Louise Wilhite-St. Laurent

Louise Wilhite-St. Laurent brings over 14 years of experience in procurements, administrative, healthcare, and marijuana law.  Leveraging her experience as General Counsel for the Florida Department of Health, Louise is intimately familiar with navigating governmental processes on behalf of her clients in a variety of complex healthcare and administrative matters. 

Administrative Law and Competitive Procurements

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). She played a pivotal role in risk evaluations, offering legal support for policy implementation and defending the Department’s actions in civil and administrative proceedings.

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.  

Healthcare Law

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, ensuring compliance and regulatory integrity.

Marijuana Law

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’s comprehensive knowledge of marijuana law positions her to guide clients through the complex and evolving legal landscape of marijuana law.

Community Leadership

Louise is currently the Chair of the Administrative Law Section of the Florida Bar, a Director of the Tallahassee Bar Association (TBA), a member of the Health Law Section, Government Lawyer Section, and the Florida Government Bar Association. She also serves on the Governmental and Public Policy Advocacy Committee. Louise 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.  Mrs. St. Laurent is dedicated to supporting young lawyers and students pursuing a career in law, often serving as a mock trial judge for the Florida State University College of Law and American Mock Trial Association.  

Education & Background

Louise lives in Wakulla County, Florida, with her loving husband, Ed St. Laurent. In her spare time, Louise enjoys conducting group cycling classes at her local fitness center.