About Matthew K. Foster
Matthew K. Foster is Managing Shareholder of Brooks, LeBoeuf, Foster, Gwartney, & Hobbs P.A.. He practices personal injury focusing on helping injured victims of auto and trucking accidents, sexual abuse, and negligent security cases. He joined Brooks, LeBoeuf, Foster, Gwartney, & Hobbs P.A. as a college intern in 1991, becoming an attorney there in 1994, and has led the firm’s growth and development as Managing Shareholder since January 2023.
The Tallahassee native received an athletic scholarship to attend Florida State University for his undergrad where he competed on the swimming and diving team. During his time there, he was named the “Top Scholar Athlete” twice for the entire University and graduated magna cum laude. Mr. Foster also went on to earn his law degree from Florida State University College of Law in 1994 where he graduated with high honors, as well as was nominated for The Rhodes Scholarship (1992) and selected for a Supreme Court internship.
Every year since 2007 Mr. Foster has earned the AV Preeminent® Rating from Martindale-Hubbell®. The AV Preeminent® Rating is a significant accomplishment that is only awarded to lawyer’s whose peers rank them at the highest level of professional excellence. During his time as an attorney Mr. Foster has been designated as one of the “Top 100 Civil Trial Lawyers” in the Florida by the National Trial Lawyers (2022) and awarded the Lawyer to Legacy Golden Eagle Award by the Florida Justice Association (2018) for his dedication to civil justice. This title is awarded annually to only six lawyers in the State of Florida. He has also been named Worldwide Registry’s Elite American Lawyer (2015).
Mr. Foster served as an adjunct professor of Trial Advocacy at Florida State University College of Law for twenty years and coached the school’s nationally acclaimed Mock Trial team. He was also selected to serve on the board of the Florida Justice Association, which protects the rights of injured victims and consumers in the Florida Legislature. He is a member of the Florida Bar Association, as well as a board member of the Capital City Justice Association. He has served on the Florida Bar Grievance Committee and is a past president of the Tallahassee Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division.
In his free time Mr. Foster is committed to charity and volunteer work with a variety of Christian-based organizations, such as Young Life where he served as a board member. Mr. Foster, his wife Linzy, and two children attend Trinity United Methodist Church where Mr. Foster served as the Chair of the Church Council.
Why Personal Injury?
As a result of being seriously injured on his bicycle by a distracted driver at the age of 12, Mr. Foster developed a passion for helping accident victims. He fights against insurance companies and corporations that place profits over safety. He has helped the victims of serious violent crimes obtain substantial monetary recoveries against apartment owners who failed to provide adequate security for college students and other residents. His background in both civil and criminal litigation gives him a unique perspective in handling serious negligent/failed security claims and in representing victims of sexual abuse.
Education
- Florida State University Law School, Juris Doctor (1994) with High Honors
- Florida State University, Cum Laude, 1991
Professional Associations
- The Florida Bar Association
- The Florida Justice Association (Board Member and Vanguard Chairman)
- The Capital City Justice Association
- The Tallahassee Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, President (Prior)
- Florida Bar Grievance Committee (Prior)
- Speaker at the Masters of Justice Seminar
- Advanced Auto Litigation Speaker
- Speaker at Masters of Justice on Human Trafficking (civil liability)
- The Florida Justice Association’s Florida Legislative Committee Chair, General Insurance
Awards & Accolades
- Nominated for Rhodes Scholarship
- AV Preeminent® Rating, Martindale-Hubbell®
- Top 100 Civil Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers
- Lawyer to Legacy Golden Eagle Award, The Florida Justice Association
- Selected speaker at Masters of Justice Seminar for both Auto Litigation and Civil Liability for Human Trafficking
- Co-chair Advanced Trial Seminar at the Masters of Justice Annual Convention
- Worldwide Registry’s Elite American Lawyer
- Top 20 Auto Crash Verdict in Florida
Community Involvement
- Former Young Life Board Member
- Trinity United Methodist Church, Staff/Parish Committee
- Trinity United Methodist Church, Visioning Committee
- Chairman, Church Council for Trinity United Methodist
