Lamar A. Matthews, Jr. is a lawyer who is actively involved in all aspects of the Matthews Eastmoore litigation practice. Over his career, Lamar has served as lead trial attorney in many important cases affecting the legal rights of individuals, businesses, public hospitals, public airports, and school districts in state and federal courts. As an attorney, he has been recognized in such peer reviewed designations as Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent 1980 - 2011, Best Lawyers in America 2005 - 2006, America's Top Lawyers 2009, and Super Lawyers (2007-2011). He is also the 2008 recipient of the Judge John M. Scheb American Inn of Court Professionalism Award.
Lamar has been privileged to serve as General Counsel to the School Board of Sarasota County for the past 22 years. During that time, Lamar has counseled the School Board on many complex legal issues including those related to school construction, bonding, and finance. Four times Lamar has represented the interests of the School Board of Sarasota County before our state's Supreme Court. Lamar has also provided legal services to Sarasota County, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Department, Sarasota County's Administrator, the Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority, Palm Beach County, and the City of Gainesville, Florida.
A graduate of the public schools of Sarasota and Manatee Counties, Stetson University, and the University of Florida Levin College of Law, Lamar has also served the Bar and community in a number of roles. He has served as president of his law school student body, and the Florida Bar Young Lawyers' Division. He has been a member of the Board of Governors of the Florida Bar and the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. Lamar served as General Counsel to Florida Governor Bob Graham. He has also served on the Federal Judicial Nominating Commission for Florida, the judicially appointed Grievance Committee for the Federal District Court, Tampa, Middle District of Florida, and numerous other positions relating to the legal profession.
Lamar is married to Dr. Janet Matthews, an historian and author of a number of books concerning Florida history. Dr. Matthews served as Associate Director for Cultural Resources, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, and is currently a Scholar in Residence in the Masters and Doctorate program in Historic Preservation, College of Design, Construction & Planning, at the University of Florida. Lamar and his wife live in Sarasota and have three daughters. |
