Insight. Development Experience. Litigation Perspective.
James brings decades of experience from both sides of local government decision-making to development, regulatory, litigation and mediation matters.
Before entering private practice, James served in multiple public-sector legal leadership positions, including Deputy County Attorney, Senior Assistant County Attorney, Chief Land Use Attorney, Assistant City Attorney, City Attorney and Special Assistant State Attorney.
That experience provides perspective into how county commissions, city commissions, planning departments, hearing officers, code-enforcement boards and governmental agencies evaluate development applications, regulatory issues and contested matters.
Today, James represents developers, property owners, businesses, investors and other clients in matters involving government approvals, development rights, governmental regulation, commercial disputes and litigation.
Practice Focus
How James Helps Clients
James represents clients in matters involving development, governmental regulation, commercial disputes and mediation.
Land Use & Zoning
Representation involving rezonings, comprehensive-plan amendments, PUDs, variances, development orders, development agreements and administrative appeals.
Explore Land Use →Local Government Law
Counsel involving municipal and county regulations, administrative law, governmental contracts, public records, Sunshine Law, infrastructure and code enforcement.
Explore Local Government →Commercial Litigation
Representation involving business disputes, contracts, real estate, construction, development, partnership matters and other significant commercial litigation.
Explore Commercial Litigation →Circuit Civil Mediation
Neutral mediation in commercial, real estate, construction, land-use and governmental disputes informed by significant litigation and public-sector experience.
Explore Mediation →Experience Advantage
Specialized Experience From Government, Development & Litigation
James combines specialized local-government credentials with extensive development experience and dispute-resolution skills.
Board Certification
Board Certified Specialist
Florida Bar Board Certified in City, County and Local Government Law.
Development
140+ St. Johns County Projects
Experience with more than 140 land-use and development projects in St. Johns County, in addition to matters in other local jurisdictions.
Mediation
Certified Circuit Civil Mediator
Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator with litigation experience relevant to evaluating risk, settlement positions and trial exposure.
Certification & Recognition
Specialized Credentials & Professional Recognition
James's Board Certification and mediation credentials distinguish a practice built around specialized governmental, development, litigation and dispute-resolution experience.
Board Certification & Client Recognition
James is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in City, County and Local Government Law.
His professional profile also includes client feedback through Avvo. The Avvo recognition below links directly to James's Avvo profile.
Professional Background
Government Leadership & Professional Service
James's professional background includes extensive governmental legal service and community leadership.
Public-Sector Leadership
- Chief Land Use Attorney
- Deputy County Attorney
- Senior Assistant County Attorney
- Assistant City Attorney
- City Attorney
- Special Assistant State Attorney
Professional Organizations
- St. Johns County Bar Association
- Environmental & Land Use Law Section of The Florida Bar
- Florida Municipal Attorneys' Association
- Florida Association of County Attorneys
- Florida Association of Police Attorneys
Community Leadership
- Cathedral Parish School — School Board Member
- The Salvation Army of St. Johns County — Advisory Council
- St. Gerard Campus — Advisory Board
- Ancient City Soccer — Board of Directors
Contact
Contact James G. Whitehouse
Contact James regarding land use, development, local-government, commercial-litigation or mediation matters.
Resources
Land Use, Government, Litigation & Mediation Resources
Explore St. Johns Law Group resources related to James's principal areas of practice.
Land Use
Land Development & Zoning
Explore zoning, development approvals, PUDs, comprehensive-plan amendments, variances and administrative appeals.
Explore Land Use → GovernmentCity, County & Local Government Law
Explore representation involving local-government regulation, municipal law, administrative matters and public-sector issues.
Explore Local Government → LitigationCommercial Litigation
Explore representation involving contracts, businesses, real estate, development and significant commercial disputes.
Explore Litigation → MediationMediation Center
Explore St. Johns Law Group mediation services for civil, commercial, real estate, construction and other disputes.
Explore Mediation →The St. Johns Law Group Advantage
Specialized Public-Law Experience. Full-Service Firm Resources.
Development, governmental and commercial matters frequently intersect with real estate, construction, business, healthcare, litigation and other legal issues. James can collaborate with attorneys across St. Johns Law Group when a matter requires experience from multiple practice areas.
Meet Our AttorneysContact James
Discuss Your Development, Litigation or Mediation Matter
Contact St. Johns Law Group regarding land-use approvals, governmental issues, development matters, commercial disputes, litigation or circuit civil mediation.
St. Johns Law Group
104 Sea Grove Main Street, St. Augustine, Florida 32080
104 Sea Grove Main Street, St. Augustine, Florida 32080