Biographies

James A. Scott, a Martindale-Hubbell-AV-rated lawyer and former member of the Florida Senate for 24 years, is chairman and a founding director of Tripp Scott. He has more than three decades of experience as a lawyer in Florida and has an accomplished tenure as a legislator. He focuses his practice on government relations, commercial and civil litigation, real estate and healthcare law.   

Scott has handled numerous high-profile and complex matters on behalf of his clients, including representing the Florida Senate in the 2002 redistricting plan and related federal and state litigation and serving as local counsel in the Florida election recount of 2000. 

While serving in the Senate, Scott earned a reputation as a highly effective legislator and successfully spearheaded reforms in healthcare, public education and criminal justice. He served as Senate president from 1994 to 1996 and in many other of the Senate's most important roles, including chairman of every major committee, including Rules and Appropriations. Scott also held leadership positions with the Banking and Insurance, Regulated Industries and Judiciary Committees. 

Scott served on the Broward County Commission from December 2000 to November 2006. He previously served as the Broward County representative on the Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Broward County representative to the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA).  Scott also served as lieutenant commander and legal officer of the U.S. Coast Guard. He is a founding member of the board of directors of Legal Aid Service of Broward County and is active in the Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton chambers of commerce.   

Scott has received numerous awards and recognitions for his charitable and community contributions including Preservation 2000 Future Generation Award, Children's Home Society, and the B'nai B'rith Torch of Liberty Award. In addition, Florida Atlantic University, Davie Campus, named its Education and Science Building the "Senator James A. Scott Education and Science Building" in his honor.

Scott holds a law degree and a bachelor's degree from the University of Kentucky.