MENU

Bryant Miller Olive

Jennifer R. Cowan

Attorney

Office phone: 813-273-6677

jcowan@bmolaw.com

Office Location: Tampa

vCard

Jennifer R. Cowan

Attorney

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Ms. Cowan is board certified by the Florida Bar in the area of City, County and Local Government Law. Ms. Cowan's practice includes representing counties, cities and special districts in all manner of legal matters. Specifically, Ms. Cowan serves as City Attorney, general counsel to a major deep-water seaport, general counsel to a transit authority, and general counsel to other special districts. Ms. Cowan also serves as Special Counsel to local governments throughout the state. Ms. Cowan advises public clients in matters including corporate governance, land use, public procurement, ethics, public records, Sunshine Law, and real property issues.

Prior to joining BMO, Ms. Cowan also assisted private clients in matters involving Developments of Regional Impact, comprehensive plan amendments, concurrency matters, zoning issues, impact fees reimbursements and disputes, and development of CDDs. Ms. Cowan has represented public and private clients in civil litigation and appellate matters.

Ms. Cowan is a third generation Pinellas County, Florida native. Ms. Cowan earned her law degree from Stetson University College of Law, cum laude. While in law school, Ms. Cowan was an intern for the then Justice Lewis of the Florida Supreme Court and Judge Rondolino of the Sixth Judicial Circuit. Before attending law school, Ms. Cowan worked for an intercity redevelopment agency in Los Angeles and a former Governor of the State of Florida.
 

PRACTICE AREAS

EDUCATION

  • J.D., cum laude, Stetson University College of Law with a concentration in advocacy
  • B.S., Florida State University, Philosophy and Political Science with minors in Chemical Science and Religion

BAR ADMISSIONS

The Florida Bar

COURT ADMISSIONS

All Florida Courts

U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida

U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida

U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit, 2020

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

 
  • Member, Transit Cooperative Research Panel, National Academy of Sciences, 2026 – present.
  • Florida Municipal Attorney Association Steering Committee Member, 2023-present.
  • City of Gulfport’s Planning and Zoning Advisory Board, 2010-present, member.
  • Manatee County Bar Association, member.
  • St. Petersburg Bar Association, member.
  • Leadership Pinellas, Class of 2016-2017; Education Leadership Committee, 2017- 2018.
  • Trustee, Arthur Family Foundation, member.

HONORS & AWARDS


  • Board Certified in City, County and Local Government by the Florida Bar
  • Land Use and Real Estate Legal Elite NOTABLE – Florida Trend, 2025 
  • Women Leaders in Law Legal Elite NOTABLE – Florida Trend, 2025
  • Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings (2015 - present)

PRESENTATIONS

  • “Procurement for Special Districts” – certification training for the Certified District Officials program for the Florida Association of Special District (FASD) Annual Conference, June 2026
  • “CCLG Certification – Procurement” as part of the certification training for the City, County and Local Government Law Section – The Florida Bar, April 2026
  • "Sunshine Law and Public Records Act" as part of the State-Mandated Ethics Training for all Florida Elected and Appointed Officials – Florida Association of Special Districts (FASD), 2024 and 2026
  • “Procurement for Special Districts” certification training for the Certified District Officials program for the Florida Association of Special District (FASD) Annual Conference, June 2024
  • "Governance, How to conduct a Successful Board Meeting" – Florida Association of Special Districts (FASD) Annual Conference, June 2023
  • "Responsibilities of a Special District Attorney" – Florida Association of Special Districts (FASD) Annual Conference, June 2022
  • "Vaccination Mandates: Local Governments Caught in the Middle" – City, Couty and Local Government Law Section of The Florida Bar, October 2021
  • "To the Extent Permitted by Law – Indemnification Provisions in Contracts" – The Florida Bar, Public Finance Annual Seminar, April 2021
  • “The Proverbial Lines in the Sand – CCCLs, ECLs, MHWLs” – St. Petersburg Bar, Local Government and Real Property Section, April 2021
  • “The New Normal in Administrative Appeals” - St. Petersburg Bar, Appellate Section February 2021
  • "Special Districts - You Can Adopt Rules, But Can You Enforce Them?," April 2019
  • "The Public Records Act - When Good Faith Compliance Is Not Enough!," May 2017
  • "Overview of Sunshine Law & Ethics for Public Employees," presented at the DODD Short Course, January 26, 2016
  • "Pension Challenges Ahead" presented with Glenn Thomas at the Continuing Education Workshop for Tax Collectors, January 2015
  • "FRS and Pension Developments" presented with Jim Linn at the 40th Annual Public Employment Labor Relations Forum, October 2014
  • "User Fees and Taxes" presented as part of the panel discussion on "Finance and Taxation" at the Florida Municipal Attorneys Association, July 2014

Newsroom

Jul 31, 2026
Jennifer R. Cowan, Esq. of Bryant Miller Olive P.A. Appointed to the National Academy of Sciences, Transit Cooperative Research Panel

Nov 06, 2025
Three Shareholders and practice group chairs recognized in the November issue of Florida Trend Magazine as Women Leaders in Law

Sep 03, 2025
Shareholders Charles L. Cooper and Jennifer R. Cowan Recognized in Real Estate and Land Use Edition of Florida Trend Magazine's Legal Elite Section

Jan 30, 2023
Bryant Miller Olive P.A. Announces Jennifer Cowan, Esq. and Alecia Ingram, Esq. as Shareholders

May 20, 2022
Bryant Miller Olive P.A. Government Services Practice Group Attends City, County, and Local Government Section of The Florida Bar Annual Convention

© Bryant Miller Olive - All rights reserved. | Disclaimer | LinkedIn

Hosted on the FirmWise platform

We use cookies to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use our website.