Columbia County Lawyers

Prior to beginning her appellate practice, Kelly L. Rooth was a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Paul H. Roney, Circuit Court Judge of the Eleventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. Ms. Rooth was a commercial litigation associate at Holland & Knight LLP and Trenam Kemker P.A. where she practiced civil litigation, including business torts, contracts, unfair trade practices, and creditors' rights. Ms. Rooth is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Florida and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Ms. Rooth graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Florida in 2000...

Shawn DeVries’ professional accomplishments represent the diverse knowledge, skills and abilities he has acquired on his professional journey. DeVries attended and graduated from Valencia Community College (AS), University of Central Florida (BS), NOVA Southeastern University (MBA) and Florida Coastal School of Law (Juris Doctor). In the hospitality industry, he worked for Hawthorne Suites, Walt Disney World, Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association, and Hyatt Corporation. Shawn DeVries transition into the law industry began as a Certified Legal Intern with Florida Coastal School of Law Housing Rights Clinic followed by a second internship at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc. Armed with...

I am a business law attorney focusing on small companies, start-ups and non-profits. I also assist foreign entrepreneurs with their immigration needs in starting a business.

Earle W. Peterson, Jr., AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, has had a distinguished career practicing law and serving as a judge on Florida's circuit and appellate courts. Prior to joining the Carlyle Appellate Law Firm in 2006, Mr. Peterson was a judge on Florida's Fifth District Court of Appeal, where he was elected Chief Judge and served in that capacity from 1995-1997. In addition to handling appellate litigation matters within The Carlyle Appellate Law Firm, Mr. Peterson is available to assist other appellate lawyers throughout Florida by conducting mock oral arguments in significant cases and providing appellate consultation and strategic evaluations...

Clay Smith has a very diverse background, having grown up in Florida, California, and Iran. Clay attended high school in Stockton, California (Benjamin Franklin) and in Jacksonville, Florida (Ed White and Douglas Anderson School of the Arts). After high school he joined the United States Marine Corps, where he served honorably for 5+ years until his humanitarian discharge to provide living assistance for his younger brother, also a Marine, who broke his neck and was rendered quadriplegic. During the period shortly after his discharge, Clay performed a variety of jobs, including ditch digging. Along the way, he...