Carlos A. Kelly
Stockholder - Fort Myers Office
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Direct Fax: 239.344.1504
Carlos focuses his practice on real estate disputes, title insurance litigation, and business claims, including fraud and contract lawsuits, shareholder disputes, and other claims between business partners. As part of his real estate litigation practice, Carlos handles eminent domain/condemnation matters, which have included numerous order of taking hearings. In addition to being admitted to all Florida state courts, Carlos is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, and has appeared pro hac vice in the Southern District of Florida.
Carlos speaks and writes for a variety of audiences. Over the years, he has given seminars on several areas of the law, typically focusing on eminent domain. In 2008, The Florida Bar’s Eminent Domain Committee featured Carlos as a lecturer on the topic of business damages in condemnation. In 2009 and 2006, The Florida Bar Journal published articles Carlos wrote about eminent domain topics. The Supreme Court of Florida cited his 2009 article, “Eminent Domain: Identifying Issues in Damages for the General Practitioner,” in a 2009 opinion entitled System Components Corp. v. Florida Dept. of Transportation, 14 So.3d 967 (Fla. 2009). In 2003, The Florida Bar Journal published an article he wrote about the relationship between the media and the armed forces in time of war. The article has since been republished, in excerpt form, in an anthology designed for use by young adults.
Carlos moved to Florida in 1988. As an undergraduate at Florida State University, Carlos earned membership in both Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Societies. Carlos is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
Professional and Civil Affiliations
Carlos volunteers in the community and has served the United Way, the American Heart Association, the City of Fort Myers Economic Development Advisory Board, the Department of Children and Families, and Teen Court. He also served for six years as one of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit’s representatives to the Board of Governors of the Young Lawyers Division of The Florida Bar. More recently, Carlos served on the Twentieth Judicial Circuit’s Grievance Committee “D." He currently is a member of Association of Eminent Domain Professionals as well as The Florida Bar’s Eminent Domain Committee.
The Lee County Bar Association has recognized Carlos’ pro bono activities. In the wake of Hurricane Charley, Carlos coordinated the firm’s pro bono efforts to assist low-income victims of Charley. In 2005, Gulfshore Business Magazine named Carlos to its “40 Under 40” list, noting his pro bono activities. He also serves on Henderson Franklin’s Pro Bono Committee, as well as its Recruiting Committee, and chairs the firm’s Summer Associate Program.