Former Indian River County Attorney Returns to Vero Beach to Launch Real Estate and Land Use Practice
After a year of traversing the globe and scaling mountains, a familiar face is returning to Indian River County’s legal and real estate scene. Dylan Reingold, who served as the county attorney for a decade before resigning in 2023, has moved back to Vero Beach to establish a local presence for a prominent Jacksonville-based law firm.
Reingold, now 53, stepped away from his government post at age 50 to pursue global adventures, which included summiting Mount Kilimanjaro and reaching Mount Everest Base Camp. He prepared for these grueling ascents by hiking the local bridges of Vero Beach with weighted packs. Following his travels, Reingold briefly took on the role of Deputy General Counsel for the City of Jacksonville in the summer of 2024, focusing on land use and zoning. However, the pull of the Treasure Coast proved too strong.
“We thought going to Jacksonville was going to be this homecoming and we were excited about that, but it really made us realize how much we missed being here. Sometimes it takes going away to realize how much you appreciate it.”
Teaming up with his longtime mentor, Steve Diebenow, Reingold has officially joined the Jacksonville-based firm of Driver McAfee Hawthorne Diebenow as a partner. His primary mission is to expand the firm’s geographical footprint by developing a strong client base in Indian River County, with future sights set on serving the rapidly growing markets of St. Lucie and Martin counties.
The new Vero Beach practice will specialize in navigating the complexities of Florida real estate and development, focusing strictly on deal-making and municipal navigation rather than courtroom battles. Key areas of focus for Reingold’s local practice include:
- Land use and zoning regulations
- Quasi-judicial matters and local government affairs
- Real estate transactions, corporate deals, and development incentives
Currently operating out of his home office in Indian River Shores, Reingold plans to grow the firm’s local footprint organically. He is actively meeting with elected officials and county staff to gauge upcoming development horizons. Once his project list and caseload demand it, he intends to open a dedicated brick-and-mortar office in Vero Beach and hire associate staff. Because the firm does not employ litigators, any matters that head to court will be politely referred to other trusted local attorneys.
What sets Reingold apart in the competitive realm of real estate law is his extensive environmental background. Before attending the University of Florida Levin School of Law, he earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from George Washington University and a master’s degree in marine biology and biological oceanography from the Florida Institute of Technology.
This specialized education provides him with a distinct advantage when dealing with state and federal environmental regulators, such as the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the St. Johns River Water Management District, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Local legal peers note that Reingold’s deep understanding of environmental science will be a tremendous asset for developers who must navigate complex runoff and water management issues designed to protect the local ecosystem and the Indian River Lagoon.
