An award-winning and dedicated trial attorney, Sean Shaw is a fearless advocate for consumers inside and outside of the courtroom. Sean was born and raised in Tallahassee and has been a resident of the Tampa Bay community for the past nine years. He graduated from Princeton University in 2000 with an A.B. in Politics and graduated from the University Of Florida Levin School Of Law in 2003 with a J.D.
In 2008, he was appointed as Florida’s Insurance Consumer Advocate by Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink. In that capacity he managed fifteen dedicated state employees committed to protecting Florida families and businesses on insurance matters. With over 10 years of experience representing policyholders throughout the state of Florida, Sean is a public champion for policyholders as the founder of the Policyholders of Florida, a statewide consumer advocacy coalition. He has been a passionate consumer advocate for the last decade, both as an attorney and a legislator, notably running for Florida Attorney General in 2018. Sean was the Democratic Nominee for Attorney General and was the first African-American nominee for Attorney General in the history of the State of Florida.
In August 2016, Shaw was elected State Representative from District 61, which encompasses East Tampa, Ybor City, Progress Village, Seminole Heights, and parts of West Tampa. He has immersed himself in his community through mentorship, which he believes is a key element to our youth’s success. In addition, he is committed to closing the gaps in the public school system and ensuring that all kids have access to the best education needed to obtain a bright future.
Sean Shaw is a member of St. Johns Progressive Missionary Baptist Church, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Hillsborough Education Foundation, the Saturday Morning Breakfast Group, Tampa Organization Black Affairs, George Edgecomb Bar Association, and numerous other civic organizations. He is licensed to practice law in Florida and Washington D.C. and is authorized to appear before any state or federal court in the state of Florida. He is also the proud son of the late Leander J. Shaw Jr., the first African- American Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court.
Professional Distinctions
- Florida Workers Advocates Legislative Freshman of the Year, 2017
- Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters Legislator of the Year, 2017
- Florida Bar Trial Lawyers Section Legislative Leadership Award, 2017
- The National Black Lawyers Top 40 under 40, 2017
- Super Lawyers, Rising Star, since 2017
Community Involvement
- American Bar Association
- National Bar Association
- Windstorm Insurance Network
- National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA) Associate Member
- Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (FAPIA) Associate Member
- American Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (AAPIA)
- Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
- George Edgecomb Bar Association
- Hillsborough County Bar Association
- Florida Justice Association
- Tampa Bar Trial Lawyers Association
Presentations
- Guest Panelist, FAIR Annual Conference (Florida Association for Insurance Reform), 2016
- Panelist at the conference, Hurricane Andrew 20 Years Later, Hosted by FIU Metropolitan Center, the School of International and Public Affairs, and the College of Arts and Sciences, 2012
- Guest Lecturer on Various Insurance Issues, FSU College of Law
- “What Every Consumer Should Know About Property Insurance” – The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, June 2011
- “Consumer Perspective” – Florida Insurance Market Summit, 2010
- “Consumer Perspective” – Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund Participating Insurer Workshop, 2010
- “Consumer Update” – FAPIA Winter and Summer Conference, 2010
- “State of the Worker’s Compensation System” – Florida Workers Advocates Annual Education Conference, 2010
- Testimony before the United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures regarding the Proposed Reinsurance Tax – Washington DC, 2010
- “Consumer Perspective” – Florida Insurance Market Summit, 2010
- “Insurance Update” – Florida Justice Association Annual Convention 2009
- “Florida Consumer Issues” – AUSBANC International Conference, 2009
- “Regulator update / Health Insurance Breakout Session” – Florida Insurance Council Summer Meeting, 2009
- “Consumer Tips for Hurricanes” – Hurricane Awareness Seminar for Small Businesses, 2009
- “Panel-Do we need a Systemic Regulator?” – Competitive Enterprise Institute Washington DC, 2009
- “Panel-Making Reform Work” – Competitive Enterprise Institute New Orleans, 2009
