JOE MATTHEWS joined Colson Hicks Eidson in 1989. He is a Wesley Sturges Scholar, graduating first in his class from the University of Miami School of Law in 1977, where he was an editor of the Law Review.

Just prior to joining the firm, Mr. Matthews served as Special Counsel to
United States Senator Bob Graham.

He is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, past President of the Dade County Trial Lawyers Association and past Chairman of the Commercial Litigation Sections of both the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers.

Mr. Matthews focuses his practice in business, general commercial, fraud, defamation and other business, insurance, construction and professional liability litigation.

Since 1996, Mr. Matthews has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Leading American Lawyers and International Who's Who of Professionals and was recently designated as one of the few lawyers in Miami to turn to when faced with a Bet your company case.

He has lectured extensively on various areas of law, technology, trial skills and procedures, arbitration and ethics to local, state, national and international conferences.

He is a past member of the adjunct faculty at the University of Miami Law School, was Associate Editor of the Commercial Section for The Journal of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers and was a Supreme Court Appointee to the Florida Board of Bar Examiners.

An active participant in the arbitration process as an advocate and an arbitrator, Mr. Matthews has served as arbitrator in more than 100 cases administered by the AAA, the London Court of International Arbitration, the International Chamber of Commerce and other prestigious arbitration forums. He is a member of the AAA Large and Complex Case Panel and also the newly created Class Arbitration Panel.

Mr. Matthews is also a member of the board of directors of the American Arbitration Association.

Mr. Matthews is committed to the Greater Miami Community, having served as the Chairman of the YMCA of Greater Miami and as a Trustee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. In 1997 he was honored as the YMCA Volunteer of the Year.