Gregory P. Brown - Shareholder
Greg is a Shareholder in the firm’s Litigation Group. His practice primarily involves real estate-related commercial and construction litigation, concentrating in the representation of homebuilders, developers and contractors. He also focuses a portion of his practice on representing sureties in contract and commercial bond matters, creditors in bankruptcy proceedings, and he defends and prosecutes trade secret and non-compete cases.
Greg has represented several of the nation’s largest homebuilders in matters ranging from class action defect litigation to turnover and post-turnover homeowner association disputes, and has secured defense verdicts and judgments in recent multi-million dollar jury and non-jury trials. He also successfully argued a bankruptcy appeal firmly establishing the superiority of a surety’s equitable rights to contract proceeds over the claim of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee, creating significant national precedent.
Greg is active in both professional and Florida Bar-related activities. He was recently appointed to serve a second three-year term as a member of The Florida Bar Foundation Board of Directors. He also serves on The Florida Bar's Civil Procedure Rules Committee. Greg has served several terms as both an elected board member and officer of The Florida Bar Board of Governors, Young Lawyers Division, as Vice Chair of the Florida Law Related Education Committee and as an Ex Officio Board Member to the Hillsborough County Bar Association. He is a Leadership Tampa Alumni and has recently joined the Outreach Committee. Greg is an active member of the Tampa Bay Builders Association, and sits on the Board of Directors for the Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Conference.
Greg is active in the community, concentrating most of his efforts on public education endeavors. Greg is the President of the John B. Gorrie Foundation. He helped to found a statewide moot court program, now sponsored by FLREA and The Florida Bar, as well as the Robert J. Simms Mock Trial Competition. Greg, who has four children, currently serves as a soccer coach for the Tampa YMCA Kids Soccer Program, has been a Boy Scouts den leader for Pack 22, a little league coach, and an avid audience member for various recitals. Greg has coached the Riverview High School Mock Trial Team for over a decade, leading them to seven consecutive county championships, one state final, several top-five finishes and one top-15 national finish. Greg also remains involved with the University of Pennsylvania and University of Florida alumni associations.
Professional Recognition
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AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
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Best Lawyers in America (2013-2020)
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Best Lawyers Business Edition (2013)
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Florida Trend Legal Elite (2009-2011, 2013-2014, 2019)
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Florida Trend’s Legal Elite - Up and Comers (2007-2008)
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Florida Super Lawyers (2007-2020)
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Super Lawyers Business Edition (2009-2015)
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Order of the Barrister
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Florida Law Related Education Association
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Hillsborough County Bar Association
Published Decisions
Show All
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Hakes v. Orlando’s Auto Specialists, Inc.,
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Lennar Homes, LLC v. Priority Developers, Inc.,
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In re Steve A. Clapper & Associates of Fla.,
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Capitol Indem. Corp. v. Heidkamp,
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Nova information Systems, Inc. v. Greenwich Ins. Co.,
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U.S. ex rel. Alderson v. Quorum Health Group, Inc.,
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Poe v. Hillsborough County,
Community & Civic Affiliations
- John B. Gorrie Foundation Board
Professional Associations
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The Florida Bar Foundation
Publications & Presentations
- “Indemnity Lawsuits – Being Practical While Chasing the Money” (Michelle Smith Cotto, Jodi Smith, Wendy Clime, Emily W. Morrell, co-authors/presenters). Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Conference, April, 2015.
- “Negotiating and Drafting Effective Indemnity Agreements: Enforcing Rights of the Surety, Holding the Surety Harmless, and Overcoming Defenses to Indemnifying the Surety." Co-Presenter, ACI Conference, 2012.
- “To Serve & Protect: A Surety’s Obligations, Rights and Best Practices When Handling Disputed Claims” (Bennett Acuff, co-presenter). 23rd Annual Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Conference, April, 2012.
- “Putting Excessive Attorneys’ Fees Claims Out to Pasture – Relying on a Statutory Cap to Prevent Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond Sureties From Being Milked Like Cash Cows.” (Erik Raines, Gary Horst, co-presenters). 23rd Annual Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Conference, April, 2012.
- “Legal Project Management for the Surety Client.” Presenter, 22nd Annual Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Conference, 2011.
- “State Statutory Requirements Concerning Fidelity Bonding and D & O Insurance for Condominium Associations & Home Owners’ Associations.” Presenter, 22nd Annual Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Conference, 2011.
- "You are Cordially Invited... to Wisconsin: Litigating the Mortgage Fraud Fidelity Claim on Friendly Turf." (Paige Greenlee, Bennett Acuff, co-presenters). 21st Annual Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Conference, April, 2010.
- Direct Examination. (Erik Raines, co-author). Chapter 10, Florida Civil Trial Practice 8th Edition, 2010.
- Southern Surety and Fidelity Claims Conference Publications, 2000-2007
- Surety Update. (April, 2007).
- Protecting Your Indemnity Rights and Collecting on Your Judgments. (April, 2006).
- The Surety's Right to Indemnification; and What is Good Faith Anyway. (April, 2005).
- Chapter 10: Direct Examination, Florida Civil Trial Practice, 7th Ed. 2005
- Clapper, Cone and National Fire: Oh Equitable Subrogation Rights, Wherefore Art Thou? (April, 2004)
- Perils and Promise of Common Law Bonds: Limiting the Scope of Eligible Payment Bond Claims. (April, 2003).
- Recent Developments in Fidelity Law. (April, 2002)
- The Surety Update. (April, 2001).
- Subsequent Remedial Measures: How to Handle the Typical (and Not so Typical) Occurrences in Your Principal's Bankruptcy Case. (April, 2000).