M. Scott Thomas

Scott Thomas is a Partner in the firm's Jacksonville office and a member of the firm's Commercial Litigation Practice Group. 

Scott's practice focuses on complex litigation, including real estate and land use matters, business torts, contract and trust litigation, and shareholder disputes. In addition, Scott represents lenders in all aspects of special asset/commercial loan litigation. Scott has extensive trial experience, jury and non-jury, having served as lead trial counsel in both state and federal courts.

Beyond his legal practice, Scott has served the State of Florida in multiple roles. In 2015 Florida Governor Rick Scott appointed Scott to serve a four-year term as Chairman of the Florida Elections Commission, the state agency charged with enforcing Florida’s Election Code. Florida's Former Chief Financial Officer, Jimmy Patronis, appointed Scott to the Citizen's Property Insurance Corporations Board of Governors, where he served from November 2020 through February 2025, including a term as Vice Chairman of the Board. Since 2015 Scott has served on the Judicial Nominating Commission for the Fifth District Court of Appeals. Most recently, he served in 2026 on the Presidential Search Committee for the University of North Florida.

Scott earned his J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and his B.S. from the University of Florida.

• Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent™ Review Rating
• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®: Commercial Litigation (2020–Present); Litigation - Real Estate (2021–Present); Real Estate Law (2022–Present)
• Florida Trend, "Legal Elite," Commercial Litigation (2016–2018)
• Florida Super Lawyers, Business Litigation (2014–2026)
• Florida Blue Key Honorary

• University of North Florida Presidential Search Committee (2026)
• Citizen's Property Insurance Corporations Board of Governors and Vice Chairman (2020–2025)
• University of Florida Alumni Association, Board of Directors (2017–2023)
• Florida Elections Commission, Chairman (2015–2019)
• St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, Executive Committee Member (2014)
• St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors (2011–2014; 2017–2020)
• Florida Public Service Commission Nominating Council (2009–2010)

• The Florida Bar
• John's County Bar Association
• Jacksonville Bar Association
• Funding Florida Legal Aid (FFLA) – Board of Directors (2026 Delegate for the President of The Florida Bar)
• Supreme Court of Florida, Task Force on Distribution of IOTA Funds (2019)
• Fifth District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission (2015–Present)
• St. Augustine Inns of Court - Master of the Bench (2017–Present)
• American Inns of Court, Chester Bedell Chapter - Associate (1995–1996)
• The Florida Bar Student Education and Admissions to the Bar Committee (1995–1998)

Legal Practice Assistant

Jennifer M. Lewis
(904) 232-7205
jmlewis@burr.com