Matt is triple Board Certified as a Civil Trial lawyer by the Florida Bar, as a Civil Trial Lawyer by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, and is Board Certified in Civil Pretrial by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Matt has several multi million dollar jury verdicts, all of which were paid or upheld after appeal. Matt is a frequent lecturer teaching trial skills as well as medicine. Is a faculty member of the Keenan Trial Institute, and a graduate of the founding class of the Gerry Spence Method. He practices in the historical landmark building of the Hutchinson House located in the heart of Tampa Florida.
1987 – Admitted to the Florida Bar
1988 – Admitted to the Missouri Bar
1989 – Admitted into the Federal United States Middle District Court of Florida
1990 – Admitted into the Federal Eleventh District Court of Appeal
1992 – Admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court
2007 – Certified by the Florida Bar as a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer
2010 – Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer
1987 – Earned Juris Doctorate with honors from the Florida State College of Law
1984 – Received Bachelor of Science from the University of Central Florida
1983 – Received Associate of Arts from the University of Florida
1988 - present – Sustaining member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America now known as the American Justice Association
1989 – Admitted Eagle Member, Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers now known as the Florida Justice Association
2008 - present – Life Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum
2009 - present – Presidents Club Member of the American Association for Justice
1996 – Author "What to Do in Case You Are in an Automobile Accident"
1998 – Author of: "Knowing Your Rights Concerning Medical Malpractice"
1999 – Author of "Automobile Accident Injury Guide"
2008 – Produced the documentary film Hidden Damage. This film addresses the legal and medical issues that most people must address after a car accident.
1987 – Harvard Negotiation Project – Getting to Yes Negotiation Seminar
1999 – Harvard Law School Trial Advocacy Graduate
2003 – “Operation manual for the witness chair” How to testify clearly and effectively.
2004 – “How to prove soft tissue injuries with the use of Digital Motion X-Ray”.
2005 – “Proving Cervical Injuries through basic physics, understanding the phases of motion that injure the spine.”
2006 – Presentation to the Minneapolis Trial Lawyers Association: Proving Cervical Injuries for their true value, how to use Upright MRI to show ligament injuries.
2007 – Presentation to the Houston Trial Lawyers Association: How to use Digital Motion X-ray and Upright MRI to prove neck injuries.
2007 – Workhorse Seminar presented before the State of Florida Justice Association: Cutting Edge Imaging For Soft Tissue Injuries - What is new for 2007.
2008 – Workhorse Seminar presented before the State of Florida Justice Association: Medical Causation Issues That Come Up In Several Cases.
2009 – Workhorse Seminar presented before the State of Florida Justice Association: An In-Depth strategy and Tactics Assessment and Study into the Techniques and Methods of Interrogating Defense Medical Examiners in Order to Maximize the Benefit For Your Client and in Order to Obtain Truthful Responses.
2010 – Workhorse Seminar presented before the State of Florida Justice Association: Cutting Edge MRI techniques for use at trial to objectively show soft tissue injuries including brain injuries
Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer by the Florida Bar
Board certification recognizes attorneys' special knowledge, skills and proficiency in various areas of law and professionalism and ethics in practice.
"Board certification is a valuable credential that is becoming a significant trend in the legal profession," said Florida Bar President Frank Angones Jr. "Specialization recognizes lawyers' expertise and professionalism, and is a natural progression for lawyers who can demonstrate high skill levels in particular areas of law."
Certified attorneys are the only Florida lawyers allowed to identify or advertise themselves as "Florida Bar Board Certified," as specialists or as experts. Certification is the highest level of recognition by The Florida Bar of the competency and experience of attorneys in the areas of law approved for certification by the Supreme Court of Florida.
A lawyer who is a member in good standing of The Florida Bar and who meets the standards prescribed by the state's Supreme Court may become board certified in one or more of 22 certification fields. Approximately 4,300 Florida lawyers are board certified. Minimum requirements for certification are listed below; each area of certification may contain higher or additional standards.
A minimum of five years in law practice
A satisfactory showing of substantial involvement in the field of law for which certification is sought
A passing grade on the examination required of all applicants
Satisfactory peer review assessment of competence in the specialty field as well as character, ethics and professionalism in the practice of law
Satisfaction of the certification area's continuing legal education requirements
Matt Powell has been certified by the Florida Bar as specialist in Civil Trial Law. Basically, the Florida Bar, and their peers have agreed that Matt has the highest skills in trying injury cases that can be measured by the Florida Bar.
AV® Peer Review Rating
An AV rating is a significant accomplishment - a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.
Matthew Powell is an AV rated lawyer by Martindale-Hubble.
