Gunster is proud to sponsor the sixth annual Florida's Women in Energy Leadership Forum, taking place October 27-29, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. Gunster attorneys and consultants have been active supporters and participants in each annual forum.
Florida’s Women in Energy Leadership Forum was established in 2015 by former Gunster shareholder and chair of the Florida Public Service Commission Lila A. Jaber. It celebrates the success women leaders in the energy industry have demonstrated in growing Florida’s economy and diversifying an already tremendous workforce. In so doing, this forum highlights the positive impact of the electric and natural gas industries as large employers and economic developers.
This year's program will feature keynote speakers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Duke Energy Florida, NextEra Energy, and Florida Public Service Commission, among others.
Additionally, the following Gunster attorneys and government affairs consultants will present on the following topics:
- Gunster chairman and former U.S. Senator George LeMieux will facilitate the "How the Energy Industry has Driven Florida's Resiliency" fireside chat
- Gunster shareholder Beth Keating will facilitate the "Corporate Resilience and EDI – Fostering Employee Engagement and Creating Opportunity is Leadership" panel discussion
- Gunster shareholder Greg Munson will moderate the "Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability" panel discussion
- Gunster government affairs consultant Ronald Brisé will moderate the "The “New” Natural Gas Debate – Local Bans and Energy Resilience" panel discussion
Formerly Gunster’s Regional Managing Shareholder and Chair of the Government Affairs practice though 2019, Lila A. Jaber is a dedicated strategist, thought leader and lawyer with a diverse, nearly 30-year professional background in energy, natural gas, water and telecommunications regulatory policy. Experienced in leadership, management, ethics and governance, as well as regulatory and political consulting, Lila’s advisory firm works with Gunster on a number of business development and leadership initiatives, including the Florida’s Women in Energy Leadership Forum. Notably, Lila served two terms as both Commissioner and Chairman of the Florida Public Service Commission, overseeing the state’s implementation of economic regulatory policy and procedure for the energy, natural gas, water and telecommunications industries.
For more than twenty years, George S. LeMieux has been lead trial counsel in federal and state courts, in civil and regulatory matters, before juries, judges and arbitrators. His clients include financial institutions, telecommunications companies, healthcare providers, real estate developers, and during the course of his career, prominent individuals including President-elect George W. Bush, Governor Jeb Bush, and Raymond Perelman. He has argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Supreme Court of Florida, and Florida’s intermediate appellate courts. His practice includes defending clients in enforcement matters brought by state attorneys general, advocating for clients in administrative law proceedings including bid protests, and counseling governmental bodies on public records and meeting requirements.
Beth Keating's practice is focused on state administrative law. She provides legal counsel pertaining to federal and state regulatory laws, particularly as such regulation is applied to utility companies. Her experience includes the legal representation of and policy consultation for competitive telecommunications, cable and technology companies, as well as electric and natural gas utilities before state and federal agencies and the Florida Legislature. Beth previously worked as an attorney at the Florida Public Service Commission for more than a decade and in a variety of capacities.
Gregory M. Munson represents regulated industries in the industrial, agricultural, mining, and utility sectors in all areas of state and federal environmental law. He represents clients before Florida’s executive branch agencies, the state’s water management districts, the Division of Administrative Hearings, the Florida governor and cabinet, EPA and the Florida Legislature. He twice held senior positions at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Beginning in 2011, Greg was the deputy secretary for water policy and ecosystem restoration. In this capacity, he supervised the department’s activities related to Everglades restoration and the state’s water management districts. From 2004 to 2006, Greg was general counsel at DEP, and oversaw all legal matters in the department.
