Stephen J. Mitchell

Stephen is listed in The Legal 500 US and Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 1987, and has been AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell for more than 30 years. He was named by the Best Lawyers in America as the 2009 Tampa Real Estate Lawyer of the Year, was named by Florida Trend magazine among the Florida Legal Elite in the area of real estate transactions and was selected by Thomson Reuters for inclusion in Florida Super Lawyers– a distinction recognizing the top 5 percent of lawyers in the state.

In 2001 Florida Governor Jeb Bush appointed him to the board of directors of the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (Tampa International Airport) where he served for eight years, the last four years as chair of the Aviation Authority. He also served as a member of the board of directors of the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) and chair of the Commissioners Committee of ACI-NA focusing on training for new and returning commissioners introducing them to new policies, procedures and programs within the aviation industry.

His experience as chair of the board of the Central Florida Technology Transit Corridor (High Speed Rail) Consortium provided him with the insight to be a member of the steering committee selected by the mayor of Tampa for the future development of a light rail system. In addition, he was involved with various groups pertaining to the Florida high speed rail initiative to be developed in the Tampa Bay area which was terminated when the funds for such project provided by the Transportation Initiative put forth by President Obama’s administration were returned by the state of Florida to the federal government.

In 2001 he was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to the Florida 2020 Energy Study Commission, which established, after receiving two years of testimony from energy experts, a blueprint for future energy needs and requirements for the state of Florida.

In 2006 he also was appointed by Florida Governor Jeb Bush to the board of directors of the Florida Gubernatorial Fellows Program, where he presently serves the state’s prestigious program of leadership training for outstanding Florida students interested in public service.

His commitment to local educational programs is highlighted by his appointment in 2011 by Governor Rick Scott to the Board of Trustees of the University of South Florida, his appointment in 2009 by Dr. Donald Eastman of Eckerd College to the National Advisory Council of Eckerd College, his appointment in 2007 to the Advisory Board to the University of South Florida School of Architecture, his appointment in 1999 as a Trustee of the University of Tampa and his appointment in 1994 as a Trustee of Tampa Preparatory School. Because he is known for his commitment to educational programs, he is periodically requested by departments of USF, such as the Center for Strategic and Diplomatic Studies, and Eckerd College to be a member of specific boards and/or institute established for specific departments.

Stephen is a member of the Urban Land Institute, the International Real Estate Institute and the Real Property Section of The Florida Bar. He is a member of the board of governors of the US delegation to the Union Internationale des Avocats and has served as treasurer of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, chair of the International Committee of the Tampa Chamber of Commerce and a member of the board of directors and president of the University Club of Tampa.

Prior to his career as a lawyer in private practice, he was a Captain in the US Air Force serving as a satellite analyst responsible for the performance of various Department of Defense satellite programs. He is known for his commitment to the armed forces and, specifically, the US Air Force. He has been selected as an Honorary Commander of an operating squadron of the 6th Air Mobility Wing at MacDill Air Force Base and was recently selected to be a member of the MacDill Support Council, a select group of businessmen in the Tampa Bay Community that provide assistance and guidance to the various commands that are located at MacDill Air Force Base.