Stuart C. Markman has practiced appellate law for four decades. He has successfully represented individuals and businesses in a wide variety of state and federal appeals, including major personal injury cases, complex commercial and business litigation, medical malpractice cases, and class actions. Mr. Markman has also successfully represented clients by providing trial support and in-depth research, writing, and argument on key legal issues.
Mr. Markman is an appellate master emeritus and past president of the J. Clifford Cheatwood American Inn of Court. He has for many years been listed in THE BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA for appellate practice, commercial litigation, bet-the-company litigation, and white-collar criminal defense. TAMPA MAGAZINE named him a 2023 Top Lawyer in Appellate Practice. THE BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA named him Tampa “Lawyer of the Year” for Appellate Practice in 2017 and 2019. And in 2014 and 2016, THE BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA named him Tampa “Lawyer of the Year” for Bet-the-Company Litigation. FLORIDA SUPER LAWYERS recognizes Mr. Markman for appellate practice and has consistently named him one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Florida and one of The Top 50 Tampa Bay Area Lawyers. FLORIDA TREND’S FLORIDA LEGAL ELITE has listed Mr. Markman as a top appellate practitioner every year that publication has recognized the top Florida lawyers, and in 2015 inducted him into the Legal Elite Hall of Fame. In TAMPA Magazine’s 2016 survey of attorneys in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco Counties, Mr. Markman was “Voted #1 by Peers” for Appellate Practice.
Mr. Markman is a graduate of Wake Forest University, B.A., magna cum laude, and Wake Forest University School of Law, J.D., cum laude, with honors. Immediately after graduating from law school, he served as a judicial law clerk for Judge George C. Carr of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. After that clerkship and before entering private practice, he served as a judicial law clerk for Judge Paul H. Roney of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Awards and Honors
- Tampa Magazine Top Lawyer, Appellate Practice, 2023
- The Best Lawyers in America 2019 and 2017 “Lawyer of the Year” for Appellate Practice; 2016 and 2014 “Lawyer of the Year” for Bet-the-Company Litigation
- In addition to Appellate Practice and Bet-the-Company Litigation, listed annually in The Best Lawyers in America for Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Florida Trend’s Florida Legal Elite, Hall of Fame for Appellate Practice
- Florida Super Lawyers, Appellate Practice, “The Top 100” Lawyers in Florida and “The Top 50” Lawyers in Tampa Bay, Florida
- Florida Monthly’s Florida’s Top Lawyers, Appellate Practice
- Tampa Magazine Top Lawyer, Appellate Practice, 2021
- Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
- AV® Preeminent Peer-Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell since 1988
- Recipient of 2002 George C. Carr Memorial Award for excellence in federal practice and distinguished service to The Federal Bar
Professional Experience
- Kynes, Markman & Felman, P.A., Tampa, Florida, 1991-present
- Adjunct Professor of Appellate Law, Stetson University College of Law, 2001-2014
- Stuart C. Markman, P.A., Tampa, Florida, 1990-1991
- Winkles, Trombley, Kynes & Markman, P.A., Tampa, Florida, 1982-1990
- Judicial Law Clerk, Honorable Paul H. Roney, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, St. Petersburg, Florida, 1981-1982
- Judicial Law Clerk, Honorable George C. Carr, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, Tampa, Florida, 1979-1981
Professional Activities, Bar Associations and Organizations
- The Florida Bar
- The Florida Supreme Court Historical Society; Trustee, 2018-present
- Appellate Practice and Advocacy Section; Executive Council, 1995-2000
- Appellate Court Rules Committee, 1987-2000
- Federal Practice Committee, Chair, 1996-1998
- The Hillsborough County Bar Association
- Appellate Practice Section; Chair, 1992-1994
- Trial Lawyers Section; Board Member, 1991-1994
- Second District Court of Appeal Liaison, 1991-1993
- Young Lawyers Section; Treasurer, 1986-1988
- Hillsborough County Bar Foundation Trustee, 2004-2010
- The Federal Bar Association
- Tampa Bay Chapter; President, 1997-1998; Vice President and Secretary, 1993-1995; Executive Committee Member, 1995-1998
- Advisory Committee on Local Rules, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida; Chair, 1999-2004
- Emeritus, J. Clifford Cheatwood Inn of Court Chapter of the American Inns of Court, Master, Appellate Practice; Treasurer, 2009-2015; President Elect, 2015-2016; President, 2016-2017; Counselor, 2017-2018
- City of Tampa Ethics Commission, Member, 2012-present; Vice Chair, 2014-2017; Chair, 2018-2020
- Chair, Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel, United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, 2015-2016
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation, 2014-present
- The Eleventh Circuit Historical Society
Selected Lectures
- Appellate Pointers for Trial Lawyers, Trial Lawyer Seminar, Hillsborough County Bar Association, April 2004
- Instructor, Florida Appellate Practice Board Certification Review Course, 2000, 2001
- Appellate Tips for Trial Lawyers, Top Ten Ways to Become a More Effective Trial Lawyer Seminar, Hillsborough County Bar Association, October 1998
- Federal Judicial Internship Program, Stetson University College of Law, 1997
Selected Publications/Articles
- Habeas Corpus, Chapter 15, Florida Appellate Practice (12th ed. 2022) (Co-author)
- Responding to Appellate Lawyers Who Cross the Line, 32 Stetson L. Rev. 425 (Winter 2003)
- No Rest for the Weary: The Trial Lawyer and the Recovery of Appellate Costs, Hillsborough County Bar Association, The Lawyer (February 1997) (Co-author)
- Take Your Best Shot – (or Two or Three But Not Fifteen), Hillsborough County Bar Association, The Lawyer (June 1993)
- The Florida State Court System – Part 2, Hillsborough County Bar Association, The Lawyer (May 1993)
- The Florida State Court System, Hillsborough County Bar Association, The Lawyer (April 1993)
- Getting Oral Argument in Florida’s Five District Courts of Appeal, Hillsborough County Bar Association, The Lawyer (December 1992)
- Tell It Straight, Hillsborough County Bar Association, The Lawyer (September 1992)
Legal Education
- Wake Forest University School of Law, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Doctor of Jurisprudence, cum laude, Honor Graduate, May 1979
Undergraduate Education
- Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, magna cum laude, May 1976
- Phi Beta Kappa
- Claude H. Richards Award in Political Science
- Guy T. Carswell Scholar
- Omicron Delta Kappa
Bar Admissions
- Florida
- North Carolina
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Eleventh Circuits
- U.S. Supreme Court