Goodlette retiring from Naples law firm, keeping Tallahassee staff job

Dudley Goodlette is hanging up his hat as a real estate attorney, at least for now.

He’s retiring from the Naples law firm that carries his name. He no longer has time for his law practice as he grips the reins of what has become a second full-time job as chief of staff for Florida House Speaker Larry Cretul.

“It’s impossible for me to divide my loyalties between this new endeavor and the law firm,” he said.

Goodlette, 61, served in the House from 1998 to 2006 before term limits forced him to retire from state office. He started his new job with Cretul in February.

At first, he didn’t know whether the job would last beyond this year’s legislative session. “Since that time they’ve asked me to stay on for another year or so,” Goodlette said.

Most of his time now is spent in Tallahassee. On Monday, he was working from Orlando.

Goodlette is a founding partner of Goodlette, Coleman, Johnson, Yovanovich & Koester PA. On July 1, he will no longer be an owner and his name will be dropped from the law firm that he helped start more than 13 years ago.

 

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