Mark Grafton is the Chair of the Firm’s Land Use Practice Group, where he focuses on advising property owners, developers, and investors at the intersection of land use regulation, real estate transactions, and dispute resolution. He is frequently engaged to assess development feasibility, navigate entitlement and approval processes, and help clients unlock and protect real property value.
Land Use and Zoning.
Mr. Grafton guides clients through Florida’s complex local land use and zoning framework, advising on acquisition strategy, entitlement pathways, and regulatory risk. He regularly represents clients before local government boards and commissions throughout Florida and often works closely with in-house counsel and local co-counsel to advance projects from concept through approval.
Real Estate Transactions.
Mr. Grafton negotiates and drafts a wide range of real estate and development-related agreements, including covenants, easements, development agreements, purchase and sale agreements, construction contracts, and commercial leases. His transactional work is informed by his land use and dispute resolution experience, allowing him to structure agreements that mitigate risk and align with entitlement timelines.
Dispute Resolution.
Mr. Grafton represents property owners, developers, businesses, and governmental entities in resolving complex disputes involving the use and development of real property. He regularly utilizes Florida’s Land Use and Environmental Dispute Resolution Act (FLUEDRA) to engage constructively with local governments following development order denials. His practice is further informed by substantial real estate litigation experience, including first-chair representation in an administrative trial involving a comprehensive plan amendment, successful appellate advocacy before Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal, and obtaining a seven-figure jury verdict after a three-week commercial trial in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Grafton was a Partner at a prominent boutique law firm in Miami. Previously, he was an attorney at Shutts & Bowen LLP, an Am Law 200 ranked law firm. Mr. Grafton holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida and a Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia, where he graduated cum laude.
A sixth-generation Miamian, Mark has deep roots in the community and has served in leadership roles with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Southeast Florida/Caribbean and History Miami.
