Michael E. "Mike" Demont

Michael is a member of the firm’s Board of Directors and focuses his practice on complex business litigation and insolvency matters. He has many years of trial experience in cases involving business torts, bankruptcy proceedings, corporate governance issues, employment disputes, and litigation concerning contracts, secured transactions, fraudulent transfers, financial workouts, lender liability, banking relationships, and commercial paper.

For 12 years, Michael was a senior executive with The Suddath Companies, a leading provider of global transportation, warehousing and relocation services throughout the United States. He served in various leadership positions there, including president of Suddath Van Lines, Inc., where he was responsible for the financial performance of more than 16 subsidiaries throughout the country.

Michael’s tenure as a business executive, combined with his expertise as a trial lawyer, enables him to be an effective, insightful counselor. His understanding of how the law interfaces with complex business issues enables him to develop creative solutions to business issues and disputes.

Michael manages contentious litigation involving hundreds of millions of dollars, including complex business disputes, bankruptcy proceedings, lender liability claims and credit workouts for institutional lenders. He has also served as an expert witness in disputes related to corporate governance, employment contracts, and the Rules of Professional Conduct governing members of The Florida Bar.

Michael’s business acumen, trial skills, and familiarity with the unique challenges facing high-level executives, professional athletes, and high-net-worth families with complex estates has enabled him to effectively manage high-stakes divorce cases. To complement his skills as a trial lawyer in this area of his practice, Michael has an extensive network of recognized professionals who provide services as commercial real estate appraisers, forensic accountants, and business valuation experts to assist him in resolving complicated issues involving alimony and equitable distribution. Michael also is experienced in preparing sophisticated pre- and post-nuptial agreements for high-net-worth clients. To ensure the necessary attention is devoted to the firm’s dissolution cases, the firm’s family law team limits its caseload to no more than three such cases at a time.

Michael has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America © , Florida Super Lawyers and Florida Trend’s Legal Elite , and he is rated AV-Preeminent by Martindale Hubbell , the highest peer rating for Florida lawyers. He also served as a member of The Florida Bar Special Study Committee for the Model Rules of Professional Conduct, where he assisted in the crafting and adoption of the rules that govern the legal profession in the State of Florida.