Michael W. McLeod is an AV (Preeminent)-rated partner of the firm who practices in the areas of admiralty and maritime, commercial litigation, banking law, lender liability, creditor’s rights, debtor and creditor workouts, products liability, premises liability, personal injury, construction defects and insurance subrogation. Mr. McLeod routinely handles matters throughout the United States appearing pro hac vice in states other than Florida, California and New York where he is duly admitted to the bar.

Mr. McLeod’s banking practice frequently involves offensive and defensive financial institution litigation, including the defense of lender liability claims, and the enforcement of financial instruments, including the foreclosure of real and personal property; the negotiation of sophisticated lending transactions secured by real estate, vessels and various types of personal property as well as the restructuring of defaulted loans, loan modifications and forbearance transactions. Recent cases include successfully representing national banking interests in the defense of multiple lender liability actions resulting in a $25,000,000.00 and a $19,000,000.00 recovery to the client and participating lenders.

Mr. McLeod also frequently handles land based and marine complex casualty and product claims arising from significant property damage and personal injury. Recent cases include: successfully representing leading international insurer faced with $100,000,000.00 in claimed personal injury and property damage exposure arising from a propane explosion; and successfully representing the insurance and nutriceutical industry in matters arising from the spontaneous ignition of chemical cargo across the United States resulting in the largest single recovery in the client's history.

Mr. McLeod was Board Certified by the Florida Bar as a specialist in Admiralty and Maritime law in June, 2000. Most recently, Mr. McLeod earned the designation of Certified Specialist in Admiralty and Maritime Law by the California Bar making him the only attorney to be certified as a specialist in Admiralty and Maritime Law by two state bar associations. Mr. McLeod graduated from the University of Florida in 1989, received his J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1991 and earned his Master of Laws (LL.M) degree in Admiralty and Maritime Law from Tulane University School of Law in 1993. For 17 years, Mr. McLeod has successfully handled the initial casualty response, investigation, litigation and trial of Passenger claims, Jones Act claims, Seaworthiness claims, Maintenance & Cure claims, Collision, Fire, Grounding & Sinking claims; Marina, Custodian and Ship Repairer Liability claims; Salvage claims; Environmental Damage claims; Cargo claims; Insurance disputes; Ship Owner claims for Exoneration from and/or Limitation of Liability; and the foreclosure of Maritime Liens and Ship Mortgages representing individual claimants, insurers, ship owners, financial institutions, vessel manufacturers, and marinas in matters arising on and offshore from California to New York to the Florida Keys, the Bahamas and into South America.

Bar and Court Admissions:
California Bar,1992; Florida Bar, 1992; New York Bar, 2001; Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal, 1992; Northern, Central, Eastern and Southern Districts of California, 1992; Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeal, 1993; Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida, 1993; United States Supreme Court, 2003.

Professional Memberships:
Ad Hoc Committee On Rules and Procedures, United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida (Appointed by the Honorable Chief Judge William J. Zloch, May, 2002); the Federal Bar Association; the Maritime Law Association (Proctor)(Committee on Practice & Procedure); the Southeastern Maritime Law Institute; Florida Bar Admiralty Law Committee; Florida Bar Admiralty Law Certification Committee (former Vice Chair); the New York State Bar Association; the National Cargo Security Council; National Association of Subrogation Professionals; National Institute For Trial Advocacy