Practice Section

Practice Section Offers Business and Litigation CLEs

by carlos a kelly, esq. and george h. knott, esq.

The General Civil & Business Litigation Practice Section covers many practice areas pertaining to the various types of business transactions and trial matters. Our section is for members interested in corporation, banking, business, bankruptcy, computer and cyber law, anti-trust and franchise law, litigation and other related areas of law. We also serve as the point-of-contact for other Lee County Bar Association practice sections to help coordinate professional offerings to our section. One goal of our section is to provide a forum for the discussion and exchange of ideas leading to the improvement of the laws within our practice. We accomplish this is by facilitating continuing education opportunities on substantive practice areas covering such topics as litigation standards preferred by the courts, judicial panels, and the use of experts. As we strive to present topics of interest to our members, please send any suggestions you would like to see covered in a CLE to us by email at gknott@knott-law.com and carlos.kelly@ henlaw.com.

In 2021, our section hosted speakers covering topics on cultural issues in mediation and the Chief Judge’s Covid-19 update. In June, we took a deep dive into the new Florida Supreme Court’s Amended Rule 1.150 (which aligns Florida’s summary judgment standard with that of federal law). Esteemed judicial panelists included the U.S. Magistrate Judge Mizell, Judge Laboda and Judge Kyle who discussed the application of the new rule in our local circuit.

During the pandemic, our CLEs have taken place on the Lee County Bar Association’s Zoom platform. Members needing CLEs are able to view over 30 hours of CLE on the Lee County Bar’s YouTube page. We look forward to hosting in-person meetings for the section once courtrooms are available again. In the meantime, our next CLE will address how to use a CPA for expert testimony. We are selecting a panel of local CPAs to provide this content. The next CLE is being planned for next spring.

Carlos joined Henderson Franklin in 1997 and serves as chair of the Business Litigation Department and is a member of the Pro Bono Committee and the Marketing Committee. Carlos represents his business clients in the areas of partner/shareholder claims, creditors’ rights, and other contract-based claims. He represents his real estate clients in the areas of eminent domain, inverse condemnation, Bert J. Harris, Jr., Private Property Rights Protection Act claims, purchase and sale disputes, real estate broker/agent defense and landlord/ tenant claims.

George has focused his law practice for 30 years on representing clients involved in business, construction and general litigation. George is a Board Certified Specialist in Civil Trial and Business Litigation law. He is also a Florida Supreme Court Mediator arbitrating/mediating construction and business disputes.

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