Dan Orvin's practice includes commercial transactions, real estate development and real estate and business litigation. He has an extensive amount of experience developing commercial, industrial and mixed-use properties (including “New Urbanist” projects), handling zoning matters, drafting and negotiating commercial leases, and guiding companies in the acquisition, development and sale of apartment and multifamily portfolios. He represents clients in the development and establishment of condominium regimes, marina/dockominium projects and other common interest ownership developments. He has acted as lender’s counsel in several transactional and litigation matters (including commercial loan workouts and foreclosure actions) and restructured debt on distressed properties for lenders and developers.
A portion of Dan's practice is focused on commercial and business litigation. He leads a team of litigation attorneys in multiple states and has litigated numerous cases in state and federal court. He has acted as outside counsel for several title insurance companies on coverage questions, bad faith claims and other claims asserted against such companies as well as representing their insureds for covered claims. In addition, he has represented several developers, lenders and loan servicers in complex business litigation matters.
Dan is a Fellow in the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL) and the American College of Mortgage Attorneys (ACMA). In addition, he is a Chambers USA Ranked Lawyer in Real Estate and is recognized by Best Lawyers in America for Real Estate Law, Commercial Litigation, and Banking and Finance Law. He is also recognized as a Super Lawyer by South Carolina Super Lawyers magazine (Thomson Reuters) for Real Estate.
Representative Experience
Any result the lawyer or law firm may have achieved on behalf of clients in other matters does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients.
- Provided representation to developers and REITS owning large shopping centers. Representation included assisting with acquisition, disposition, financing, debt reorganization and negotiation of commercial leases
- Represented client in the closing of $351 million SASB loan secured by a portfolio of multifamily properties
- Outside counsel for title insurance companies in South Carolina and North Carolina, including being on a select list of counsel handling high risk claims on title insurance policies exceeding $50 million dollars in value
- Assisted developers with multiple zoning and PUD/PDD project approvals and the negotiation of private and public development agreements
- Represented client in the disposition of commercial property in downtown Charleston for $75 million
- Advised developers on the implications and requirements of the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act (“Act”) and drafted contract provisions to exempt sales from certain provisions of the Act
- Represented clients with the development of several mixed-use condominium projects exceeding $100 million in value
- Assisted clients with obtaining FHA approval for a condominium project conforming to the HUD regulations contained in HUD Handbook 4150.1 and 4265.1, and advised clients regarding Voluntary Affirmative Marketing Agreement (VAMA) requirements, and exemptions to the secondary market requirements for FHA, VA, FMNA and FHLMC
Professional & Civic Engagement
Professional Activities
- Fellow, American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL)
- Chair Designate and Vice Chair of Fall Meetings, Programs Committee
- Membership Development Committee (Responsible for South Carolina and North Carolina)
- ACREL Podcast Team (Deep Dirt Dive)
- Meeting Leader for 2023 Spring Meeting - Charleston
- Session Coordinator, 2021 Annual Meeting – Nashville
- Session Leader, 2021 Mid-Year Meeting - Virtual
- Member, Capital Markets and Real Estate Finance Committee, Leasing Committee, and Title Insurance Committee
- Fellow, American College of Mortgage Attorneys (ACMA)
- Vice Chair, Business Development Committee
- American Bar Association, Section of Real Property, Trust & Estate Law
- Co-Chair, Leadership and Mentoring Standing Committee, 2016-present
- Advisor, Tenant Information in Rental Decisions Committee
- Member, Task Force on Technology and the Profession, 2016-2018
- Member, Lucas Symposium Planning Committee (formed under the RPTE Journal), 2016-2018
- Section Council, 2014-2020
- Vice Chair, Marketing and Social Committee, 2012-2020
- Member, Nominations Committee, 2012
- Chair, Real Property Government Submissions Task Force, 2015-2023, Liaison 2023-present
- Member, Planning Committee, 2011-present;
- Chair, Hospitality, Timesharing and Common Interests Development Group 2012-2014
- Vice Chair, Hospitality, Timesharing and Common Interests Development Group 2010-2012
- Co-Chair of the Host Committee for the RPTE Fall Leadership Meeting, 2010
- Chair, Common Interest Ownership Development Committee, 2007-2010
- Vice Chair, Common Interest Ownership Development Committee, 2005-2007
- Agent, Commonwealth, Chicago Title Insurance Company, First American Title Insurance Company, Old Republic Title, Fidelity National Title Company, Investors Title Company
- South Carolina Bar Association
- Real Estate Practice, SC Bar Association
- Georgia Bar Association
- East Cooper Montessori Charter School, Governing Board Member, 2010-2013
- March of Dimes, Real Estate Honoree Fundraiser, 2001-2002
- Member & Assistant Sunday School Teacher, Holy Cross Episcopal Church, Daniel Island, SC
- Pro Bono work for Sea Island Habitat for Humanity
- Volunteer Youth Athletics Coach, City of Charleston Recreation Department and JSD Futsal Charleston League
- Pro Bono work for the Daniel Island Soccer Academy and affiliated booster club
- Indian Princess Guide, YMCA Y-Princess Program (outdoor mentoring program), 2012-2015
Thought Leadership
- Presenter, ABA Real Property, Trust & Estate Law Section Fall Leadership Meeting, November 2025
- Co-Author, "Helping Good Get to Great: The Power of an Effective Mentoring Process," ABA’s Probate and Property Magazine - September/October 2023 issue
- Author, "Something Smells Phishy: Cyber Threats and a Lawyer’s Ethical Duties under the ABA Model Rules for Professional Conduct," SC Lawyer Magazine - November 2022 issue
- Co-Presenter, "Ethics and Data and Lawyers, Oh My!," Real Property Trust and Estate Law Section of the American Bar Association, September 23, 2021
- Presenter, "Something Smells Phishy: Cyber Threats and a Lawyer’s Ethical Duties to a Client," Presentation to the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, January 2021
- Co-Presenter, "Eviction Crisis 2020: Past, Present and Future ." American Bar Association’s Section of Real Property, Trust & Estate Law, December 2020
- Presenter, "Purpose of the ABA’s Government Submission Committees and Ins and Outs of Coordinating with Internal and External ABA Groups," American Bar Association Real Property Trust and Estate Law (RPTE) section’s New Leaders Orientation, September 2020
- Presenter, "Importance of Mentoring and How New Members Can Maximize Their Involvement," American Bar Association Real Property Trust and Estate Law (RPTE) section’s New Leaders Orientation, September 2020
- “Foreclosure and Eviction Moratoriums Under the CARES Act,” Womble Bond Dickinson Client Alert, April 2020
- Co-Presenter, "An Overview of Title Insurance Claims in South Carolina and North Carolina," First American Title Insurance Company, King of Prussia, Pa., June 2016
- Co-Presenter, "Have You “Flagged” the Issues? The Ethical Duties of Counsel When Structuring and Developing a Branded Condominium Hotel," ABA Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Annual Spring Symposia, Chicago, May 2014
- Program Chair, "How to “Act” Appropriately and Stay on Track: Accessible Design Requirements Under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Housing Act," presented by the Hospitality, Community Recreation and Common Interest Developments Group, ABA Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Annual Spring Symposia, Chicago, May 2014
- Presenter, "The Ethical Duties of Common Interest Communities Counsel in the Age of Economic Distress: Charting the Uncharted Waters and Avoiding the Rocks," ABA Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Annual Spring Symposia, New York, NY, May 2011
- Presenter, "FHFA Guidance on Private Transfer Fee Covenants," Fall Leadership Meeting, ABA Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law, Charleston, SC, November 2010
- Presenter on American Bar Association e-CLE : "Challenges in Obtaining Secondary Market Condominium Pre-Approval in a Volatile Regulatory Environment," June 16, 2010
- Presenter, FHA Secondary Market Condominium Guidelines, Two Part Hot Topic Telephone Presentation for Hospitality, Community Recreation and Common Interest Developments Group. ABA Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law, September and December, 2009
- Co-Program Chair and Moderator, "The Land Sales Battle: Seller and Purchasers War over the Interstate Sales Full Disclosure Act," presented by the Alternative Dispute and Resolution Committee and the Common Interest Ownership Development Committee, ABA Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Annual Spring Symposia, Washington, DC, May 2009
- Program Chair, Hospitality, Community Recreation and Common Interest Developments Group Program: "The New Age of Condominium Workouts - Perspectives from All Angles and the Tremendous Potential for Disaster," ABA Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Annual Spring Symposia, Washington, DC, May 2008
- Pugliese et al. v. Pukka Development case discussion, Hot Topic Telephone Presentation for Hospitality, Community Recreation and Common Interest Developments Group, ABA Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law, February, 2008
- Presenter, "Nevada’s New Condominium Hotel Act," ABA Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Fall Leadership Conference, Minneapolis, MN, October 2007
- Presenter, "Current and Evolving Trends in Condominium Development and Structuring," ABA Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Annual Symposia, San Diego, CA, May 2006.
Honors & Awards
- Chambers USA Ranked Lawyer in Real Estate (South Carolina)
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® (BL Rankings), Real Estate Law, Commercial Litigation, and Banking and Finance Law
- Named to Charleston Business Magazine’s Legal Elite, Commercial Real Estate (Top Practitioner), 2020 – Present
- Recognized in South Carolina Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2022-present
- East Cooper Montessori Charter School Service Award, 2013
- Sea Island Habitat for Humanity Appreciation Award, 2011
