Harvey E. Oyer, III

Attorney :: Civic Leader :: Archaeologist

Harvey Oyer is a private practice attorney, author, lecturer, and former archaeologist living in West Palm Beach, Florida USA. He practices law in addition to writing and lecturing on topics ranging from law, history, and archaeology to international laws regarding antiquities trafficking and cultural property protection.

Harvey E. Oyer III is a partner in the law firm of Shutts & Bowen, LLP, one of Florida's largest law firms with more than 200 attorneys. Oyer is a fifth generation native Floridian and served for eight years as the Chairman of the Historical Society of Palm Beach County. He is a Director of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches, a Trustee and the General Counsel of the South Florida Science Museum, and a Director of the Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross. He is a past Director of the Palm Beach County Cultural Council, a past Trustee of the Palm Beach United Way, a Fellow of the Duke of Edinburgh Foundation (U.K.), and currently the Florida Senate President's appointee to the Great Floridians Committee.

Oyer has received numerous awards, including listing in Best Lawyers in America and the prestigious Thomas Jefferson Award for Public Service. In 2009, the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation recognized him with their Individual Distinguished Service Award. The Florida Association of Museums honored Oyer with their Trustee of the Year Award in 2008. In 2006, he was named one of the 100 Most Influential Floridians by Florida International magazine. Oyer is a noted writer and lecturer on topics ranging from law, history, and archaeology to international laws regarding antiquities trafficking and cultural property protection. He holds degrees in Economics, Archaeology and Law, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and was a Rotary Foundation Scholar at the Australian National University. Oyer holds a Masters degree in Archaeology from Cambridge University and has worked in various parts of the world as an underwater archaeologist. He is a member of the Explorers Club and recently participated in a flagged expedition to the remote highlands of Papua New Guinea. Oyer served as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps and recently completed his first children's book.

WHAT I DO

I combine a passion for history and archaeology with my profession as an attorney.  Professionally, I represent private property owners, institutions, and developers in complex real estate and financing transactions and zoning approvals.  I regularly appear before state, county, and city commissions and boards seeking regulatory approvals for large-scale real estate projects.  I also regularly engage in consulting for both public and private clients in matters relating to cultural property protection, antiquities trafficking, and private property rights.

In my non-professional endeavors, I attempt to protect historic buildings, preserve archaeological sites, build archival collections, and develop history education programs for public school systems.  This is accomplished through organizing charitable and volunteer initiatives.  I have spent a significant portion of my adult life volunteering for such efforts at local, national, and international levels.