With a practice spanning more than two decades, Michele primarily represents real estate developers, owners, contractors, sureties, manufacturers and distributors, and health care-related entities in complex commercial litigation. She is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator. Her dispute resolution experience includes matters related to real estate and development, commercial construction, government contracts, and other disputes arising from contracts. Michele frequently assists clients outside of the courtroom by analyzing risk during contract negotiations or when a business conflict first arises.
Michele works closely with clients to handle matters such as:
- Non-disclosure claims arising from purchase agreement
- Performance and payment bond claims raised by owners, contractors, and subcontractors on behalf of sureties
- Claims to judgment in favor of sureties pursuant to terms of general agreement of indemnity against bond principal and individual indemnitors
- Intellectual property rights, distribution agreements, and trade secret misappropriation claims
- Non-compete litigation
- Hostile work environment sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit defense
Michele enjoys donating her time to various Tampa Bay organizations, the community where she grew up— including her involvement as a Board Member and Chair of the Pasco Economic Development Council and with the Junior League of Tampa, where she served as legal chair and Community Advisory Board chair. She also enjoys traveling, spending time on the water, and cheering at sporting events with her husband and two sons.
Education
J.D., cum laude, Stetson University College of Law, 2002
B.A., University of Central Florida, 1995
Professional Associations
- Leadership Tampa, Class of 2019
- Chair, Pasco Economic Development Council Board of Directors
- Vice Chair, Board of Directors (2022-2023)
- Growth Task Force, Vice-Chair (2015-2016)
- The Florida Bar
- Judicial Nominating Procedures Committee, Member
- Gender Equality Subcommittee of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Member
- Diversity and Inclusion Committee, 2020-Present
- Professional Ethics Committee, member (2016-2019)
- Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee “B,” member and Chair (2012-2015)
- Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Unlicensed Practice of Law Committee “A,” former member and Chair (2006-2012)
- PACE Center for Girls Pasco, Board of Directors (2015-2017)
- Leadership Pasco, Class of 2013
- The Junior League of Tampa, Chair, Community Advisory Board of the Leadership Council (2014-2015); Board of Directors, Grants Committee Chair (2012-2013); Board of Directors, Legal Chair (2010-2011); Board of Directors, Public Affairs Chair (2009-2010),
- Stetson Lawyers Association Advisory Council, former member
- First Annual Stetson University College of Law Scholarship Gala, former Co-Chair
- Clearwater Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, former Treasurer
- Humane Society of Pinellas County, former Board Member
Honors
- Best Lawyers in America, 2021 – 2024
- Florida Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers magazine, 2020 – 2024
- Florida Legal Elite by Florida Trend magazine, 2015 – 2018
- Florida Rising Star by Super Lawyers magazine, 2009 – 2011, 2013 – 2015
Representative Matters
- Obtained judgment in favor of builder/developer involving non-disclosure claims arising from purchase agreement
- Defended several performance and payment bond claims raised by owners, contractors, and subcontractors on behalf of sureties to successful resolution
- Prosecuted numerous claims to judgment in favor of sureties pursuant to terms of general agreement of indemnity against bond principal and individual indemnitors
- Obtained injunction and final judgment in favor of developer client whose ingress and egress to cellular phone tower was denied by landowner
- Successfully prosecuted manufacturer involving claims against distributor for, among other claims, impairing manufacturer's intellectual property rights and improperly selling product outside the scope of the distribution agreement to resolution
- Represented client in trade secret misappropriation claim against former employees and current employer to full resolution through settlement, while defeating personal jurisdictional challenge raised by defendants
- Represented physicians and medical practice employers in non-compete litigation to resolution
- Defended large hospitality employer in hostile work environment sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit, resulting in summary judgment for employer