Experience
Charles joined the firm after graduating law school in 1989. He is a board certified civil trial attorney and handles a wide variety of civil litigation cases. His experience includes cases involving businesses disputes, trust and estate litigation, construction defect litigation, and litigation involving non-competition agreements and other restrictive covenants.
Distinctions & Memberships
- Admitted to The Florida Bar – 1989
- Florida Bar Board Certified in Civil Trial Law (1996 – present)
- The Best Lawyers in America© since 2010, in the fields of Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Trusts and Estates
- The Best Lawyers in America© 2022 Litigation – Trusts and Estates “Lawyer of the Year”
- Florida Hospital North Pinellas – Helen Ellis Memorial Foundation (Director 2011 – present, currently Co-Chairman)
- UPARC (Director 1999 – present; past President 10/2004 – 10/2006)
- Tarpon Springs High School Advisory Counsel (2007 – present; chair 2008 – present)
- St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Inc. (Director 2009 – 2010)
- Barney Masterson Inn of Court Award 2022
- Super Lawyers
Education
- University of South Florida B.A., Accounting – 1986
- Stetson University J.D., cum laude – 1989
- ABA National Mock Trial Competition – 1st Place 1989
When He’s Not Working Hard for Clients
Charles stays active in sports and outdoor activities, as well as boating and traveling with his family.
- J. McHenry Nielsen, M.D., P.A. v. Stephen N. Schindler, M.D., P.A., 587 So.2d 498 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991)
- Nostimo, Inc. v. City of Clearwater, 594 So. 2d 779 (Fla. 2d DCA 1992)
- City of Largo v. LaGrande, 650 So.2d 178 (Fla. 2d DCA 1995)
- Dyer v. Pioneer Concepts, Inc., 667 So.2d 961 (Fla. 2d DCA 1996)
- Picone v. Geras Real Estate, Inc. et al., 685 So.2d 913 (Fla. 2d DCA 1996)
- Anderson v. TBA Partnership, Ltd., 733 So.2d 1032 (Fla. 2d DCA 1998)
Articles
- Florida’s 2024 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Recognizes 28 Johnson Pope Attorneys
- Florida’s 2023 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Recognizes 22 Johnson Pope Attorneys
- Florida’s 2022 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Recognizes 18 Johnson Pope Attorneys
- Charles A. Samarkos Receives Barney Masterson Inn of Court Award
- “I want to start construction on my home. What do I do first?” – A Checklist of Items Any Homeowner Should Consider Before Starting Construction
- Referral Sources: Protect Them Like Customers
- Non-Compete Agreements? Are They Worth The Paper They Are Written On?
News
- 55 Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns LLP Lawyers Recognized by Best Lawyers® 2025
- Florida’s 2024 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Recognizes 28 Johnson Pope Attorneys
- 48 Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns LLP Lawyers Recognized by Best Lawyers® 2024
- Florida’s 2023 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Recognizes 22 Johnson Pope Attorneys
- 48 Lawyers from Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns, LLP Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2023—Four recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” In Their Respective Practice Area
- Florida’s 2022 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Recognizes 18 Johnson Pope Attorneys
- Charles A. Samarkos Receives Barney Masterson Inn of Court Award
- 46 Lawyers from Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns, LLP Recognized In The Best Lawyers In America® 2022—Five Recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” In Their Respective Practice Area
- 47 Lawyers From Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns, LLP Recognized By Best Lawyers® 2021 – Four Recognized As “Lawyer of the Year” In Their Respective Practice Area
- Florida Super Lawyers Recognizes 23 Attorneys from Johnson Pope
- 36 Lawyers From Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns, LLP Recognized In Best Lawyers In America® 2020 – Three Recognized As “Lawyer Of The Year” In Their Respective Practice Area
- Florida Super Lawyers Recognizes 24 Attorneys From Johnson Pope
- 32 Lawyers from Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns, LLP Recognized in “The Best Lawyers in America®” 2019 – Three Recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” in Their Respective Practice Areas
- 30 Lawyers from Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns, LLP Recognized in “The Best Lawyers in America®” 2018 and Two Partners as “Lawyer of the Year” in Their Areas of Practice
- Best Lawyers 2016
- ‘Florida Super Lawyers’ Recognizes 17 Attorneys from Johnson Pope
- 14 JP Lawyers Listed as “Best Lawyers 2014”