Katherine Earle Yanes

Katherine Earle Yanes is a Tampa attorney who focuses on criminal defense, appeals, and postconviction relief. She represents people in state and federal courts and during government investigations. Her work spans the trial, appellate, and postconviction stages of a case, allowing her to address legal issues as they develop and help clients understand their options at each step.

Katherine graduated from Williams College in 1993, magna cum laude and with honors in economics. She graduated from Stetson University College of Law in 1997, magna cum laude, as valedictorian of her class. She was also an associate member of the Stetson Law Review. After law school, she clerked for Chief Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

Since 1999, Katherine has represented defendants in criminal litigation at trial, on appeal, and in postconviction proceedings. She is admitted to practice in Florida, several federal district and appellate courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court. She has also co-authored publications on habeas corpus and grand jury law, reflecting her sustained work with issues that arise in criminal and appellate practice.

Katherine Earle Yanes has held leadership roles with the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers, and sections of the Hillsborough County Bar Association. Her service has earned several honors, including The Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in 2017 and the James H. Kynes In The Trenches Award in 2026. She continues to bring her courtroom experience and commitment to public service to her legal work.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Kynes, Markman & Felman, P.A
• Member, The Florida Bar
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Hillsborough County Bar Association
• Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Journal Editor, Florida Association for Women Lawyers, 2015-2016
• President, Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers, 2012-2013
• President, Tampa Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, 2017
• Board Member, Hillsborough County Bar Association, Trial and Litigation Section
• Chair, The Federal Bar Association, Committee on Advancing the Legal Profession
• Vice Chair, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Task Force on First Step Act Implementation

Licensed State

• Florida

Education

• Stetson University College of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Williams College
  B.A. in Economics
  

Awards & Badges