Denise H. “Dede” Rowan is the managing partner of the firm’s Panama City office. She focuses her practice on real estate law, including acquisitions and sales, development, leasing, financing and loan foreclosures and workouts, in addition to commercial and real estate closings. A significant component of her practice involves the representation of banking institutions and special servicers in connection with preparation of loan documentation for financing, commercial foreclosure litigation, and title insured transactions. Dede previously served as an assistant county attorney and city attorney for a local municipality, including specifically counsel to the planning commission, code enforcement board, and construction industry advisory council. These roles help her better serve developers with entitlements and planned developments. She currently also serves as a Magistrate for a local municipality for code enforcement violations. As a result of her years of experience with real estate transactions, Dede handles title curative actions and easement and boundary disputes as well.
Ms. Rowan received her undergraduate degree from Florida State University with a B.S. in Risk Management and Insurance and Marketing. She earned her J.D. from Emory University School of Law, where she was a member of Moot Court Society, serving on the executive board, and Phi Alpha Delta Fraternity. Upon graduation, Dede began her practice in Atlanta, Georgia, before moving back to her home state of Florida in 2003. She was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 2000 and the Florida Bar in 2002. Courts before which she may practice include the Georgia Supreme Court, Northern District of Georgia, Florida Supreme Court, Middle District of Florida and Southern District of Florida.
Dede is presently a member of the Bay County Bar Association, the St. Andrews Bay Inn of Court, and Central Panhandle Association of Realtors. She is a past chair of the First Saturday Legal Aid Clinic, a pro bono legal aid clinic providing legal advice and representation to qualified individuals, past chair and member of the Grievance Committee of the Florida Bar for the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, past chair and member of the Florida Bar Florida Association of Realtors Joint Committee, and current chair of the City of Panama City Infrastructure Surtax Committee. Ms. Rowan also serves as an Arbitrator for the Florida Bar under its Fee Arbitration and Mediation Program. She is proud to serve as a member of the Executive Board for the Bay County Chamber of Commerce, including her present role as Treasurer.
Dede is a mom of three kids (adult kids, but still kids to her). She enjoys attending the extracurricular activities of her children and spending time with her family and friends. She especially enjoys watching Florida State University sporting events and travel.