Matthew A. Bowles Attorney At Law

Matthew is a senior associate attorney in the Firm’s Tampa office. He focuses his practice on labor and employment law, representing clients in both the private and public sector.

• Background

  Matthew attended the University of Louisville, earning his undergraduate degree in political science. He then went on to earn his law degree at Stetson University College of Law where he focused his studies on civil law, including the areas of employment law and labor law.

• Insights
  • “GrayRobinson Labor and Employment Section: Governor DeSantis Signs HB 7 Into Law,” April 22, 2022
  • “GrayRobinson Labor and Employment Team: Vaccination Mandates: Employer Options for Mandating Vaccination Restricted,” December 1, 2021
  • “GrayRobinson Labor and Employment E-lert: HIPAA Privacy Rule Does Not Apply to All Employers,” October 5, 2021
  • “GrayRobinson Labor and Employment E-lert: COVID STRIKES BACK: Understanding What Measures Florida Businesses May or May Not Take to Safeguard Customers and Employees,” August 6, 2021
  • “GrayRobinson Labor and Employment E-lert: Employers Take Note: Updated Guidance Released from OSHA for Non-Health Care Workplace,” June 16, 2021
  • “GrayRobinson COVID-19 Task Force E-lert: Businesses, Governmental Entities, and Educational Institutions Beware – Comply with New COVID-19 Documentation Restrictions or Face a Significant Fine,” May 4, 2021
  • “GrayRobinson Labor and Employment E-lert: The Biden Administration Delays the Trump DOL’s Independent Contractor Rule and Other Recent Reversals Impacting Employers,” March 9, 2021
  • “GrayRobinson Labor and Employment E-lert: Mandatory FFCRA Paid Sick Leave Not Extended in $900 Billion COVID-19 Relief Bill,” January 7, 2021
  • “GrayRobinson Labor and Employment E-lert: The DOL Issues A New Rule Regarding Tipped Employees,” December 23, 2020
  • “GrayRobinson Labor and Employment E-lert: The DOL Issues New Guidance Regarding FFCRA Child Care Leave as Schools Reopen,” September 1, 2020
  • “GrayRobinson Labor and Employment E-lert: The DOL Issues New FMLA Forms,” August 20, 2021
  • “GrayRobinson Labor and Employment E-lert: The DOL, IRS, and U.S. Department of the Treasury Issue Joint Rule Extending COBRA and HIPAA Deadlines,” June 1, 2020
  • “GrayRobinson COVID-19 Task Force E-lert: Returning to Work,” May 21, 2020
• Articles and Publications
  • “THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: LESSONS LEARNED FOR LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT PRACTITIONERS,” The Florida Bar Journal, January/February 2023
  • “Post-Covid Organizing Efforts: What Are Hospitality Industry Employers to Do?” Hotel Business Review, December 11, 2022
  • “Viewpoint: Top 10 Reasons Why Employees Sue Their Employers,” SHRM, May 2, 2022
  • “Employee Free Speech Rights in the Aftermath of the US Election,” Hotel Executive, December 2020
  • ″Guest Column: Protecting Confidential Business Information in Remote Work Environments,” Tampa Bay Business Journal, November 2020
  • “Social Media and the Progressive Limitations on Public Sector Employees’ First Amendment Right to Free Speech,” The Florida Bar Journal, Volume 94, No. 6, November/December 2020
  • “What Impact Does the New Executive Order Have on Local Mask Mandates?” AM Tampa Bay Radio, October 1, 2020
  • “Taking a Knee to Free Speech: Understanding When Employers May Limit Employee Speech,” Hillsborough County Bar Association, Lawyer Magazine, March-April 2019 issue
• Presentations and Seminars
  • “Beyond Words: Understanding Limitations on Employee Speech,” GrayRobinson Labor and Employment Webinar, May 21, 2024
  • “Controversial Speech in the Workplace: What to Do in These Turbulent Times?,” Florida Public Human Resources Association (FPHRA) Annual Conference, July 23, 2023
  • “New Florida Immigration Law & I9 Discussion,” Associated Builders and Contractors, FL Gulf Coast Chapter Presentation, July 11, 2023
  • “NLRB: Student Athletes as Employees,” Hillsborough County Bar Association (HCBA) Labor and Employment Luncheon, April 20, 2022
  • “Federal and Florida COVID-19 Laws: Understanding the Basics,” GrayRobinson Virtual Webinar, November 18, 2021
  • “The Pro Act - How to Keep Unions Out of Your Work Place,” ABC Florida Gulf Coast Webinar, May 26, 2021
  • “Construction Industry Best Practices During A Pro-Union Administration,” Associated Builders and Contractors, FL Gulf Coast Chapter Webinar, January 14, 2021
  • “COVID-19: Returning to Work,” LawPracticeCLE Webinar, August 26, 2020
  • “COVID-19: Returning to Work,” Baldwin Krystyn Sherman Partners Webinar, May 13, 2020
  • “COVID-19: Returning to Work,” Associated Builders and Contractors Florida Gulf Coast Chapter Webinar, May 6, 2020
  • “Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the CARES Act – What You Need to Know Now,” Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida Webinar, April 17, 2020
• Affiliations
  • The Florida Bar
  • Hillsborough County Bar Association
  • Tampa Connection Class of 2023
• Credentials
  • J.D., Stetson University College of Law, 2016
    • Phi Delta Phi International Legal Honors Society, Cordozo Inn Chapter
      • President
  • B.A., University of Louisville, 2011
• Admissions
  • Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle and Northern Districts of Florida