Stephen A. Ecenia

Stephen A. Ecenia

Stephen A. Ecenia is a founding principal of Rutledge Ecenia, P.A. and serves as President of Rutledge Ecenia, P.A. He has been practicing Administrative and Health Law in Tallahassee since 1981. He has more than 40 years of experience in the practice of administrative and governmental law in Florida and has served as lead counsel in numerous complex administrative hearings and civil court trials. He regularly advises clients on legislative affairs, drafting major health care legislation and appearing before various legislative committees.

Steve received a Bachelor of Arts degree with High Honors from the University of Florida in 1977 and his Juris Doctorate Degree from Florida State University in 1980, where he was a member of the Moot Court Team. He has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1981 and has lectured for the Administrative Law Section of the Florida Bar, as well as the Boards of Directors of various organizations.

Steve received Board Certification as a Specialist in State and Federal Government and Administrative Practice in the first Board Certification by the Florida Bar for this legal specialty. He has consistently been AV rated by Martindale Hubble, has been regularly recognized as a Florida Super Lawyer in the Healthcare practice area, and has been recognized in Florida Trend’s Legal Elite.

Steve began his professional career in the Florida House of Representatives, serving as counsel to the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives and as staff counsel to the House Judiciary Committee. In 1992 he became one of the founders of the firm then known as Rutledge, Ecenia, Underwood & Purnell.

Steve has focused his career on the representation of health care clients and has represented virtually every type of health care entity including hospitals and health care systems, managed care organizations, clinical laboratories, home health agencies, hospice providers, and physicians.

Steve has represented a wide array of clients in Circuit Court, the District Courts of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Florida in matters involving the constitutionality of Florida Statutes, commercial disputes, and other matters of administrative law. He has served as General Counsel to a statewide Association of over 4,000 members, and currently serves as General Counsel to the Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association.

Steve has served as President of the Capital Cultural Commission and on the Executive Committee of the Board of the Brogan Museum of Art and Science. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Grapes for Humanity Global Foundation, an international not-for-profit organization whose primary mission is to provide prosthesis to victims of landmines and natural disasters around the world.