Family Complex Litigation & Collaborative Group Team
John Foster handles his client’s cases from start to finish!
For more than 40 years, John has handled litigation, trials and appeals in state and federal courts. John was a partner with the national law firm Baker&Hostetler, LLP for 34 years. Following his retirement from Baker&Hostetler, LLP, John founded Family Complex Litigation & Collaborative Group (“FCLC Group”). His practice now focuses exclusively on the resolution of complex divorce and family law cases, whether resolved through settlement, the litigation process and trial mediation, the collaborative process or the appellate process. Prior to leaving for law school in 1978, John served in law enforcement.
John is actively involved in the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar Association. He currently serves on the Family Law Section’s Executive Council and Legislation Committee. John formerly co-chaired the Parentage Committee, and was the former co-secretary of the Children’s Issues Committee. He is a current member of both the Children’s Issues Committee and the Domestic Violence Committee. John is also the current Co-Vice Chair of the Equitable Distribution Committee.
John has achieved the highest AV rating by Martindale Hubbell and he is ranked by Chambers USA. John has been named as one of America’s Best Lawyers, as Florida Legal Elite for Marital and Family law by Florida Trend, as a Florida “Super Lawyer”, as one of Orlando’s Best Lawyers by Orlando Magazine and as a top Orlando lawyer by the Orlando Home and Leisure Magazine. By invitation, John is a member of the National Advocates “Top 100”.
Experience: In his 40 years of practice, John has:
- Handled numerous marital and family law cases through mediations, trials and appeals dealing with issues such as dissolution of marriage, equitable distribution of marital assets and liabilities, alimony, parenting issues, timesharing or custody issues, child support, paternity, the enforceability of prenuptial agreements and other family law or marital issues, including the representation of business entities named as parties in marital dissolution actions.
- Negotiated and drafted numerous marital agreements including Marital Settlement Agreements, Parenting Plans, Prenuptial or Antenuptial Agreements, and Post-Nuptial Agreements.
- Handled numerous marital and family law cases to resolution through the Collaborative Process. (John has completed the Collaborative Training.)
- Defended professional sports teams against antitrust and tortious interference claims.
- Served as lead counsel for major theme park in numerous significant cases including a case involving design and fabrication of client’s fleet of 12 high-capacity monorail trains.
- Served as lead counsel in federal cases involving Florida’s Control Share Acquisition Act (or Anti-Takeover Act).
- Served as lead trial counsel for the receiver of a large home building company ($100 million in sales). Assisted the receiver in preparing a plan for reorganization in the receivership proceedings and represented the receiver in prosecuting and defending against numerous commercial claims.
- Prosecuted and defended claims alleging breach of contract, fraud and securities fraud, including disputed cases arising out of the sale and purchase of stock or other securities.
- Served as lead counsel in variety of construction disputes, including numerous cases involving design and construction of attractions at major theme parks, hotel and resort projects, large public projects, including courthouse and school construction, and numerous other projects.
- Served as lead counsel in cases involving trademark infringement claims and other cases involving clients’ intellectual property rights and claims.
- John was the recipient of the 2022 OCBA William Trickel Professionalism Award.
Pro Bono
- Orange County Bar Association Legal Aid Society: Certificate of Appreciation (pro bono) (2011)
Recognitions
- America’s Best Lawyers
- Chambers USA “Leading Lawyer”
- Florida Legal Elite: Marital and Family Law
- Orlando Magazine: Best Lawyers
- Florida “Super Lawyer” (2012 to 2021)
- Orlando Home and Leisure Magazine: Top Lawyer
- National Advocates “Top 100”
- Martindale Hubbell-Highest AV Rating
- Florida Bar Family Law Section: Rising Star
Memberships
- Florida Bar Association
- Family Law Section: Equitable Distribution Committee: Chair (2011 to 2012, 2012 to 2013)
- Family Law Section: Executive Council
- Family Law Section: Legislation Committee
- Family Law Section: Parentage Committee: Co-Chair (2014-Present)
- Family Law Section: Children’s Issues Committee: Co-Secretary (2017-18)
- Family Law Section: Ad Hoc Constitutional Revision Committee (2016-16 and 2017-18)
- Family Law Section: Domestic Violence Committee (2017-18)
- Family Law Section: Chair of the Health & Wellness Committee
- Orange County Bar Association
- George C. Young American Inn of Court, Board of Directors, Current Chair of Membership
- Orange County Family Law Inn of Court
- American Bar Association
- American Academy for Certified Financial Litigators: Founding Member, Advisory Board
Community
- Turning Point Central Florida: Board of Directors (Current)
- Youth Ministry Institute: Former Member of the Board of Directors
- United Methodist Church: Former Member of the Board of Trustees
- Mind, Body and Soul Surfing Club
- Mind, Body & Soul Recovery Housing
Hobbies and Interests
John is an avid Surfer! He considers his “home break” to be Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica, to where he frequently travels in search of great waves. John enjoys paddling his stand-up paddle boards, working out, being humbled at his daughter’s fitness boot camp called “Get Jac’d” and reading.
Education
- J.D., University of Florida Levin College of Law, 1980 (With Honors)
- B.A., Rollins College, 1976 (With High Honors)
Admissions
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1991
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 1981
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, 1981
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, 1981
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida, 1981
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, 1981
- Florida Bar, 1981
Reported Cases
- Major League Baseball v. Morsani, 790 So.2d 1071 (Fla. 2001)
- Rosenberg v. Metrowest Master Ass’n, 116 So.3d 641 (Fla. 5th DCA 2013)
- Mandalay at Stonebridge Commons v. Metrowest Master Ass’n, 71 So.3d 130 (Fla. 5th DCA 2011)
- Baker & Hostetler, LLP v. Swearingen, 998 So.2d 1158 (Fla. 5th DCA 2008)
- Brown v. Brown, 784 So.2d 464 (Fla. 5th DCA 2001)
- Anson v. Anson, 772 So.2d 52 (Fla. 5th DCA 2000)
- Dorite Sheet Metal v. Eagle Roofing, 761 So.2d 1126 (Fla. 5th DCA 2000)
- Morsani v. Major League Baseball, 739 So.2d 610 (Fla. 2d DCA 1999)
- Lee & Sakahara Assocs. v. Boykin Mgmt. Co., 678 So.2d 394 (Fla. 4th DCA 1996)
- Morsani v. Major League Baseball, 663 So.2d 653 (Fla. 2d DCA 1995)
- J.D. Pirrotta Co. v. School Bd., 635 So.2d 31 (Fla. 5th DCA 1994)
- Clark v. Dettloff, 591 So.2d 193 (Fla. 5th DCA 1991)
- Aero Realty & Management Corp. v. Heger, 587 So.2d 1340 (Fla. 5th DCA 1991)
- Tourist Channel, Inc. v. Namey, 568 So.2d 543 (Fla. 5th DCA 1990)
- Life Concepts, Inc. v. Harden, 562 So.2d 726 (Fla. 5th DCA 1990)
Carina is a Family Law and Collaborative Attorney at FCLC Group. Carina is also a Florida Supreme Court certified Family Law Mediator. Carina’s professional mission is to make a positive impact on the divorce process so that families going through this extremely challenging transition have better results.
After over twenty years of handling litigated and non-litigated cases, Carina believes litigation should be a last resort and not a first choice. Families are not best served with a one-size fits all approach and limitations of what a judge can and cannot do. Each family is unique and requires a custom-tailored resolution that is doable and durable long after their divorce is over which is why she is a proponent of alternative dispute resolution methods, such as the Collaborative Law process or Mediation.
Carina grew up in the Orlando area and graduated from Rollins College. She attended law school at Nova Southeastern University College of Law in Fort Lauderdale. Prior to entering private practice, Carina was a Staff Attorney for the 15th Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County where she worked with the judges in Civil, Family and Probate Divisions. She later practiced family law in boutique and national law firms there for over a decade before returning to Orlando in 2011 where she lives with her husband and twin daughters. Carina realized the financial and emotional toll litigation took on her clients and began to shift her practice and assist families through a different process option; one that preserves their marital estate, protects their privacy and prioritizes their family. She was trained in the Collaborative Law Process in 2010 and has received extensive advanced trainings since then.
Carina is a member of the Family Law Section of the Orange County Bar Association, Family Law Section and Alternative Dispute Resolution Section of the Florida Bar Association, the Central Florida Family Law Inn, the Collaborative Family Law Group of Central Florida, the Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals (current Board Member) and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. Carina is also on the Board for a local non-profit organization, Angel of Hope Central Florida, that supports members of the community who have experienced the loss of a child.
Carina has been named as Best Lawyers in America in Family Law and in Collaborative Law: Family Law, as Florida Legal Elite for Marital & Family Law by Florida Trend, as Florida Super Lawyer in Family Law, and as Awesome Attorneys in Family Law by Orlando Family Magazine.
Jaclynn began her career as a paralegal in 2003. She supports the family complex litigation practice in various roles pertaining to family and marital law cases.
In addition to family law, Jaclynn has extensive experience in real estate transactions, residential and commercial foreclosures, business contract disputes, and regulatory and white-collar crime matters.
Jaclynn graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology. She is also an active licensed Florida REALTOR® and assists clients with their real estate needs.
When she isn’t working or studying the latest real estate trends, Jaclynn loves spending time with her kids, working out, and cooking.
Camellia Olds is a paralegal at FCLC Group. She obtained her Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business from Stetson University in 2010 and is currently pursuing her Paralegal Studies Associate in Science degree at Seminole State College.
She has over ten years of professional experience, primarily in marketing. When she decided to make a career change, she knew the legal field would provide her with challenges and opportunities for the growth she desired.
She is thrilled to be working with, and learning from, some of the top legal professionals in the Orlando area. It’s not often that a person has the chance to begin their career in a new field by working with such well-respected individuals as the team here and she is grateful every day for the practical knowledge and experience that she is receiving.
Outside the office, Camellia appreciates nature and enjoys visiting state and national parks. She also loves exploring Orlando’s local food scene and challenging her body and mind with classes in aerial circus arts and yoga
