BIO

Ben Gibson is a partner in the Tallahassee office of Shutts & Bowen LLP, where he is Vice-Chair of the Appellate 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.

Ben regularly counsels political candidates, party committees, corporate, and non-profit entities on navigating and complying with the complex federal, state, and local laws that govern their political activity. He also represents clients in administrative and enforcement matters. As general counsel to the Republican Party of Florida during the 2018 election cycle, he led all of the state party’s legal efforts through three historic statewide recounts, including representing Rick Scott for U.S. Senate and the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Ben has also served as counsel to the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee in Florida election litigation.

Ben advises public officials, government agencies, and corporate entities on compliance with Florida’s Ethics Code and gift laws, financial disclosure, public records, sunshine law, and Florida Attorney General investigations.

With a deep understanding of Florida government and politics, Ben is able to find unique legal solutions for his clients. In 2018, he was named general counsel to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ Transition Team, advising the new administration on all legal issues and Governor-elect DeSantis on his appointment of three Florida Supreme Court Justices. Ben has also served as outside counsel to the Florida Constitution Revision Commission and legal counsel to the state’s economic development organization, Enterprise Florida, Inc.

Before joining Shutts, Ben served as the Deputy General Counsel and an Assistant General Counsel to Florida Governor Rick Scott for nearly five years, providing legal counsel to the Executive Office of the Governor and overseeing all high profile litigation and legal issues at numerous executive branch agencies including the Department of State, Division of Elections, Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Department of Management Services, Department of Lottery, and the Department of Education.  In addition, Ben personally advised Governor Scott on more than 120 judicial appointments to Florida’s trial courts, District Courts of Appeal, and the Supreme Court.

Ben previously served 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 helping to draft the largest rewrite of Florida’s growth management laws in 25 years. Ben is actively involved in public service as a member of Florida’s State Board of Education, which oversees VPK-12 public education and Florida’s State College System, and as Chair of Florida’s First District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission.

Prior to 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.