Lila Jaber

Overview

Formerly Gunster's Regional Managing Shareholder and Chair of the Government Affairs practice though 2019, Lila 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.

Honors

  • "Lifetime Advocacy Award", Big Bend Minority Chamber of Commerce, 2019
  • Florida Trend, "Legal Elite," 2017
  • Tallahassee Democrat’s “25 Women You Need to Know” in 2015
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Utilities Law, Administrative/Regulatory Law, Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law, Government Relations Practice, Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy), 2013-25

News & Insights

  • "Energy Policy and Environmental Regulation Reform and Implications for Florida," 33rd annual Environmental Permitting Summer School, Florida Chamber Foundation, July 19, 2019
  • “30 Years of Women in Power: Where Are We Going and How Are We Going to Get There?” POWER-GEN International, Orlando, FL, December 4, 2018
  • "Women in the Workplace: Shining a Light on the Elusiveness of Diversity," panelist, Women's Conference of Florida, October 26, 2018
  • "Let's Talk About Diversity," panelist, USF's 13th Annual Women in Leadership & Philanthropy Fall Symposium, October 19, 2018
  • "The Promise of Civic Advance in Florida: Five Perspectives," Florida Civic Advance Summit, 2015
  • “Defining Green Jobs for Florida,” co-author
  • "Legal and Regulatory Developments in Florida," 2015 Southeast Water Infrastructure Summit, National Association of Water Companies Southeast Summit, Charleston, SC, April 30, 2015
  • “Independent Management Issues in Regulation,” 29th PURC/World Bank International Training Program on Utility Regulation and Strategy, Gainesville, FL, January 20, 2011
  • “Managing the Regulatory Process: Independence of the Regulatory Agency,” PURC World Bank International Training Program, Gainesville, FL, January 17, 2006
  • “Driving the Regulatory Process: Independence and Management Issues,” PURC World Bank International Training Program, Gainesville, FL, June 14, 2005
  • “Regulator’s Forum 2003 – Florida: Still Nixes Merchant Generation,” Public Utilities Fortnightly, November 15, 2003
  • “Role of Diversity in a Changing Energy Market,” Southeast Regional Meetings for the American Association of Blacks in Energy, Orlando, FL, October 11, 2003
  • “Infrastructure Development and Florida’s Electric Supply,” 23rd Annual Bonbright Center Electric and Natural Gas Conference, Atlanta, GA, September 11, 2003
  • “Florida’s Electric Supply: Issues Affecting Reliability,” Governor Bush and Cabinet, Tallahassee, FL, August 26, 2003
  • “The Desire to Serve: Alumni Consider Public Service a Privilege,” Stetson Lawyer, Volume 43, Number 1, Spring 2003
  • “5 Minutes With… Lila Jaber, Chairman, Florida Public Service Commission,” The Prepaid Press, April 4, 2003“Improving Competition in the Telecommunications Markets,” testimony before the Florida House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Telecommunication, Tallahassee, FL, March 18, 2003
  • “Overview of the Florida Public Service Commission,” testimony before the Florida Senate, Committee on Communication and Public Utilities, Tallahassee, FL, March 18, 2003
  • “Advancing New Opportunities,” Gulf Power Company’s 7th Annual Economic Symposium, Destin, FL, October 22, 2002
  • “Connecting Rural America,” NECA Expo 2002, Las Vegas, NV, September 16, 2002
  • “Water Pricing to Promote Conservation,” Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Water Conservation Initiative, Orlando, FL, August 21, 2002
  • “Telecommunications: Florida’s Future,” ALTS Annual Conference & Exposition, Orlando, FL, July 22, 2002
  • “The Regulator’s Role in Serving Low Income Energy Consumers,” National Low Income Energy Consortium Conference, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, June 26, 2002
  • “Regulation of Telecommunications & Energy Industries… A Look Ahead,” Gulf Power Company’s 6th Annual Economic Symposium, Destin, FL, October 15, 2001
  • “Universal Service,” testimony before the United States Senate, Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Washington, DC, June 19 2002
  • “Successful Adjudication Before the State Commission,” National Telecommunications Cooperative Association, Savannah, GA, November 9, 2001
  • “Managing the Regulatory Process: Obtaining and Managing Information,” Public Utility Research Center/ World Bank 9th International Training Course for Utility Regulators, Gainesville, FL, June 19, 2001
  • “Overview of Current Water Issues,” 28th Annual Eastern Utility Rate School (NARUC Water Committee), Clearwater, FL, October 30, 2000
  • “Status of Competition and Deployment in Telecommunication and Advanced Technology,” Gulf Power Company’s 5th Annual Economic Symposium, Destin, FL, October 10, 2000
  • “The Impact of Regulation on the Broadband Industry,” Florida Cable Telecommunications Association, Naples, FL, September 11, 2000
  • “State Regulatory Telecom Initiatives,” Comptel Business Forum, Orlando, FL, May 25, 2000
  • “Taxability of Water Laterals,” appearance before the United States Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service, Washington, DC, April 27, 2000
  • “Administrative Dispute Resolution – Its Past and Future,” 2000 Pat Dore Administrative Law Conference, Tallahassee, FL, April 14, 2000
  • “Legal Framework in the Regulatory Environment,” Institute of Public-Private Partnerships in Washington, DC, March 18, 1998 and March 22, 1999
  • “Analysis of Comprehensive Plan Provision Contained in Chapter 367, Florida Statutes,” Lila Jaber and JoAnn Chase, October 10, 1997

Publications

Involvement

Professional Associations & Memberships

  • Certified Circuit Court Mediator
  • Florida Bar, Government, Public Utility Law and Administrative Law Sections
  • University of Florida Public Utility Research Center, senior fellow
  • Florida Conflict Resolution Consortium Leadership Steering Council, member

Civic & Community Service

  • Stetson University, board of trustees, 2019-23
  • Women & Leadership Committee, member, 2019
  • The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, member, commissioned 2016
  • City of Tallahassee Ethics Board, chair, 2015
  • Big Bend Minority Chamber of Commerce, founding board member and vice chair, 2012-15
  • United Way of the Big Bend, past board member, 2013-15
  • Leadership Florida
    • Chair, 2011-12
    • Member of Class XXIII
  • Florida Chamber, board of directors, 2011-12

Education

  • Stetson University College of Law, J.D., 1990
  • Stetson University, B.A., Political Science, 1988

News & Insights

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