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Caroleen B. Brej

Caroleen B. Brej concentrates her civil litigation practice in the areas of commercial litigation involving business and real estate disputes. She handles both trials and civil proceedings. Ms. Brej also has a successful appellate practice; handling appeals of final orders and interlocutory appeals as well as petitions for writ of certiorari.

She has been recognized as a Best Lawyer Ones to Watch in America by Best Lawyers, a Rising Star by Super Lawyers, and as an “Elite Top Attorney” by SRQ Magazine.

Ms. Brej has both criminal and civil litigation experience. After law school, she worked as a clerk in the 19th Judicial Circuit of Florida, handling felony postconviction matters. Upon moving to Sarasota in 2013, Ms. Brej became an Assistant State Attorney, representing the State of Florida in criminal misdemeanor, felony and juvenile cases. Ms. Brej has successfully litigated over thirty criminal trials to verdict.

Prior to joining Bentley Goodrich Kison in 2018, Ms. Brej also practiced complex product liability litigation involving defective medical devices and pharmaceuticals in both state and federal courts, nationwide. Ms. Brej led extensive electronic discovery and handled prelitigation civil proceedings.

In 2023, Ms. Brej was appointed by Florida Bar President F. Scott Westheimer to serve on the newly created Mentoring New Lawyers Committee. In 2025, Ms. Brej was appointed by The Florida Bar to serve on the 12th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee “C.”

Ms. Brej is actively involved in the Sarasota County Bar Association. She is a current Board Director, and a Past President of the Young Lawyers Division. She has Chaired multiple committees and events. She also serves as a Director on the Board for Bay Area Legal Services.

Ms. Brej received her undergraduate degree from the University of Florida in 2008 and her Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2011.

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA COLLEGE OF LAW, GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA

  • J.D. – 2011

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

  • B.A. – 2008
  • Major: Marketing
  • Major: Spanish
  • Florida
  • U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida
  • District of Columbia Court of Appeals

The Florida Bar

  • 12th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee “C”
  • Mentoring Committee Member
  • Director

Sarasota County Bar Association

  • Director
  • Chair, 2023 Barristers’ Ball
  • Co-Chair, 2026 12th Judicial Circuit Bench Bar Conference
  • Member, Membership Committee

Past positions:

  • Co-Chair of 2026 12th Judicial Circuit Bench Bar Conference
  • Governance Committee, Member
  • Diversity Committee, Member
  • Civil Trial Committee, Chair

Sarasota County Bar Association Young Lawyer’s Division

  • Past President
  • Past Member, Board of Directors
  • Past Member, Law Week Committee
  • Past Chair, Mentoring Event Committee
  • Past Co-Chair, Social Event Committee
  • Past Member, Mock Trial Committee
  • Past Member, Summer Social Committee

Other Memberships

  • Sarasota County Gator Club, Member of the Board of Directors 2018-2019
  • The Honorable Major B. Harding American Inn of Court, Barrister 2012-2013
  • Judge John M. Scheb American Inn of Court, Barrister 2019-2023
  • Obtained $3.6M judgment in a breach of promissory note case. Successfully handled appeal, obtaining affirmance, plus attorneys’ fees at trial court level and on appeal.
  • Prevailed at defending multiple Johnson v. Davis non-disclosure and misrepresentation cases, obtaining final summary judgment, with fee entitlement.
  • Prevailed at trial on Johnson v. Davis non-disclosure case.
  • Prevailed in arbitration against municipalities, defending law enforcement officers, obtaining reinstatement and back pay.
  • Successfully represented developer at quasi-judicial hearing against challenge by homeowners’ association to municipality development order.
  • Successfully handled appeal of summary judgment in Johnson v. Davis non-disclosure and misrepresentation case, obtaining affirmance, and attorneys fees.
  • Successfully handled appeal of non-final order granting a temporary injunction, obtaining reversal with written opinion.
  • Successfully handled appeal and argued in front of Second DCA on breach of settlement case resolved at summary judgment, obtaining affirmance, with fee entitlement on appeal.
  • Successfully handled appeal and argued in front of Second DCA on commercial eviction matter, obtaining affirmance.
  • Successfully handled appeal in mortgage foreclosure case involving lost promissory note against bank, obtaining affirmance.