Investor Spotlight: Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC
April 11, 2016
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC merged with Fowler White Boggs PA in March of 2014, creating a combined total of nearly 530 attorneys and government relations professionals practicing throughout the United States, with offices in California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Their areas of experience include business organizations, business finance, litigation, intellectual property, cybersecurity, tax, 
government relations, creditors’ rights, employment, employee compensation and benefits, labor, immigration, estates and trusts, government contract law, real estate and land use, and commercial contracts. Their lawyers and government relations professionals know how the law impacts a broad range of industries, including financial services, health care, energy and natural resources, manufacturing, retail, entertainment and media, pharmaceuticals, real estate, education, hospitality, and technology.
Rhea Law serves as Chair of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney’s Florida offices and as a member of the Board of Directors. She focuses her practice in the areas of government, higher education, environmental law, and land use. Highly involved in civic and charitable work, Law has held top leadership positions with many Florida-based organizations, including the Tampa Bay Partnership, Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties. She was appointed by Governor Bush to serve on the board of the Florida Council of 100, where she currently is the Chair.
Law also served as Chair of the EDC in 2001 and 2011, and continues to serve on the Executive Committee and play a large role in our organization.
1. Those of us who live here know that Hillsborough County is a great place to live and work. When you are recruiting top talent from out of market, what aspects of our community are often cited as positive factors influencing their decision to relocate here?
At Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, we are lucky to have national name recognition and a stellar reputation. When we look to hire people outside of our area, Tampa is an easy selling point. With all the new amenities being constructed like the Riverwalk and the parks and recreation, plus the $2 billion project in downtown, the 
city is transforming to an even higher level of vibrancy and energy. Add to that the gorgeous weather, waterfront living, top restaurants, great sports teams, and a variety of recreational activities, and the city, in my opinion, can’t be beat.
On a personal level, I am a fifth generation native of Florida, born and raised in Tampa, and can attest to the fact that it is a great place to live and work. Over the years, I have seen many new companies come to Tampa, and they are always impressed with the tremendous warmth and openness of our community – a place eagerly encouraging newcomers to get involved – and take leadership positions in business, industry, community service, and nonprofit organizations. In addition, new businesses that relocate to Hillsborough County love the fact that we have a ready, educated, and talented workforce being trained in the community by our numerous institutions of higher education. For example, the University of South Florida leads our state’s university system in the percentage of graduates that are retained in our community. That means our universities work closely with businesses to develop the right talent and training, therefore, when graduates enter the workforce, they are immediately productive.
2. What is your favorite aspect of living in Tampa Bay?
To put it simply, Tampa Bay has it all. People can have a great career, raise a family, obtain an excellent education for their children, and keep the next generation in town because there are great jobs for their kids when they graduate. It is the perfect example of a live, work, play city.
3. How has the EDC played a role in helping your business succeed in Tampa and Hillsborough County?
Economic development is often times the sustaining force of a city. That is certainly the case for the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation. As a service industry, we directly benefit when our business base expands. The EDC has recruited companies to the area that add to the diversity of the area so that together we are stronger, more vibrant and sustainable.
4. What is the number one thing that you believe will impact our region’s competitiveness in the coming decade?
Competitiveness is driven by the success of the partnerships we create between our education, government, and business communities. One of the current issues we need to focus on is enhancing our transportation system to provide more options to move people efficiently and effectively between our innovation, business, and residential districts.
