Bowman Brown

Bowman Brown is a Partner in the Miami office of Shutts & Bowen LLP, where he is a member of the Financial Services Industry practice group. His practice focuses on the financial services industry and insurance regulatory matters.

Over the course of his career, Bowman has been at the forefront of the international legal arena. He has helped transform Florida into an international banking and business center through his efforts to make Florida, and South Florida in particular, the leading location for international banks and businesses targeting Latin America and the Caribbean. 

He has worked with the Florida Office of Financial Regulation and its predecessor the Florida Comptroller’s Office, the Florida Legislature and the Securities and Exchange Commission  to secure the adoption of much of the legislation and regulation required to maintain a favorable climate for international banking and business in Florida, including:

• Legislation to permit the operation of international banking facilities
• Choice of law, choice of forum provisions favorable to the operation of international business from Florida
• Provisions to facilitate the offering of international securities to non-residents from Florida
• Changes in Florida law permitting the establishment of international bank branches
• Choice of law, choice of forum legislation designed to allow parties with no contacts with Florida to choose Florida law and the Florida courts to resolve disputes involving more than $250,000
• Legislation to make it clear that the relationship of a foreign customer of a Florida bank with the bank is to be governed by Florida law
• Legislation to exempt international banking activities from Florida taxation to attract offshore international banking activity to Florida
• Numerous other provisions of Florida law designed to facilitate the operations of international banks and other international businesses from Florida
• Legislation to permit major insurance companies to sell life insurance and annuity products to non-U.S. residents from Florida with a minimum of burdensome regulation

Throughout his career, Bowman has been recognized as a leading lawyer, beginning in the 1980s when he was recognized by the American Lawyer as one of 40 lawyers in America under the age of 40 to watch. He has been listed in every edition of Best Lawyers in America since its first publication in three practice areas: banking, international trade and finance, and insurance law. Additionally, he has been named by Chambers USA as the only Florida bank regulatory lawyer to receive the “Star Individual” rating, and has been described in his rankings as the “dean of banking lawyers in Florida.” 

Bowman has been recognized in Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, Florida Trend’s “TrendSetter in Law,” and the South Florida Legal Guide. He was also recognized by the Daily Business Review as one of South Florida’s “most effective lawyers”. In addition, he has been recognized for his achievements by the Florida International Bankers Association, the International Section of the Florida Bar, and the Beacon Counsel.

He is the editor of “International Banking Centres” published by Euromoney, London and “Private Banking and the Law,” published by LatinFinance.