Atty. Matthew David Emerson

Atty. Matthew David Emerson

Matthew Emerson has more than 24 years of experience as a trial lawyer. He has served as trial counsel on numerous cases resulting in settlements, jury verdicts, or judgments in excess of $1,000,000.

St. Petersburg St. Petersburg 32 yrs experience 32 year
Call (656) 347-2553 Book Appointment

Profile Summary

About Matthew David Emerson at a glance

Matthew David Emerson is a Member based in St. Petersburg, Florida, practicing at Emerson Straw St Petersburg Personal Injury Attorneys & Car Accident Lawyers. They have 32+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1994. Their practice focuses on medical malpractice, personal injury, slip & fall, product liability, and litigation. Admitted to practice in Florida U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida (1994). Educated at Stetson University College of Law (J.D., 1993) and Saginaw Valley State University (B.B.A., 1990). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Active member of Hillsborough County. Serands clients in St. Petersburg, FL and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Matthew Emerson has more than 24 years of experience as a trial lawyer
  • He has served as trial counsel on numerous cases resulting in settlements, jury verdicts, or judgments in excess of $1,000,000
  • In 1993, Matt graduated cum laude from Stetson University College of Law with his Juris Doctorate
  • He received several awards while in law school including honors scholarships, book awards, and Dean’s Lists
  • He was hired as an Associate Attorney with Rwyant, Alvarez, Jones, Russo & Guyton, P.A. in Tampa Bay
  • While at the Rwyant law firm, Matt represented numerous insurance companies including State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, Auto Owners Insurance Company, Michigan Millers Insurance Company, Traveler’s Insurance Company, and Geico Insurance Company
  • From this experience, he gained valuable insight into how insurance companies assess and value claims by injured parties
  • Matt joined Justin C. Johnson and Associates, P.A. in 2001, where he solely represented catastrophically injured individuals against large corporations including Dillard’s Department Stores, Walmart, Bally Fitness Centers, Allstate Insurance, Kindercare Learning Centers, Knowledge Learning Corporation, State Farm Insurance, Florida Pool Products, Inc., and Lexus of Tampa Bay
  • Matt and Wes Straw founded Emerson Straw PL in 2010
  • The law firm exclusively represents individuals who have been wrongfully injured or have lost family members as a result of negligence by medical facilities, physicians, nursing homes, corporations, or other careless individuals
  • Matt holds an AV-Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and is a member of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the Florida Bar, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and the St. Petersburg Bar Association
  • Matt was born in Bay City, Michigan and presently lives in Tierra Verde, Florida with his wife and three daughters

Practice Areas Explained

Matthew David Emerson's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Matthew David Emerson handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice lawyers represent patients harmed by negligent doctors, hospitals, and other providers. Free case review, no fee unless you win.

Matthew David Emerson is one of 49,086 medical malpractice attorneys indexed nationally. Browse medical malpractice attorneys in Florida →

Personal Injury

Personal injury attorneys help accident victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering. Most work on contingency — no fee unless you win.

Matthew David Emerson is one of 264,852 personal injury attorneys indexed nationally. Browse personal injury attorneys in Florida →

Slip & Fall / Premises Liability

Matthew David Emerson is one of 29,473 slip & fall attorneys indexed nationally. Browse slip & fall attorneys in Florida →

Product Liability

Matthew David Emerson is one of 66,193 product liability attorneys indexed nationally. Browse product liability attorneys in Florida →

Civil Litigation

Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.

Matthew David Emerson is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in Florida →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in Florida

Practicing law in Florida. Legal matters in Florida are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in St. Petersburg are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Florida state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Florida brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Florida courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional Florida attorneys? Browse all attorneys in St. Petersburg or all attorneys in Florida.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Matthew David Emerson

Where is Matthew David Emerson's law office located?
Matthew David Emerson's law practice is located in St. Petersburg, Florida. The firm is Emerson Straw St Petersburg Personal Injury Attorneys & Car Accident Lawyers. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Matthew David Emerson handle?
Matthew David Emerson focuses on medical malpractice, personal injury, slip & fall, product liability, litigation. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in Florida.
How long has Matthew David Emerson practiced law?
Matthew David Emerson has 32+ years of legal experience and has been licensed since 1994.
Where did Matthew David Emerson go to law school?
Matthew David Emerson earned their education at (J.D., 1993); (B.B.A., 1990).
How can I contact Matthew David Emerson for a consultation?
You can contact Matthew David Emerson directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has Matthew David Emerson received?
Matthew David Emerson's notable recognition includes: AV Preeminent.

Education

J.D.
Stetson University College of Law
- 1993
B.B.A.
Saginaw Valley State University
- 1990

Awards

AV Preeminent

Bar Admissions

Florida U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
Admitted: 1994

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