Louise Wilhite St. Laurent

Louise's career in administrative law began in 2013 when she joined the Florida Department of Health (DOH). There, Louise navigated complex state and federal regulations while overseeing the legal operations related to regulatory compliance, litigation, and rulemaking. As General Counsel for DOH, Louise led a team of more than 80 attorneys, managing high-stakes litigation and providing legal guidance on administrative law matters across Florida's circuit, district, and federal courts, as well as before the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH).

Since joining the firm, Louise has provided significant state and federal regulatory support for her clients in complex legal matters involving procurements, protests, and a variety of healthcare matters.

Louise offers deep expertise in healthcare law, focusing on regulatory compliance, healthcare policy, and public health law. During her tenure at DOH, she provided strategic legal counsel on complex healthcare regulations, public health initiatives, and delivery systems. Her notable experience includes work with the Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU), where Louise played a key role in developing Florida's medical marijuana program, now the third-largest in the U.S., helping to shape the program's legal frameworks.

A recognized expert in marijuana law, Louise specializes in the legal and regulatory aspects of medical marijuana. Louise has provided significant litigation and rulemaking support to the Florida Department of Health's Office of Medical Marijuana Use, where her work involved advising on compliance issues, defending the program's legal standing in various courts, and navigating the complex regulatory environment surrounding licensing, distribution, and policy development in the marijuana industry.

Louise is the immediate past Chair of the Administrative Law Section of the Florida Bar, a Director of the Tallahassee Bar Association, and a member of the Health Law Section, Government Lawyer Section, and the Florida Government Bar Association. She has delivered numerous continuing legal education presentations on topics such as administrative litigation, constitutional rulemaking, evidence in administrative hearings, and the use of executive power during states of emergency.