Serving clients as both a licensed attorney and registered lobbyist in the State of Ohio, Sheila has merged her expertise in law and politics. She brings to the firm’s client engagements her extensive experience in the innerworkings of Ohio state government and the political ecosystem, having most recently served as the deputy chief of staff and executive counsel to the Speaker at the Ohio House of Representatives under Speaker Robert Cupp.
Her comprehensive and strategic approach to government affairs is founded on more than a decade of government experience. Sheila has worked at all levels of government (federal, state, and local) and has experience in and with every Ohio state-level branch of government. Relying on both strategic diplomacy and the best arguments, she regularly assists public-facing clients in navigating the public relations and technical aspects of projects to achieve the best results for her clients.
Sheila joined Kegler Brown in 2023 and now focuses her practice on advocating for clients before state and local government bodies and offering legal representation across numerous areas, including government relations, multi-state lobbyist law, and transportation improvement districts. As a former Deputy Elections Counsel, campaign manager, and ethics adviser, she also stands ready to assist clients with their election law and ethics compliance needs.
Sheila has advised senior-level members of the legislature and state government employees on ethics law compliance, carefully amended high-profile legislation, negotiated amendments with interested parties, assisted with Joint Legislative Ethics Commission and Ohio Ethics Commission reporting, handled contract negotiations, participated in administrative rule drafting and submission, and has assisted in various human resource legal matters.
Before joining Kegler Brown, and in addition to her previous roles with the Ohio House as a Policy Director and Deputy Legal Counsel for the Majority Caucus, Sheila served as Deputy Legal Counsel for Ohio State Treasurer Robert Sprague, and as Deputy Elections Counsel for Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose. She previously staffed the Ohio House Civil Justice and Criminal Justice Committees for the House Majority Caucus; and gained additional insight into the process to create Ohio’s Administrative Code as she staffed the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review for Speaker Cupp.
- University of Toledo College of Law (J.D., 2013)
- Magna cum laude; Order of the Coif
- International Law (Concentration)
- Ohio Northern University, (B.A., 2010)
- Majors: Political Science; Criminal Justice
- U.S. Supreme Court
- Ohio
- The Federalist Society
- Allen County Bar Association
- Ohio State Bar Association
- Columbus Bar Association
- Columbus Sister Cities International, Board of Directors
