Bryant Miller Olive

Jennifer R. Cowan

Attorney

Office phone: 813-273-6677

jcowan@bmolaw.com

Office Location: Tampa

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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 city and special district entities in all manner of legal matters. Specifically, Ms. Cowan serves as City Attorney, general counsel to a major deep-water seaport, and general counsel to another special district. Ms. Cowan also serves as Special Counsel to local governments through the state. Ms. Cowan advises public clients in matters including corporate governance, land use, public procurement, collective bargaining, employment law, 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. She is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell. 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.
 

EDUCATION

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

BAR ADMISSIONS

The Florida Bar

COURT ADMISSIONS

U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida

U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

  • 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.

PRESENTATIONS

  • "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
  • "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 FL 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.
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