THE CARLYLE APPELLATE LAW FIRM - Key Persons
Christopher V. Carlyle has been Board Certified by The Florida Bar in appellate practice since 2006. At present, only 217 lawyers in Florida have that certification. Mr. Carlyle has consistently been named to Florida Trend's Legal Elite since 2009, as well as being recognized as a Florida Super Lawyer by Thomas Reuters for 17 years. In 2022 and 2023, he was named as one of the top 50 lawyers in Orlando by Super Lawyers. Mr. Carlyle is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell, the highest recognition from that organization.
Since 2022 Mr. Carlyle has served as a Visiting Professor of Law at Florida A&M University College of Law where he teaches Appellate Advocacy.
Mr. Carlyle is active within the Florida Bar and served as Chair of the Florida Bar's Appellate Practice Section in 2015-2016. He also served as the Section's Chair-Elect, Vice-Chair, Secretary/Treasurer and Continuing Legal Education Chair, and he continues to serve on the Section's Executive Council. Mr. Carlyle spent six years (2009-2015) on the Florida Bar's Appellate Rules Committee, including serving as that group's secretary and parliamentarian. Additionally, he was a member of the Florida Bar's Appellate Certification Committee (2016-2019) where he served as Vice Chair.
Mr. Carlyle was awarded the Florida Justice Association's S. Victor Tipton Award for Superior Achievement in Legal Writing in 2012. In addition, Mr. Carlyle received the Brevard County Legal Aid Appellate Law Award in 2012
Mr. Carlyle is an extremely experienced appellate practitioner as well as having a background in commercial litigation. Prior to joining The Carlyle Appellate Law Firm, he practiced a wide range of commercial litigation with Holland & Knight, LLP and McLin & Burnsed, P.A. Mr. Carlyle has handled cases in all six of Florida's District Courts of Appeal, the Supreme Court of Florida, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States. Most notably, Mr. Carlyle was involved in Koontz v. St. John's River Water Management District, 133 S. Ct. 2586 (2013), a groundbreaking decision concerning property rights.
Mr. Carlyle earned his Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from the Pepperdine University School of Law (1993) where he was Associate Editor of the Pepperdine Law Review, and where he was named to the Dean's List all three years. He received B.A. in political science from San Diego State University (1987).
Mr. Carlyle frequently lectures on appellate matters. Presentations include:
"Appellate Practice for Trial Lawyers," presented by the Florida Justice Association (2020).
"Practicing Before the Fifth District Court of Appeal," presented by the Appellate Practice Section of the Florida Bar, Orlando (2019).
"Appellate Issues in Personal Injury Law," presented by the Young Lawyers Section of the Florida Bar, Tampa (2018).
"Comment on Climate Exactions," Environmental Law & Policy Annual Review presented by the Environmental Law Institute, Washington, D.C. (2017).
"The Art of Objecting: A Trial Lawyer's Guide to Preserving Error for Appeal: Closing Arguments," presented by the Appellate Practice Section of the Florida Bar, Ft. Lauderdale (2014).
"How to Utilize an Appellate Lawyer in Your Family Law Practice," presented to the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar, Las Vegas (2014).
"Trends and Developments in Assisted Reproduction Law and Practice: An Overview for Family Law Practitioners," presented to the International Association of Matrimonial Lawyers, Arizona (2013).
Mr. Carlyle is active in various civic and community organizations. He was a member of Leadership Florida Class XXV (2007), and has been active in the organization since his class year. He was a member of the Leadership Lake County Class of 2000, and was selected to be president of the class by his peers. He spent two decades on the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Lake and Sumter Counties. In addition, Mr. Carlyle has served at various times as a director for the Central Florida Health Alliance Foundation, Haven of Lake and Sumter Counties, and Habitat for Humanity Lake County.
Chris Carlyle has extensive involvement in appellate practice on a statewide level. He is a former chair of the Appellate Practice Section of the Florida Bar, served on the Florida Bar's Appellate Court Rules Committee for six years, and presently serves as vice-chair of the Florida Bar's Appellate Practice Certification Committee. Mr. Carlyle has written and lectured extensively on all areas of appellate practice.
The Carlyle Appellate Law Firm is honored to have former appellate judge, David A. Monaco, working in an of counsel capacity with the Firm. David A. Monaco was appointed to the Fifth District Court of Appeal in 2003 where he served until 2012. In addition, Mr. Monaco served as Chief Judge of the Fifth District from 2009-2011. He also served as Chairman of the District Court of Appeal Budget Commission, as well as the Chairman of the Conference of District Court of Appeal Judges. Judge Monaco brings a wealth of experience to assure our clients have the best chance of success on appeal. The Firm is also proud of the fact that former Fifth District Court of Appeal Judge Gilbert S. Goshorn, Jr., who served on the Court for ten years, was a member of our Firm from the time of his retirement in 2002 until his death in 2011.
David A. Monaco earned his B.A. from Vanderbilt University and his J.D. from the University of Florida College of Law (with honors) where he served as Executive Editor of the University of Florida Law Review. Upon graduation, Mr. Monaco served as a law clerk for Judge Woodie Liles of the Second District Court of Appeal. Mr. Monaco served as a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy, Office of the Judge Advocate General before entering private practice in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Gilbert S. Goshorn, Jr. joined the Firm in 2002 after serving as judge of the Fifth District Court of Appeal for ten years, where he was Chief Judge from 1991-93. Prior to serving on the 5th DCA, Mr. Goshorn served as judge with the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, and was Chief Judge of that court during his tenure. He was nominated for appointment to the Florida Supreme Court in 1993. Mr. Goshorn served on the Judicial Qualification Commission and was Chair from 1997 to 1998. Mr. Goshorn is a graduate of the University of Florida College of Law where her was a member of Florida Blue Key, and the University of Florida Hall of Fame. Mr. Goshorn is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been named as one of Florida Trend's Florida Legal Elite in appellate practice. Sadly, the firm lost our mentor and friend on October 26, 2011.
John N. Bogdanoff is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in appellate practice. He is a graduate of the University of Florida Levin College of Law (with honors). During his more than 25 year career as a senior attorney at Florida's Fifth District Court of Appeal, he served appellate court judges Frank D. Upchurch, Melvin Orfinger, Joe A. Cowart, Warren H. Cobb, Robert J. Pleus and Richard B. Orfinger. Additionally, he served as the Court's public information officer and on the State Appellate Court Continuing Education Committee. He represented the Fifth District Court of Appeal at the National Judicial College's 2003 program on Media and the Courts. Currently he serves on the Daytona State College Legal Studies Advisory Committee and has been an adjunct professor at the college. Mr. Bogdanoff is also accredited with the Department of Veterans Affairs to present and prosecute administrative appeals on behalf of veterans. Mr. Bogdanoff has successfully argued appeals in the Florida district courts of appeal as well as in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
John Bogdanoff worked at the Fifth District as a senior attorney for more than twenty-five years, and was proud to serve as a clerk to six different judges during that time. Mr. Bogdanoff's extensive experience at the court brings a unique perspective to the Firm after having worked closely with various appellate judges through his career.
Paula A. Hines began working at The Carlyle Appellate Law Firm in 2005 as a receptionist and file clerk. Over the years Ms. Hines has worked her way through the ranks and now performs such positions as bookkeeper, office manager, legal assistant, and paralegal. Ms. Hines is a native Floridian, born and raised in Leesburg, Florida. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling to tropical destinations, and being on the water.
Provides legal assistance to the attorneys and paralegal to help free up their time to focus on complex matters
Job Titles:
- Appellate Paralegal
- Florida Registered Paralegal
Paula M. Sullivan is a Florida Registered Paralegal by The Florida Bar. She has been a part of The Carlyle Appellate Law Firm team for over 18 years. Because our firm limits our practice to state and federal appeals, Ms. Sullivan is imminently knowledgeable of the appellate rules, and the Courts' Internal Operating Procedures. She is proficient on Westlaw and assists in legal research. In addition, she assists in analyzing the record and other documents to ensure our firm has those relevant to each specific appeal based on the potential issues involved. Ms. Sullivan communicates regularly with trial counsel, clients, and the clerk's office as issues arise and troubleshoots the issue. Many times, Ms. Sullivan will resolve an issue at a lower hourly rate that would have otherwise had to have been performed by an attorney. Ms. Sullivan is also active in the legal community. She has served on Florida's Fifth Judicial Circuit's Grievance Committee, and is also a member of the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA).