Experienced Advocate
He started his legal career working for a judge, then worked for an international law firm to defend large companies in complicated cases. Now, he only represents people and their family members who have been seriously injured or killed in cases involving automobile and commercial vehicle collisions, defective consumer products, injuries in public places, injuries at work, and medical malpractice. He also represents consumers in disputes with insurance companies.
Peer and National Recognition
Matt has been rated by his peers as “AV Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating given, and has been recognized by Florida Super Lawyers and Florida Trend’s Legal Elite. Matt has also given lectures to lawyers and insurance professionals about personal injury cases. Matt also has experience counseling clients in cases that have attracted national media attention. He has appeared on NBC’s Today Show, and his cases have been featured in the Tampa Bay Times.
Background
Matt grew up in Florida and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida. He then taught American History and Economics at Allen D. Nease High School in St. Augustine, Florida. After teaching, he attended the Levin College of Law at the University of Florida where he competed for the nationally-recognized Justice Campbell Thornal Moot Court Team and graduated with honors.
After law school, Matt served as a law clerk to the Honorable Marcia Morales Howard, a District Judge appointed by then-President George W. Bush to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Matt also worked for a large law firm defending some of the biggest companies in the world, including several Fortune 500 corporations and insurance companies, in cases involving catastrophic injuries, defective consumer products, toxic torts, and environmental contamination.
Committed to the Tampa Bay Community
In addition to his active law practice, Matt spends time giving back to his community and profession. Matt works as a mentor for Plant High School’s Connect Mentoring Program and also assists with the Children’s Cancer Center in Tampa.
He also mentors law students at the University of Florida and Stetson University. He is a member of The Florida Bar, served on the Board of Directors of the Florida Justice Association’s Young Lawyer Section, and was selected to participate in the Hillsborough County Bar Association’s Bar Leadership Institute. He is also a member of the Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association.
When he is not working to achieve justice for his clients, Matt spends time with his wife Leah, a nurse practitioner at Moffitt Cancer Center, and their twin daughters, Juliette and Lilliana. They live on Davis Island in Tampa.
Education
- JD, University of Florida Levin College of Law, Graduated with Honors
- BA, University of Florida, Graduated with Honors
Professional Activities
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Member, The Florida Bar
- Licensed to Practice in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- Hillsborough County Bar Association, Trial and Litigation Section, Leadership Institute 2015-2016
- Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association
- Florida Justice Association, Member of the Board of Directors of the Young Lawyers Section
- American Association for Justice
Distinctions
- Recognized and peer-reviewed by Martindale-Hubbell as an “AV-Preeminent Rated Lawyer,” the highest rating given.
- A member of Florida’s Legal Elite as selected by Florida Trend magazine. Only about 1,000 lawyers in Florida are chosen for this honor each year.
- Recognized by SuperLawyers, a list of the top lawyers in Florida published yearly that represents no more than 5% of all lawyers in Florida.
- Rated “10 out of 10, Superb” by Avvo, a lawyer information database.
Publications and Lectures
- “Independent Contractor? So What! Establishing Vicarious Liability for the Negligence of an Independent Contractor,” April/May 2017, FJA Journal.
- “Stipulated Protective Order Governing Confidential Records: Dealing with Them, Maybe Even Avoiding Them,” April/May 2014, FJA Journal.
- “Presenting Medical Evidence at Trial: Direct Examination of Medical Experts,” March 28, 2013, Hillsborough County Bar Association Family Law Section.
- “Rule 1.280(b)(5)(A) Does Not Apply to Treating Physicians,” November 2012, Lawyer Magazine, Hillsborough County Bar Association.
