Ben Gibson is Managing Partner of the Tallahassee office of Shutts & Bowen LLP, where he is a member of the Governmental Law practice group. Ben represents clients facing high-stakes legal issues at the intersection of business, politics, and government. His statewide practice focuses on representing corporate, political, and government clients in appellate, litigation, and administrative matters as well as government affairs.

Political Law

Ben regularly counsels political candidates, party committees, political committees, corporate, and nonprofit entities on navigating and complying with the complex federal, state, and local laws that govern their political activity. He represents clients in administrative and enforcement matters before the Federal Election Commission, Florida Elections Commission, and the Florida Commission on Ethics.

For the past four election cycles, Ben has served as Chief Counsel to the Republican Party of Florida, leading all of the party’s legal efforts. Ben has served as legal counsel to numerous political committees and presidential and statewide campaigns, including as lead counsel to Ron DeSantis for Governor in 2022.  He has represented the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and the National Republican Congressional Committee all in various high-profile state and federal litigation.

Litigation and Government Law

Ben routinely represents state agencies and private entities in high-profile litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts involving statutory and constitutional issues. Ben advises public officials, government agencies, and corporate entities on compliance with Florida’s complex Ethics Code and gift laws, financial disclosure, public records, and sunshine law requirements, and Florida Attorney General investigations. Ben has also served as outside counsel to the Florida Constitution Revision Commission, Florida's leading economic development organization, and state venture capital and investment funds.

Executive and Legislative Branch Experience

Ben’s approach to a client’s legal needs is informed by his deep understanding of Florida government and politics. In 2018, he was named general counsel to Florida Governor-elect Ron DeSantis’ Transition Team, advising the new administration on legal issues and Governor-elect DeSantis on his appointment of three Florida Supreme Court Justices.

Before joining Shutts, Ben served as the Deputy General Counsel and an Assistant General Counsel to Florida Governor Rick Scott for nearly five years. In those roles, he provided legal counsel to the Executive Office of the Governor and oversaw high-profile litigation at numerous executive branch agencies. He also helped draft and negotiate on behalf of the State of Florida a $3 billion-dollar gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida that was ultimately signed by the Governor. In addition, Ben personally advised the Governor on more than 120 judicial appointments to Florida’s trial courts, District Courts of Appeal, and the Supreme Court.

Ben’s legislative experience includes serving as an attorney with the Florida House of Representatives in the Office of the General Counsel advising the Speaker of the House and with the House Community & Military Affairs Subcommittee. As a House staff attorney in 2011, Ben helped draft the largest rewrite of Florida’s growth management laws in 25 years, chapter 2011-139, Laws of Florida.

Public Service

Ben is actively involved in public service having been appointed by two governors to Florida’s seven-member State Board of Education where he currently serves as Chairman of the Board overseeing VPK-12th grade public education and Florida’s State College System. He also serves as a Commissioner on Florida’s First District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission and previously served as Chairman.

Before joining Shutts, Ben founded his own law firm focusing on election and government law. He is a frequent speaker on topics of political law and state policy issues.

Credentials

Education

  • Florida State University College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2008
    • Member, Journal of Transnational Law & Policy, 2006-2008
  • University of Florida, B.A., in Political Science, cum laude, 2005

Bar Admissions

  • Florida

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Professional and Civic

  • First District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission, appointed by Governor, 2018-present
    • Chair 2020-2021; Vice Chair 2019-2020
  • State Board of Education, appointed by Governor and confirmed by State Senate, 2017-present
    • Chairman, 2023-present
    • Vice Chairman, 2021-2023
  • Florida Virtual School, Board of Trustees, 2019-2020
  • Florida Bar Standing Committee on Mental Health & Wellness of Florida Lawyers, 2018-present
  • Florida Bar Special Committee on Mental Health & Wellness of Florida Lawyers, 2017-2018
  • Florida Bar Annual Convention Committee, 2017-present
  • Board of Governors, The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division elected from Second Circuit, June 2012-June 2020
    • Executive Committee, 2019-2020; Co-Chair, Legislative Affairs Committee, 2019-2020; Chair, Co-Chair, Health & Wellness Committee, 2015-2019; Chair, Communications Committee, 2014-2015
  • Leadership Florida, Connect Florida Class VII, 2016-2017
  • Florida Commission on Access to Civil Justice, appointed by Chief Justice, 2015-2016
  • Tallahassee Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section, 2010-2014
  • James Madison Institute, Tallahassee Board of Advisors, 2016-17; Leaders Fellowship Class I, 2014-2015
  • American Enterprise Institute, Leadership Network, Spring 2016
  • Republican National Lawyers Association
    • Florida Chapter Chair, 2021-present
    • National Secretary, 2022-present
  • Federalist Society, Member
  • University of Florida Alumni Association, Member

News & Insights

Presentations

  • Speaker, A Discussion with Florida’s Top Democratic and Republican Lawyers on the 2024 Election, Florida State College of Law, Tallahassee, FL, November 18, 2024

  • Speaker, Constitutional Amendments on Florida’s 2024 Ballot, Center Right, Tallahassee, FL, September 19, 2024
  • Speaker, Canvassing Board Attorney Training, RNLA Florida Election Integrity CLE, Virtual, September 16, 2024
  • Speaker/Moderator, Parental Rights in Education, Federalist Society 2024 Education Law & Policy Conference, Washington, D.C., September 11, 2024
  • Speaker, Post-Election Legal Procedures: Provisional Ballot Hearings, Rules for the Canvass, and Legal Requirements for Contests and Recounts, RNLA National Election Law Seminar, Palm Beach, FL, August 10, 2024
  • Speaker, Florida Election Law Workshop, RNLA National Election Law Seminar, Palm Beach, FL, August 9, 2024

  • Speaker, Post-Election Procedures: Canvasses, Recounts, and Contests, RNLA National Election Law Seminar, Milwaukee, WI, August 26, 2023

  • Speaker, Local, State, and Federal Protection of Voting Rights and Unequal Enforcement of Election Laws, RNLA National Election Law Seminar, Phoenix, AZ, August 13, 2022
  • Speaker, Election Integrity Legislation and Litigation, Sumter County REC, The Villages, FL, April, 7, 2022
  • Speaker, RNLA National Election Law Seminar, Atlanta, GA, August 13-14, 2021
  • Speaker, Florida’s Changing Judiciary and its Impact on Business Recruitment, Enterprise Florida, Inc. Board Meeting, Tallahassee, FL, March 11, 2021
  • Speaker, Post-Election Day Recounts and Litigation, RNLA Florida Training, via web, September 29, 2020
  • Speaker, 2020 Elections- What You Need to Know, Republican Party of Florida Annual Meeting, Jupiter, FL, January 10, 2020
  • Speaker, Florida’s Changing Judiciary—Challenges and Opportunities, Enterprise Florida, Inc. Board Meeting, West Palm Beach, FL, November 13, 2019
  • Speaker, Ethics Compliance for JNC Members, Judicial Nominating Commissioner Training, Tallahassee, FL , October 21, 2019
  • Speaker, What Happened in Florida in 2018: Lessons Learned, Litigation, and the Importance of Good Procedures and Officials Who Follow Them, Republican National Lawyers Association Election Law Seminar, Charlotte, NC, August 2, 2019
  • Speaker, Winning Elections in the Courtroom, Republican National Committee Summer Meeting, Charlotte, NC, July 31, 2019
  • Speaker, Fighting for the Rule of Law: from Recounts to the New Florida Supreme Court, The Federalist Society- Tampa Bay Lawyers Chapter, Tampa, FL, April 4, 2019
  • Speaker, Building a Diverse Legal Practice, Florida State Law, Student Bar Association, Tallahassee, FL, February 26, 2019
  • Speaker, Evening with the Bench and Bar, Justice Alan Lawson and Ben Gibson, Florida State Law, Tallahassee, FL, January 22, 2019
  • Speaker, Election Day Operations Lawyer Training, National Republican Senatorial Committee, Orlando, FL and Tallahassee, FL, October 2018
  • Speaker, Election Law Compliance for Republican Executive Committees, Republican Party of Florida Quarterly Meeting, Tampa, FL, April 6, 2018
  • Speaker, Public Records and the Judicial Nominating Commissions, Judicial Nominating Commissioner Training, Orlando, FL, February 2, 2018
  • Speaker, Public Records and Ethics Compliance under Florida Law, Enterprise Florida, Inc., Employee Training, Orlando, FL, January 19, 2018
  • Speaker, Sunshine Law and Public Records, Florida Sports Foundation, Inc., Board Member Training, Orlando, FL, November 10, 2017
  • Speaker, Article I, Section 3, Blaine Amendment, Florida Constitution Revision Commission, Declaration of Rights Committee, Tallahassee, FL, November 29, 2017
  • Speaker, School Choice and the Florida Constitution, Florida Constitution Revision Commission, Education Committee, Tallahassee, FL, November 27, 2017
  • Speaker, Article IX of the Florida Constitution, Education, Florida Constitution Revision Commission Training, via web, September 19, 2017
  • Speaker, Campaign Legal Pitfalls, Republican Party of Florida Quarterly Meeting, Orlando, FL, August 11, 2017
  • Speaker, Public Records and Ethics, Florida Constitution Revision Commission Organization Meeting, Senate Chambers, March 20, 2017

Publications

News & Speaking Engagements

Media Mentions

Media Mentions

Accolades

  • The News Service of Florida - "40 Under 40: Rising Stars," 2024
  • Best Lawyers in America®
    • Government Relations Practice, 2024, 2025
  • INFLUENCE Magazine's INFLUENCE 150 List - "The 150 Most Influential People in Florida Politics", 2022
  • INFLUENCE Magazine's INFLUENCE 100 List - "The 100 Most Influential People in Florida Politics", 2020
  • Florida Trend's Legal Elite NOTABLE Managing Partners, 2024
  • Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, Top Government Attorneys, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017
  • Florida State University Alumni Association, “Thirty Under 30” Award, 2013

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Shutts & Bowen, established in 1910, is a full-service business law firm with approximately 270 lawyers located in eight offices across Florida.

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