On June 29, 2021, Shutts & Bowen lost a beloved member of its family, C. Mark Stevenson, a longtime Tampa partner in our Tax and International Law Practice.
Mark was a valued member of the firm and a highly respected member of Tampa Bay’s legal community. A zealous and brilliant practitioner of transactional and taxation law, he worked tirelessly with a wide range of clients, handling the complex structuring of business ventures using corporations, LLCs and partnerships, and preparing related agreements with a keen understanding of the United States federal and Florida state tax implications. He had a deft touch and an innate ability to put his clients at ease in the midst of contentious legal struggles with his oft-uttered catch phrase, “Don’t worry.”
Mark grew up outside of Titusville in Mims, Florida, graduating from Titusville High School in 1992. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Central Florida in 1996, a Juris Doctor of Law from the University of Miami in 2000, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Miami in 2001, and a Master of Law in Taxation from the University of Florida in 2001. He also studied at Oxford University in London, England. He joined Shutts in 2008 and was promoted to Partner in 2013.
In addition to being highly-educated, he was also a kind, generous, genuine and tremendously giving person who freely contributed his time to his colleagues, many of whom were proud to call him a mentor. Within the profession, Mark leaves behind a legacy as a trusted colleague, loyal friend, and for practicing law with unyielding integrity.
Mark is survived by his wife Erika Stevenson, mother Helen Stevenson, father Charles Stevenson, sister Carole Stevenson Wurtzbacher (Chris) and niece Brittany Wood.
He will be missed by all of his colleagues and friends at Shutts, and his passing is an immense loss to the Tampa office, the Tax practice and the firm as a whole. Our heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to Mark’s family during this difficult time.