Carlos A. Kelly
Stockholder - Fort Myers Office
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Direct Fax: 239.344.1504
Carlos focuses his practice on real estate disputes (foreclosures, title insurance litigation, commercial and residential evictions, and other real estate related claims) and business claims (fraud and contract lawsuits, shareholder disputes, and other claims between business partners). A major part of his real estate litigation practice involves eminent domain/condemnation matters.
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. The Florida Bar’s Eminent Domain Committee and the Florida Association of County Engineers & Road Superintendents have featured Carlos as a lecturer on the topic of business damages in condemnation, and the West Coast Florida Chapter of the Appraisal Institute has featured Carlos as a panel speaker on witness preparation in eminent domain cases. In 2012, the American Bar Association published an article Carlos wrote about the use of eminent domain to condemn underwater mortgages (December 10, 2012 web post). The Florida Bar Journal has published several of Carlos's articles, including two that he wrote about eminent domain topics. The Supreme Court of Florida cited his article, “Eminent Domain: Identifying Issues in Damages for the General Practitioner,” in System Components Corp. v. Florida Dept. of Transportation, 14 So.3d 967 (Fla. 2009).
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 Civic 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," ending his term by serving as vice-chair. He currently is a member of the Association of Eminent Domain Professionals, the Real Estate Investment Society, and The Florida Bar’s Eminent Domain Committee.
In the wake of Hurricane Charley, Carlos coordinated the firm’s pro bono efforts to assist low-income victims of Charley. He also serves on Henderson Franklin’s Pro Bono Committee, as well as its Recruiting Committee, and chaired the firm’s Summer Associate Program for many years.