Cary J. Goggin, Esq.

Cary is a partner with Lawhon Goggin, LLP and serves his clients in a variety of areas of practice with a focus on litigation, corporate, and real estate practice areas.

Cary has served as lead counsel in numerous client matters including in cases totaling over $500M in insurance claims suits since 2017, has successfully pursued appeals for his clients, served as lead counsel in trials, hundreds of mediations, and well over 1500 court appearances in business, real estate, and construction matters including particular experience with community association clients.  Cary has had a wealth of experience with real estate litigation as well, including quiet title, partition, eviction, and foreclosure actions, and its out-of-court counterparts of drafting, negotiating, and enforcing commercial and residential leases and purchase agreements as well as assisting clients in due diligence and contract disputes.

Frequent representation of corporate clients has seen Cary serving as outside general counsel on matters including company strategy, compliance, and governance as well as the drafting, negotiating, and review of corporate contracts including a $50M corporate financing agreement, but also helping new business ventures as clients structure, form, acquire and sell businesses.

In addition to the practice of law, Cary has prioritized community legal education, having presented 50+ seminars and webinars to large and small audiences on legal topics including, insurance issues, real estate contracts, business and corporate concerns and issues, due diligence, construction, and environmental issues.

  • - Civil Litigation

    - Real Estate Disputes

    - Community Association (Condo/HOA)

    - Corporate and Business

    - Contract drafting and review

    - Landlord/Tenant

    - Appeals

  • Cary grew up in Naples, Florida, and has been a part of this community for most of his life. His wife is also a native of Naples, and both of their families live in the area as well.

    He and his wife have two dogs and enjoy cycling together and occasionally with the dogs. Cary has a passion for learning and education which is reflected in the way he practices law - as an opportunity to elucidate and clarify what may not be readily understood. He also loves reading and puzzles as well as has a passion for being outdoors and off-road motorcycle riding in particular.

  • Education

    Florida State University, B.A., 2007

    Florida State University College of Law, J.D., 2011

    Admissions

    Florida, 2011

    Washington, 2021

    California, 2023

    United States District Court, Middle District of Florida

    United States District Court, Southern District of Florida

    Memberships

    Collier County Bar Association

    American Inns of Court, Michael R.N. McDonnell Chapter

    American Mensa, Life Member

  • Awards and Honors

    AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale Hubbell

    Super Lawyers, Rising Star 2020-2023

    Florida Rural Legal Services, Pro Bono Award 2019

    Lee County Bar Association, Pro Bono Superstar 2020

    Publications and Presentations

    Essentials of Landlord Tenant Law, Presentation - Multiple Dates

    How to Protect Your Small Business: Practical Solutions to Common Legal Issues, Presentation - Multiple Dates

    Hurricane Damage and Insurance Claims: Essentials of First Party Property Claims, Presentation - Multiple Dates

    Market Watch SWFL 2021, Panelist, June 2021

    Residential Real Estate Due Diligence, Inspections, and Hidden Defects, Presentation - Multiple Dates

    Updates to the FR/Bar Contract - 2021 Revisions, Presentation - Multiple Dates

    Notable Cases

    Am. Capital Assurance Corp. v. Leeward Bay at Tarpon Bay Condo. Ass'n, Inc., 306 So. 3d 1238, 1239 (Fla. 2d DCA 2020), review granted, SC20-1766, 2021 WL 416684 (Fla. Feb. 8, 2021)

    Villagio at Estero Condo. Ass'n, Inc. v. Am. Capital Assurance Corp., 46 Fla. L. Weekly D879 (Fla. 2d DCA Apr. 16, 2021)