Matthew J. Meyer is a partner in the Tampa office of Shutts & Bowen LLP, where he is a member of the Business Litigation Practice Group.
An accomplished business litigator, Matt represents large and mid-sized companies, small businesses, and entrepreneurs in contract, commercial, real estate, and construction disputes. He practices in Florida's state and federal courts and before arbitration panels, guiding clients in Florida and beyond to help them find effective and efficient solutions for complex legal challenges.
Matt has built a broad commercial litigation practice spanning various industries and areas of dispute resolution. He has represented developers, contractors, subcontractors, property owners, manufacturers, material suppliers, technology companies, service providers, franchisors, and real estate, insurance and other brokers.
His work regularly involves contract disputes and business torts, including claims for fraud, tortious interference, breach of fiduciary duty, civil theft, and misappropriation of trade secrets, as well as disputes arising under real estate, construction, professional services, employment, and technology agreements. He has substantial experience enforcing and defending against restrictive covenants, including community association covenants that run with the land, as well as confidentiality, non-solicitation, and non-competition provisions, on behalf of clients seeking to protect their property, workforce or client relationships. Matt also represents parties in shareholder and "business divorce" disputes, asserting or defending against claims of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, or statutory violations brought by current or former members or shareholders, whether directly or as part of derivative claims litigation.
In the real estate and construction arena, Matt has represented developers, contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers in disputes involving contract enforcement, lien foreclosure, construction defect claims, and the enforcement of restrictive covenants tied to residential and commercial developments. He has handled landlord-tenant litigation on both sides of commercial leases, defended manufacturers and developers against sound and moisture intrusion claims, and pursued related third-party claims against designers and subcontractors. His practice further extends to defending technology and software services providers against damages claims arising from development and platform agreements, representing brokers in commission and fraud disputes, and defending against putative class actions alleging deceptive trade practices.
Across these and other areas, Matt has secured summary judgments, injunctions, jury, non-jury and arbitration wins, and other favorable resolutions. His work regularly involves projects and transactions valued in the millions, and he has authored articles and presented on subjects related to litigation, restrictive covenants, and construction and real estate law.
Matt holds a J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis, is a graduate of Bradley University, and clerked for U.S. Senator Connie Mack in Washington, D.C. Among his community involvements, Matt has served on the J. Clifford Cheatwood American Inn of Court as well as the Board of Fellows for the University of Tampa and the Franchise and Construction Services sections of the American Bar Association.
Credentials
Education
- Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, J.D., 1997
- Bradley University, B.S., Business Administration, with honors, 1994
Bar Admissions
- Florida
Court Admissions
- United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Professional and Civic
- The Florida Bar
- Hillsborough County Bar Association
- Clifford Cheatwood American Inn of Court, Master
- American Bar Association, Franchise and Construction Sections
- Board of Fellows, University of Tampa
- Forward Tampa Bay
News & Insights
Presentations
- “When, Where and How to Enforce Non-Competition and Confidentiality Agreements Against Former Employees: Practical Considerations and Best Practices,” Hillsborough County Bar Association, Corporate Counsel Section (March 25, 2016)
News & Speaking Engagements
- TechNewsWorld quotes Matthew Meyer in “The Law and Your Robot Chauffer,” (Nov. 2, 2010)
Blog Posts
Select Decisions
Select Decisions
- EBSCO Gulf Coast Development, Inc. v. Camilo K. Salas, III, as Trustee, Case No. 3:15-CV-586 (N.D. Fla. Aug. 1, 2018) - (granting in part Motion for Summary Judgment regarding enforceability of repurchase rights and liquidated damages provisions in real estate sales contract and community’s governing documents related to buyer’s failure to timely commence construction of residence).
- EBSCO Gulf Coast Development, Inc. v. Tennant Land LLC, Case No. 3:16-CV-153, 2017 WL 6947784 (N.D. Fla. Sept. 21, 2017) - (granting in part Motion for Summary Judgment regarding enforceability of liquidated damages provision in real estate sales contract based upon buyer’s failure to timely complete construction of residence)
- Christian Tennant Custom Homes of Florida, Inc. v. EBSCO Gulf Coast Development, Inc., et al, Case No. 3:15-CV-585, 2017 WL 4102458 (N.D. Fla. Sept. 15, 2017) - (granting in part Motion for Summary Judgment regarding claims for tortious interference, breach of contract, breach of implied contract, and promissory estoppel)
- Willis of Florida, Inc. v. Alliant Insurance Services, Inc., et al., Case No. 16-CA-007824 (Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court, Hillsborough County, Florida, Sept. 21, 2016) - (granting in part Motion for Temporary Injunction against former employee and his new employer regarding violation of non-competition agreement)
- DeSilva v. First Community Bank of America, 42 So. 3d 285 (Fla. 2d DCA 2010) - (reversal of appointment of receivership in mortgage foreclosure litigation)
- City of St. Petersburg v. Total Containment, Inc., 265 F.R.D. 630 (S.D. Fla. 2010) - (denying motion for class certification in product liability action)
- Reddick v. Rosemary Beach Land Co.,9 So. 3d 621 (Fla. 1st DCA 2009) - (per curiam affirmation of jury verdict in real estate development litigation)
- St. Fleurose v. Worldwide Dedicated Services, Inc., 2007 WL 4287614 (M.D. Fla. 2007) - (setting aside recommendation of Magistrate and precluding plaintiff’s use of expert witnesses in personal injury action)
- Sandpiper Development and Construction, Inc. v. Rosemary Beach Land Co., 907 So. 2d 684 (Fla. 1st DCA 2005) - (affirmation of summary judgment in real estate litigation)
- McIntosh Land Co. v. Fairfield Fletcher Ltd. Partnership, 2005 WL 2656577 (M.D. Fla. 2005) - (granting, in part, motion for summary judgment in real estate sale litigation)
- Mivan (Florida), Inc. v. Metric Constructors, Inc., 857 So. 2d 901 (Fla. 5th DCA 2003) -
(reversal of summary judgment in construction litigation)
Publications
Publications
- Co-Author, “They Are Violating the Preliminary Injunction, What Now?,” The American Bar Association’s Winter 2015 Edition of The Franchise Lawyer
- “Want to Avoid Paying Rule 41(d) Costs? Then Re-File in State Instead of Federal Court”
- “A Managing Agent’s Malicious Actions Can Subject The Company To Punitive Damages. But What Does “Managing Agent” Really Mean?”
- “Can A Third-Party Successfully Sue You For Failing To Provide Service Beyond The Scope Of Your Contract?”
- “No Discovery Allowed Of Special Litigation Committee Regarding Its Evaluation Of Proposed Derivative Claims”
- “Procuring Cause Doctrine Does Not Override Express Contract Terms”
- “Thou Shalt Presume Irreparable Harm (when construing non-compete agreements)”
- “Your Neighbor Is Violating A City Ordinance, But The City Disagrees. Can You Sue The City? No. Can You Sue The Neighbor? Maybe, Says A Florida Appellate Court”
- “Do I Need To Follow The Ancient Rules Of Authentication To Use A Google Maps Image As Evidence During My Trial? Yes, Says Florida Appellate Court”
- “Do False Statements About A Former Employee During A Bank’s Board Of Directors Meeting Constitute Defamation? No, Says A Florida Appellate Court”
- “Florida Real Estate Law: Is “Adverse Possession” Sufficiently “Hostile” If The Possession Is Permitted Because Nobody Realizes That It’s Wrong?”
- “When Is A Ladder Actually A House? When You Apply Florida’s Construction Statute Of Repose To A Personal Injury Claim”
- “What Apex Doctrine? Florida Appellate Court Explains That Doctrine Applies Only To Government Executives”
- “When Is A “Parking Garage” Not A “Garage” Or “Parking Lot”? When The Term Is Used In A Florida Restrictive Covenant”
- “Be Careful! That Arbitration Agreement Might Waive Your Personal Jurisdiction Defense In Florida”
- “Does A Contract Provision That Precludes The Recovery Of Any Damages Render The Entire Contract Illusory? The Eleventh Circuit Court Of Appeal Has Asked The Florida Supreme Court To Decide”
- “Solidifying Liquidated Damages With Specific Performance”
- “Florida Court of Appeal Affirms Trial Court Judgment Awarding $9.6 Million in Favor of Condominium Association against Developer and General Contractor for Construction Defects”
- “Florida Supreme Court Rejects Daubert Standard For Review Of Expert Testimony”
- “Florida Non-Competes: State Supreme Court Holds That Home Health Service Referral Sources May Be Protected Business Interests”
- “Florida Non-Competes: Appellate Court Overturns Trial Court’s Denial of Preliminary Injunction Because Trial Court Failed to Properly Apply Rebuttable Presumption of Irreparable Harm”
- “Broker Listing Agreement That References Retained Deposits Construed By Florida Appellate Court As “Fund” From Which Broker Fees Should Have Been Paid”
- “Does Your Settlement Agreement Allow for the Automatic Entry of Final Judgement Upon Default?”
- “Florida Appellate Court Provides rare Affirmance of Summary Judgement in Negligence Case”
- “Florida Court Of Appeal Applies Statute Of Repose To Construction Defect Claim”
- “Florida Class Actions: Can a Defendant “Pick Off” and Thereby Moot a Plaintiff’s Class Action Claims?”
- “What’s an “Ostentatious” Outdoor Light System? Florida District Court of Appeal Says the Homeowners’ Association May Objectively Answer That Question”
- “Arbitration Provisions: The Importance Of Drafting Broad Language”
- “Cyber Piracy: Protecting Yourself Before It’s Too Late”
- “Florida District Court of Appeal Determines Real Estate Broker Abandoned Commission Agreement”
- “Florida LLCs: When Can One Member Directly Sue Another?”
- “Florida’s New Data Breach Law Heightens Reporting Duties”
- “Florida District Court of Appeal Declines to Enforce Venue Selection Provision of Contract”
- “Florida District Court of Appeal Requires Evidentiary Hearing to Determine Amount of Bond for Injunction Enforcing Non-Compete Agreement”
- “Navigating and Surviving the Mortgage Crisis“
- “Alternative Fee Arrangements Effective & Efficient”
Practice Areas
Industry Focus
Accolades
- Florida Trend Legal Elite, Commercial Litigation (2018 and 2021)
- Best Lawyers in America®
- Banking & Finance Law (2027)
- Real Estate Law (2027)
- Commercial Litigation (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026)
- Litigation - Real Estate (2023, 2024, 2025, 2026)


