September 14, 2020
HunterMaclean’s partners, associates, and staff sadly announce the loss of our friend and colleague, H. Mitchell Dunn, Jr., who passed away on Sunday, September 6, at the age of 89.
“Mitchell was the last surviving named partner of Hunter, Maclean, Exley & Dunn, P.C.,” said managing partner Brad Harmon. “While we’ve lost a deeply important part of our history, Mitchell will live on in the wisdom and lessons he taught many of us, and in the fabric of our law firm, which he had such a large hand in crafting.”
Mitchell earned his B.A. from the University of Virginia, served in the U.S. Army, then earned his J.D. from the University of Georgia and LL.M. from New York University. He then joined HunterMaclean, where he spent his entire legal career and practiced primarily in estates and trusts and as a tax attorney. He was a gifted counselor and a fierce advocate to countless clients.
Professionally, Mitchell was affiliated with the American Bar Foundation (Fellow), the American College of Tax Counsel (Fellow), the Georgia Academy of Hospital Attorneys (Past President), the Southern Federal Tax Institute (Founding Trustee and Past President), and the Savannah Bar Association. Mitchell was also community minded, serving in leadership roles with many nonprofits including the Georgia Infirmary, Savannah Benevolent Association, Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, Hibernian Society of Savannah, Telfair Museum, Historic Savannah Foundation, Cashiers Historical Society, and Southern Golf Association.
In every respect, Mitchell was a consummate attorney, a trusted advisor, and a thoughtful mentor. Although he followed his father Henry Dunn at the Firm, Mitchell quickly forged his own path in leading HunterMaclean for close to 60 years to become what it is today. He genuinely cared about the Firm and its people.
“I am both proud and grateful to have had Mitchell as a law partner,” said John Tatum, HunterMaclean’s managing partner from 1998 to 2010. “He was one of the finest gentlemen I have ever met, and I don’t know a soul who doesn’t hold him in the highest esteem. Mitchell was strong but kind and gentle and had a passion for serving people. He will be greatly missed.”
Mitchell is survived by his wife Polly, daughters Elizabeth and Eleanor, three grandchildren, his sister Audrey, his brother Larry, and many nieces and nephews.
While the sense of loss is great among all at HunterMaclean, we are honored to have been a part of Mitchell’s very full life.
Godspeed, Mitchell Dunn.
