Litigation: Appellate
Florida
1 year ranked
Provided by Brannock Berman & Seider
Joe Eagleton is a shareholder at the firm, focusing his practice on complex commercial disputes and significant family-law appeals. Board certified in appellate practice, he has handled appeals in all six of Florida’s appellate courts, as well as in the Florida Supreme Court and several federal circuit courts of appeal. Joe is also a leader in the state and local appellate bars: he currently serves as Chair of the Florida Bar’s Appellate Practice Section, and he previously served as the longtime Chair of Hillsborough County’s appellate section.
Before entering private practice, Joe served as the Senior Staff Attorney for Florida Supreme Court Justice Barbara J. Pariente, working on some of the state’s most high-profile civil and criminal appeals. Joe is a past recipient of the Florida Bar Journal’s “Excellence in Writing” award, and he has been repeatedly recognized by his clients and peers for his work in appellate practice, commercial litigation, and family law. Joe is also dedicated to Bar service. In addition to a decade of membership in Tampa’s prestigious Ferguson-White American Inn of Court, he is currently an appointed member of the Florida Supreme Court committee that is responsible for overseeing the standard jury instructions used in contract and business cases.
• Appellate Practice Section of The Florida Bar
o Chair of the Section
o Past Chair-Elect of the Section
o Past Treasurer of the Section
o Past Secretary of the Section
o Past Member of the Executive Council
o Past Chair of the Pro Bono Committee
o Past Co-Chair of the Communications Committee
o Past Vice Chair of the Continuing Legal Education Committee
• Florida Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Contract and Business Cases
o Committee Member, 2022-2028
o Former Reporter for the Committee
• Constitutional Judiciary Committee
o Committee Member, 2018-2021
• Hillsborough County Bar Association
o Appellate Practice Section
Past Co-Chair of the Section
Past Chair of the Professionalism and Pro Bono subcommittees
o Marital & Family Law Section
• Tampa Connection
o Graduate (Class of 2016-2017)
• Business Law Section of The Florida Bar
• Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals Historical Society
• Family Law Section of The Florida Bar
• Ferguson-White American Inn of Court
o Past Barrister and Associate Member
• Florida Supreme Court Historical Society
• Second District Court of Appeal Historical Society
• “When Bankruptcy Appeals Attack: Refining the Flexible Approach to Finality in Bankruptcy Proceedings,” 94 Florida Bar Journal 22, September/October 2020
• “Breaking the Rules: Florida’s Revised Rulemaking Process,” 30 Lawyer (Hillsborough County Bar Association) 24, May/June 2020
• “To Rehear or Not To Rehear? Preserving Error for Appeal,” 30 Lawyer (Hillsborough County Bar Association) 20, September/October 2019
• “How Framing the Issue on Appeal Can Be Dispositive,” 28 Lawyer (Hillsborough County Bar Association) 18, November/December 2017
• “What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You (and Your Client’s Appeal): Understanding Recent Amendments to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure,” 91 Florida Bar Journal 56, July/August 2017
• “Drawing the Line: Public Support for Amendments 5 and 6,” Chapter Co-Author, Jigsaw Puzzle Politics in the Sunshine State, August 2015 (University Press of Florida)
• “Walking on Sunshine Laws: How Florida’s Free Press History in the U.S. Supreme Court Undermines Open Government,” 86 Florida Bar Journal 22, September/October 2012
University of Florida
B.A.
University of Florida
M.A.
University of Florida College of Law
J.D.
John R. Hamilton Pro Bono Award
Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section
2021
Rising Star
Florida Super Lawyers
2025
Up and Comer
Florida Trend's Legal Elite
2020
The Best Lawyers in America for Appellate Practice
The Best Lawyers in America
2026
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for Appellate Practice
The Best Lawyers in America
2024
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for Commercial Litigation
The Best Lawyers in America
2024
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for Family Law
The Best Lawyers in America
2024
"Excellence in Writing"
Florida Bar Journal
2012
Provided by Chambers
Joseph Eagleton is highlighted for his considerable experience in supporting clients through appellate litigation concerning business disputes and family law.
Provided by Chambers
Joseph is very good technically. He's an excellent writer, very collaborative and someone who is easy to work with.
Joe possesses a deep, nuanced understanding of Florida appellate law and is able to explain our options and the strategic approach in a way that's easy to follow. His communication is outstanding.
Joseph is a zealous advocate who is very good at understanding how the jury is feeling and how the judge is perceiving the arguments, when to make an argument and when to let it go.
Joe is diligent, has a sharp legal mind and is a strategic, fierce advocate.
Joseph has a very creative mind and comes up with creative solutions.
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