Ben Gibson serves as the Florida Chapter Chair of RNLA, he is a member of the RNLA Board of Governors and serves as RNLA General Counsel.

He 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 five election cycles, Ben has served as Chief Counsel to the Republican Party of Florida, leading all of the party’s legal and litigation efforts through an unprecedented run of Republican victories in Florida. Ben has served as legal counsel to numerous political committees and presidential and statewide campaigns, including as Florida counsel for Donald J. Trump for President in 2020 and 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. 

In 2024, Ben was selected to serve as one of Florida’s 30 presidential electors and cast a vote for President and Vice President in the Electoral College. Ben also serves as a member of the Board of Governors and General Counsel to the Republican National Lawyers Association.

In 2018, Ben served as lead counsel for the Republican Party of Florida during three statewide recounts that resulted in the election of U.S. Senator Rick Scott and Governor Ron DeSantis. He has assisted with recount and election integrity efforts in multiple battleground states, including training, canvassing, and 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.

Florida 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

From 2017-2025, Ben served as a member of Florida’s State Board of Education, which oversees VPK-12th grade public education and Florida’s State College System. He served as the Board’s Chairman and Vice Chairman from 2021-2025. 

He also currently serves as a Commissioner on Florida’s First District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission and previously served as Chairman.

Ben is a frequent speaker on topics of political and election law.