Sheila M. McDevitt
Practice Areas
Corporate, Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity
Securities Litigation and Regulatory Proceedings
Industry Experience
Admiralty and Maritime, Engineering, Insurance, Education Law, Mining, Electric and Gas Utilities and Independent Power, including related financing.
Ms. McDevitt spent more than 26 years at TECO Energy, Inc., where she was most recently Senior Vice President-General Counsel, responsible for the legal, compliance, governance, diversity and communications departments. Previously she served as a legislative and government affairs officer for the company. She was also a key member of the CEO's senior leadership team formulating and implementing strategic initiatives and providing solutions to many significant issues affecting all of its operating companies, including a regulated electric and gas utility, coal mining companies, integrated bulk commodity marine transportation companies, and an independent power business with assets in the United States, Central America and Eastern Europe.
While at TECO Energy, Ms. McDevitt practiced in the areas of general corporate, mergers and acquisitions, project financed independent power transactions, compliance, and governance. She managed multiple law firms and experts handling complex commercial litigation and transactions.
Ms. McDevitt has experience in insurance defense litigation and has worked in various capacities for the Florida and Georgia Legislatures for 12 years focused on insurance and judicial matters.
Sheila McDevitt is a member of the Corporate Practice Group in the firm's Tampa office and the President of Sheila M. McDevitt, P.L., a firm specializing in business, compliance, governance and governmental matters.
Recognition
Martindale-Hubbell, AV Rated
Florida Trend magazine, Florida's Elite Business Lawyers, 2004, 2006
Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame, Inductee 2008
Hillsborough County Bar Association, Corporate Counsel of the Year, 2002
University of Tampa, Center for Ethics, Outstanding Contribution Award for Pioneering in Business Ethics, 2006
Florida State University, College of Law, Distinguished Alum, 2006
Who's Who in America, 2004-present
Irish America magazine, 100 Irish American Business Leaders, 2003
ABA Business Law Section, Selected as one of 20 women lawyers to attend the second annual 2008 Women Direct Board Institute sponsored by the ABA Business Law Section and Catalyst Corporation
U.S. Secretary of Defense, Joint Civilian Orientation Council Selectee, 2002
Bar Admissions
1979, Florida
Court Admissions
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
U.S. Supreme Court
Professional Memberships and Activities
Member of The Florida Bar (Former Chair and Vice Chair, Energy Law Committee, Former member Judicial Nominating Procedures Committee and Judicial Administration, Selection and Tenure Committee)
Member of the American Bar Association (Public Utilities and Business Law Committee)
Member of the American Corporate Counsel Association, Central Florida Chapter
Hillsborough County Bar Association, Board of Directors; Hillsborough County Bar Foundation, President
KPMG General Counsel Roundtable
Edison Electric Institute, Legal Committee, Vice Chair; Chair, Corporate Issues Subcommittee; Chair, General Counsel Roundtable, 1981 - 2008
The Florida Council of 100, Member
Community Involvement
Florida Board of Governors for the State University System, Chair, 2008 to present, Vice Chair, 2006-2008
St. Leo University, Board of Trustees, Chair, 2005-2007
Governor's Blue Ribbon Commission on Minority Access and Diversity, Chair, 2005-2006
Florida State University, College of Law, Board of Visitors Former Chair
Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Nominating Commission (Gubernatorial appointment)
Florida Humanities Council, Board of Directors (Gubernatorial appointment)
Federal Judicial Nominating Advisory Commission, 1988-1993
Alexis de Toqueville Society of the United Way of Tampa Bay, Chair, 2007 to Present
The Florida Orchestra, Board of Trustees, 2002 to Present
Center for Women, Member, Board of Advisors
Trustee and Legal Advisor Lowry Park Zoological Society, Past Chair, 1984-1996; 2001-2003
Florida Aquarium, Board of Directors
Center for Ethics, University of Tampa, College of Business, Advisory Committee
Education
1998: Harvard Business School, Executive Education Program: Leadership in Professional Service Firms
1978: J.D., Florida State University College of Law
1968: B.A., Florida State University, Major(s): Government
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