John L. Wharton
ShareholderOffice: Tallahassee
Mr. Wharton represents both public and private clients in cases from application creation to administrative litigation before state and federal agencies. He also practices general litigation in state and federal courts.
Mr. Wharton has over 30 years of experience in Tallahassee practicing before and often litigating against numerous state agencies in the areas of water resource planning; permitting and regulation; mitigation banking; bid protests and bid disputes; health care; utility law and utility regulation; professional regulation and environmental law. Mr. Wharton has represented clients before the Florida Public Service Commission, the Division of Administrative Hearings, the Department of Environmental Protection, the St. John’s River Water Management District, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the South Florida Water Management District, the Agency for Health Care Administration, the Department of Financial Services, various boards within the Department of Professional Regulation, the Department of Health, the Florida Department of Lottery, and the Governor and Cabinet sitting as the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, among others.
Education
- J.D.: Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, 1984
- Undergraduate Degree: B.A., Economics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 1981
Bar Admissions
- The Florida Bar
- The U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
- The U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
- The U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
- The State Bar of Georgia
- The U.S. District Court, Middle District of Georgia
- The Washington State Bar Association
- The U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington
Recognition & Awards
- Named an Outstanding Environmental & Land Use Attorney in Florida Trend Magazine’s Legal Elite, 2016 and 2018
- Martindale Hubbell: AV® Rating
Blog Articles
- Three Attorneys Speak at Environmental Permitting School
- Dean Mead Sponsors 32nd Annual Environmental Permitting School
- Administrative Law Judge rules that Petitioner cannot challenge rule for what is not in the rule
- 31st Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School
- Businesses Can Protect Consultant Identities as Trade Secrets
- Changes to Medical Marijuana Law Under Amendment 2
- Water Management Districts Move Forward with North Florida Regional Water Supply Plan
- New Public Records Requirements for Florida
- Protecting Trade Secrets Under Florida’s Public Records Act
- 30th Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School
- Florida Legislature Passes Long-awaited Water Bill
- FLWAC Rejects Challenge to Water Management District Policy Shift
- Pending Case Tests Which Water Supply Sources May Be Designated As “Nontraditional”
- SB 536: DEP’s Report on Expansion of Beneficial Use of Reclaimed Water, Stormwater, and Excess Surface Water
- Florida Legislative Post-Session Highlights
- Check out the latest highlights from Tallahassee @ Dean Mead’s Capitol Report
- Central Florida Water Initiative’s Response to Avoiding a Crisis: Dean Mead byline in FES Journal
- John Wharton & Ashley Gault in FES Journal on Legislative Session Results
- “Post-Session Highlights” from the 2014 Florida Legislative Session