About Carlos Alvarez

I believe the full background of a mediator is important in determining whether to retain a mediator.  It also enhances the absolute trust attorneys and parties must have in a mediator for a mediator to be effective.  Below is my resume. Please call me if you want any additional information or references.

 

 

Education: Elementary School, Havana, Cuba

North Miami High School, Miami, Florida (1968)

University of Florida, B.A., Political Science with High Honors (1972)

Duke University, J.D., Summa Cum Laude (1975)

 

Legal Experience

Assistant to Professor John Weistart, Duke Law School (1973-1975).

Associate, Mahoney Hadlow & Adams, Tallahassee, Florida (1975-1979); practice in environmental and administrative law, real estate financing, general corporate, litigation. Assistant Professor of Law, Environmental Law, Real Property Law and Regulated Industries, Southern Methodist University School of Law (1979-1980).

Of Counsel, Hopping Boyd Green & Sams, Tallahassee, Florida (1979-1980)

Partner, Hopping Boyd Green & Sams, Tallahassee, Florida (1980-1995); practice in litigation (federal, state and administrative courts), environmental, land use and administrative law, appellate work. Of Counsel, Hopping Green Sams & Smith, P.A., Tallahassee, Florida (1995-1997).

Private Practice, sole practitioner specializing in dispute resolution, Tallahassee, Florida (1998-to present).

Adjunct Professor, University of Florida Levin School of Law, 2014 and 2015

Martindale-Hubbell Rating: AV Rating (highest professional rating for the past 25 years).

 

Honors and Activities:

 

Law School: Graduated Summa Cum Laude from Duke University School of Law; invited to join Duke Law Journal on merit basis, but declined for personal reasons; awarded Duke Merit Scholarship 1973, 1974 (awarded on the basis of grade point average); awarded NCAA Merit Post-Graduate Scholarship (awarded on the basis of academic and athletic achievement).

 

Undergraduate: Graduated with High Honors from University of Florida; selected to the University of Florida Hall of Fame; four-year Intercollegiate Athletics Scholarship; played intercollegiate football for the University of Florida; Consensus All American, 1969; All Southeastern Conference Wide Receiver 1969, 1970, 1971; Academic All American 1969, 1970, 1971; holder at graduation of all pass receiving records at the University of Florida and most Southeastern Conference pass receiving records; drafted by the Dallas Cowboys but did not play because of knee injuries; selected to the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame.

 

Community and Legal: Recipient, Key to the City for Outstanding Achievement, Miami, Florida; recipient, Key to the City for Outstanding Achievement, Tampa, Florida; recipients; member, Jacksonville Legal Aid Society, 1975-1976; participant, Tallahassee Bar Association Legal Aid, 1976-1987; Southern Methodist University School of Law Outstanding Professor Award, 1979-1980 (selected by students); General Counsel, Florida Public Interest Research Group, 1980-1983; member, Advisory Board, Florida State University, Office for the Development of Non-Traditional Student Programs, Summer Enrichment Program, 1986-1990; member, Community Relations Board, Federal Correctional Institute, 1990-1994; Chairman, Electric Utility Resource Group, an association of electric utilities in the southeastern United States, 1992-1995; member, Second Judicial Circuit Nominating Commission (appointed by Governor Chiles), 1992-1996; Chairman, Florida Elections Commission (appointed by Governor Chiles), 1993-1998; Chairman, Leon County Lake Lafayette Special Development Zone Committee (2003); Vice-Chair, Chaires-Capitola Recreation Council (2002 to 2006); member, Leon County Regional Park Council (2005 to 2006); member, College Football Biletnikoff Award (Best Wide Receiver in the College Football) Committee (2000 to present); Roster member, United States Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution (Federal agency created to resolve environmental disputes; selection based on merit and experience 2002 to present); selected by regional, state and federal agencies to provide alternative dispute resolution methodology to the Everglades remediation projects, the largest environmental remediation project in the United States (2003-2006); member The Florida Circuit-Civil Mediator Society (selection based on merit and experience); recipient from the Florida Wildlife Federation of the "Water Conservationist of the Year" Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Sound Use and Management of Florida's Natural Resources (2007); selected by various local, regional and state governmental agencies to provide recommendations on environmental and land use issues as a special magistrate pursuant to the Florida Land Use and Environmental Dispute Resolution Act (2006 to present.); American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell, 2013 Top Rated Lawyer for Energy Law, Environmental Law, Land Use Law; American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell, 2014 Top Rated Lawyer for Energy Law, Environmental Law, Land Use Law; Adjunct Professor, University of Florida College of Law co-teaching mediation negotiations course (2014 and 2015); University of Florida College of Law Guest Lecturer on Professionalism and Law Practice, Lecture to First Year Class, October 2014; American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell, 2015 Top Rated Lawyer for Alternative Dispute Resolution; 2015 Top Rated Lawyer for Energy, Environmenal and Natural Resources; 2015 Top Rated Lawyer for Land Use & Zoning.

 

Other:  Member, College Football Hall of Fame (selected in 2011); member, Academic All-American Hall of Fame (inducted in the second class selected, 1989); Southeastern Conference Football Legend (selected in 1997); University of Florida All-Century Football Team, (selected 1999); Florida-Georgia Game Hall of Fame (inducted 1999); Gator Fans’ All Century Gator Team (selected in 2006); CNN Bleacher Report, Florida Football: The All-Time Dream Team, 2012; Sports Illustrated Top 10 Wide Receivers in Southeastern Conference History, 2015; Sporting News Top 10 Gators of all Time, 2015; "The All-American Cuban Comet", ESPN SEC Storied, 2020 documentary produced by Gaspar Gonzales for ESPN.

 

Publications, Papers and Lectures: Author, Legal Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics, Carnegie Foundation Study on Intercollegiate Athletics (1974). Co-Author, Threshold Considerations in Environmental Law Practice, Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education (1976, 1978). Author, Book Review, Law of Sports, Duke Law Journal (Fall 1979). Author, The EMF Issue: The Florida Regulatory and Legal Experience, International Utility Symposium on Health Effects of Electric and Magnetic Fields, Toronto, Canada (1986). Author, Electromagnetic Fields: The Changing Legal and Regulatory Picture, American Public Power Association (1987). Author, Electromagnetic Fields, Environmental Issues in Utility Sitings, The Public Utilities Law Committee, Florida Bar (1993). Lecture, Restoring the Everglades: Moving From Conceptual Agreement to Implementation, Association for Conflict Resolution, 2003 Annual Conference, Orlando, Florida. Author, Participation of Attorneys and Consultants in Environmental and Land Use Mediations and Other Alternative Dispute Resolution Formats: Doing it Ethically and Effectively, 2008 Environmental and Land Use Law Annual Update, Florida Bar, (2008). Author, Effective Participation in Proceedings Pursuant to Section 70.51, Florida Statutes, the Florida land Use and Environmental Dispute Resolution Act, Florida Association of County Attorneys, (2009). Lecture: Attorney as Peacemaker: Effective Mediation & Negotiation Skills in Land Use & Environmental, Commercial, Real Property Law and Life, University of Florida School of Law, (2010). Co-Author, Participation of Local Government Attorneys in Land Use Mediations: Doing it Effectively and Ethically, 33rd Annual Local Government Law in Florida, (2010). Lecture: The Lawyer as a Peacemaker: Key Elements of Performing and Participating in Mediations and Dealing with the Unexpected, University of Florida School of Law, (2012); The Environmental & Land Use Law Section's 2014 Annual Update: Enhance Prospects for Successful Environmental and Land Use Mediations by Recognizing and Avoiding Significant Mistakes Made by Mediation Counsel; University of Florida Levin College of Law, Institute for Conflict Resolution, Lecture on Mistakes made by Mediators and Mediation Participants, Advanced Issues for Advanced Mediators (2014); Lecture: Effective Land Use Mediations, CLE International "Land Use Law" Conference, Tampa, Florida; Author, Effective Land Use Mediations:  A Primer; CLE International, 2017; Author: Key Mistakes Made by Mediation Participants at the Five Stages of a Mediation, CLE International, 2017.  Numerous short papers and lectures on environmental and land use law issues and alternative dispute resolutions.

 

Representative Appellate Cases of Corporate and Public Interests Clients: Cortes et al v.State Board of Regents et al, 655 So.2d 132 (Fla. 1st DCA 1995).Florida Sugar Cane League v. State, 580 So. 2d 846 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991).Florida Power Corporation v. State Siting Board, 513 So. 2d 1341 (Fla. 1st DCA 1987).Sunset Commercial Bank v. State Department of Insurance, 509 So. 2d 366 (Fla. 1st DCA 1987).Alvarez v. Department of Professional Regulation, 458 So. 2d 808 (Fla. 1st DCA 1984).Kuster Enterprises, Inc. v. State Department of Transportation, 357 So. 2d 794 (Fla. 1st DCA 1978).

 

Professional Affiliations: Member, The Florida Bar (1975); U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida (1978); U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit (1978); U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit (1981); U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida (1985); U.S. Claims Court (1985).

 

Fluent in English and Spanish