Florida Appeals

Shannon McLin Carlyle’s Florida roots run deep. A fifth generation Floridian, her great great grandfather was Benjamin Earnest McLin, Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture from 1901-12. Shannon’s father, Walter S. McLin III, grew up in Tallahassee and practiced law for over 40 years in Lake County. Her godfather Talbot “Sandy” D’Alemberte was a South Florida lawyer before becoming Dean of Florida State University College of Law and then President of the university.  

Although litigation is in her blood, Shannon’s skills have been honed in the appellate courts. Following graduation from the University of Central Florida and Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, Shannon served as an appellate law clerk at Florida’s Fifth District Court of Appeal. During her four years there, she was afforded an insider’s education on the expectations of Florida’s appellate courts. In 1997, she left the court and founded her first appellate firm that grew to seven lawyers with multiple offices. During her 21-year tenure there, she built a resume that is expressive of her passion for appellate law and the clients she represents. She has been repeatedly recognized as a member of Florida Trend’s Legal Elite and as a Florida Super Lawyer in appellate practice. 

After more than 20 years of growing and grooming her prior firm, Shannon founded Florida Appeals. Based in Orlando with lawyers and support staff across the country, Florida Appeals is an experienced team of appellate professionals including two retired appellate judges, William D. Palmer and Earle W. Petersen, Jr. and three former law clerks, Kelly L. Rooth in Tampa, Coyla J. O’Connor in New Smyrna Beach, and Melissa Alagna in Miami.  

The lawyers of Florida Appeals strive to provide excellent representation by combining their knowledge and experience of working within the appellate courts to craft strong appellate arguments and sit second chair at trial to help ensure that issues are preserved for appeal. Trial lawyers bring Shannon and her team on board during litigation when they believe appeals are likely. 

To better serve clients and trial lawyers throughout the entire state, Florida Appeals is expanding. Shannon and her team are actively seeking former appellate law clerks and former appellate judges from the First, Second, and Fourth District Courts of Appeal to join in an of-counsel relationship. Candidates can work from anywhere in the world through email and videoconferencing technologies such as Zoom and Cisco’s WebEx.

To learn more about Shannon and Florida Appeals, please visit them on the web at www.floridaappeals.com. Candidates interested in working with the firm please email a cover letter and CV to scarlyle@floridaappeals.com. 

20 N. Orange Ave., Suite 1600, Orlando, FL 32801
P: 407-815-2121
www.floridaappeals.com
scarlyle@floridaappeals.com