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Experience

Since starting with the Firm in 1988, Michael’s practice has concentrated on bankruptcy and insolvency related Litigation.

Michael has represented corporate and individual debtors, secured creditors, equipment lenders, landlords, creditor’s committees, trustees and petitioning creditors in involuntary bankruptcies.

Michael also has substantial experience in receivership cases.

Distinctions & Memberships 

  • The Best Lawyers in America© since 2008, in the fields of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Admitted to the Florida Bar – 1988
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th and 9th Circuits
  • U.S. District Court, Middle, Southern and Northern Districts of Florida
  • Clearwater Bar Association Member
  • Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association
  • American Bankruptcy Institute
  • Named to Florida’s Legal Elite 2011-2013
  • Super Lawyers

Education

  • Florida State University B.S., summa cum laude – 1985
  • Florida State University J.D., with honors – 1988
  • Kelley v. Safe Harbor Managed Account 101, Ltd., 2023 WL 1785607 (D. Minn. 2023)
  •  Kelley v. Safe Harbor Managed Account 101, Ltd., 31 F.4th 1058 (8th Cir. 2022)
  •  In re Gaime, 17 F.4th 1349 (11th Cir. 2021)
  •  In re Purple Shovel, LLC, 2021 WL 6059593 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2021)
  •  In re Heather Hills Estates, LLC, 628 B.R. 701 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2021)
  •  In re Heritage Hotel Associates, LLC, 2021 WL 50884 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2021)
  •  In re Save Money and Retain Temperature LLC, 2021 WL 1922814 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2021)
  •  Core Business Finance, Inc. v. K.E. Martin Development of Pasco, Inc., 2021 WL 1516192 (M.D. Fla. 2021)
  •  In re Heritage Hotel Associates, LLC, 2021 WL 2646533 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2021)
  •  Kelley v. Safe Harbor Managed Account 101, Ltd., 2020 WL 5913523 (D. Minn. 2020)
  •  In re Heritage Hotel Associates, LLC, 2020 WL 8611083 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2020)
  •  In re Fiddler’s Creek, LLC, 2019 WL 2516362 (M.D. Fla. 2019) 
  •  Travelers Indemnity Company of Connecticut v. Attorney’s Title Insurance Fund, Inc.,  2019 WL 354881 (M.D. Fla. 2019) 
  •  Travelers Indemnity Company of Connecticut v. Attorney’s Title Insurance Fund, Inc., 2019 WL 359862 (M.D. Fla. 2019)  
  •  In re Sligar, 2017 WL 5256211 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2017) 
  •  In re Environmental Technologies International, Inc., 2017 WL 3124246 (M.D. Fla. 2017) 
  •  In re Environmental Technologies International, Inc., 2017 WL 2571590 (M.D. Fla. 2017) 
  •  Gottlieb & Gottlieb, P.A. v. Crants, 2017 WL 9398655 (M.D. Fla. 2017) 
  •  In re Print Harmony, LLC, 2017 WL 1233822 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2017) 
  •  Phillips v. Epic Aviation, LLC, 2017 WL 3741062 (11th Cir. 2017) 
  •  Colony Lender, LLC v. Breakpointe, LLC, 2017 WL 1023520 (M.D. Fla. 2017) 
  •  Phillips v. Epic Aviation, LLC, 2017 WL 202541 (M.D. Fla. 2017) 
  •  Allied Portables, LLC v. Youmans, 2016 WL 7428229 (M.D. Fla. 2016) 
  •  In re Baruch, 564 B.R. 424 (M.D. Fla. 2016)  
  •  GLL Air, LLC v. Mid–South Services, Inc., 2016 WL 7494479 (M.D. Fla. 2016) 
  •  GLL Air, LLC v. Mid–South Services, Inc., 2016 WL 7473423 (M.D. Fla. 2016) 
  •  GLL Air, LLC v. Mid–South Services, Inc., 2016 WL 7383318 (M.D. Fla. 2016) 
  •  In re Colony Beach and Tennis Club, Inc., 2016 WL 11708414 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2016)
  •  Allied Portables, LLC v. Youmans, 2015 WL 12856560 (M.D. Fla. 2015)
  •  Phillips v. Epic Aviation, LLC, 2015 WL 5599142 (M.D. Fla. 2015) 
  •  GLL Air, LLC v. Mid–South Services, Inc., 2015 WL 12867055 (M.D. Fla. 2015) 
  •  In re Steffen, 611 Fed.Appx. 677 (11th Cir. 2015)  
  •  Department of Revenue ex rel. Davis v. Davis, 173 So.3d 1043 (Fla. 2nd DCA 2015)  
  •  In re Colony Beach and Tennis Club, Inc., 2015 WL 3929823 (M.D. Fla. 2015) 
  •  GLL Air, LLC v. Mid–South Services, Inc., 2015 WL 12868216 (M.D. Fla. 2015)
  •  GLL Air, LLC v. Mid–South Services, Inc., 2015 WL 12915712 (M.D. Fla. 2015) 
  •  Cabuya Cherokee, SA v. Vogt, 532 B.R. 383 (M.D. Fla. 2015) 
  •  GLL Air, LLC v. Mid–South Services, Inc., 2015 WL 12867057 (M.D. Fla. 2015) 
  •  In re Colony Beach, 2015 WL 1281825 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2015) 
  •  GLL Air, LLC v. Mid–South Services, Inc., 2015 WL 12867056 (M.D. Fla. 2015) 
  •  Phillips v. Epic Aviation, LLC, 2014 WL 12639966 (M.D. Fla. 2014) 
  •  GLL Air, LLC v. Mid–South Services, Inc., 2014 WL 12623246 (M.D. Fla. 2014)
  •  Bright House Networks, LLC v. Pinellas County, 2014 WL 4794786 (M.D. Fla. 2014) 
  •  In re Phillips, 574 Fed.Appx. 926 (11th Cir. 2014)  
  •  Bright House Networks, LLC v. Pinellas County, 2014 WL 3867809 (M.D. Fla. 2014) 
  •  Innovision Practice Group, P.A. v. Branch Banking and Trust Co., 135 So.3d 501 (Fla. 2nd DCA 2014) 
  •  Phillips v. Epic Aviation, LLC, 2014 WL 1092458 (M.D. Fla. 2014) 
  •  In re Steffen, 2014 WL 11428827 (M.D. Fla. 2014) 
  •  Iberiabank v. Daer Holdings, LLC, 2014 WL 345925 (M.D. Fla. 2014) 
  •  In re Vogt, 497 B.R. 131 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2013) 
  •  In re Phillips, 2013 WL 1899611 (M.D. Fla. 2013) 
  •  Iberiabank v. Daer Holdings, LLC, 2013 WL 980604 (M.D. Fla. 2013) 
  •  In re Phillips, 2012 WL 5467541 (M.D. Fla. 2012) 
  •  In re Davis, 481 Fed.Appx. 492 (11th Cir. 2012)
  •  In re George, 2012 WL 1229840 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2012) 
  •  In re Phillips, 476 Fed.Appx. 813 (11th Cir. 2012) 
  •  In re Steffen, 464 B.R. 450 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2012) 
  •  In re Davis, 465 B.R. 309 (M.D. Fla. 2011)
  •   In re Luxury Ventures, LLC, 2011 WL 2746728 (M.D. Fla. 2011) 
  •  In re Davis, 2011 WL 1642583 (M.D. Fla. 2011) 
  •  In re Phillips, 2011 WL 1196427 (M.D. Fla. 2011) 
  •  In re Davis, 2011 WL 997270 (M.D. Fla. 2011) 
  •  Oak Hills Mgt., LLC v. Dodge Country, Inc., 34 So.3d 6 (Fla. 1st DCA 2010) 
  •  In re Luxury Ventures, LLC, 2010 WL 768567 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2010) 
  •  In re Luxury Ventures, LLC, 425 B.R. 680 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2010) 
  •  In re Estate of Harrison, 2010 WL 503077 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2010)
  •  In re Davis, 403 B.R. 914 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2009)  
  •  Davis v. Dowling, 2008 WL 11444202 (M.D. Fla. 2008) 
  •  In re Cape Haze Windward Partners, Inc., 391 B.R. 887 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2008 
  •  In re Lezdey, 373 B.R. 164 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2007) 
  •  In re Lezdey, 373 B.R. 170 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2007) 
  •  In re Parra, 2006 WL 1305294 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2006) 
  •  In re Chapin Revenue Cycle Management, LLC, 343 B.R. 722 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2006) 
  •  In re Chapin Revenue Cycle Management, LLC, 343 B.R. 728 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2006) 
  •  In re Litestream Technologies, LLC, 337 B.R. 705 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2006) 
  •  In re Heidkamp, 326 B.R. 472 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2005) 
  •  In re Atlantic Community Care, Inc., 325 B.R. 661 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2005)
  •  In re Porcelli, 319 B.R. 8 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2004) 
  •  In re Gulf Coast Orthopedic Center, Inc., 297 B.R. 861 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2003) 
  •  In re Health America Medical Group, Inc., 297 B.R. 843 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2003)  
  •  In re Health America Medical Group, Inc., 293 B.R. 799 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2003) 
  •  In re Plexus Enterprise, Inc., 289 B.R. 778 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2002) 
  •  In re Diagnostic Instrument Group, Inc., 283 B.R. 87 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2002) 
  •  In re Diagnostic Instrument Group, Inc., 276 B.R. 302 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2002) 
  •  In re Polygraphex Systems, Inc., 275 B.R. 408 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2002) 
  •  In re Section 20 Land Group, Ltd., 261 B.R. 711 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2000) 
  •  U.S. v. DeMarco, 256 B.R. 320 (M.D. Fla. 2000)
  •  In re West Lakeland Land Co. Ltd. Partnership, 2000 WL 33996249 (M.D. Fla. 2000)
  •  In re Scrap Metal Buyers of Tampa, Inc., 253 B.R. 103 (M.D. Fla. 2000) 
  •  In re Alvarez, 224 F.3d 1273 (11th Cir. 2000) 
  •  In re Demarco, 258 B.R. 30 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2000) 
  •  In re Biogenetic Technologies, Inc., 248 B.R. 852 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1999) 
  •  In re Gulf Coast Orthopedic Center, 243 B.R. 135 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1999) 
  •  In re Gulfstar Industries, Inc., 236 B.R. 75 (M.D. Fla. 1999)  
  •  In re Voltarel, 236 B.R. 464 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1999) 
  •  In re Scrap Metal Buyers of Tampa, Inc., 233 B.R. 162 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1999) 
  •  Epic Metals Corp. v. Condec, Inc., 232 B.R. 806 (M.D. Fla. 1999) 
  •  In re DeMarco, 258 B.R. 480 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1999) 
  •  In re Condec, Inc., 225 B.R. 800 (M.D. Fla. 1998) 
  •  In re Tower Environmental, Inc., 260 B.R. 213 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1998) 
  •  In re Affiliated of Florida, Inc., 237 B.R. 495 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1998) 
  •  Stewart v. Tasnet, Inc., 718 So.2d 820 (Fla 2nd DCA 1998) 
  •  In re West Lakeland Land Co. Ltd. Partnership, 216 B.R. 892 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1998) 
  •  Scrap Metal Buyers of Tampa, Inc. v. Charles Bluestone Co., Inc., 214 B.R. 509 (M.D. Fla. 1997) 
  •  In re Psychiatric Hospitals of Florida, Inc., 217 B.R. 645 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1997) 
  •  In re Tower Environmental, Inc., 217 B.R. 933 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1997) 
  •  In re R.E.B. & B. Inc., 200 B.R. 262 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1996) 
  •  In re Gentri, 185 B.R. 368 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1995) 
  •  O’Neal v. Sun Bank. 644 So.2d 177 (Fla. 5th DCA 1994) 
  •  In re Noll, 172 B.R. 122 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1994) 
  •  In re Schmidt, 164 B.R. 696 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1994) 
  •  In re Schmidt, 156 B.R. 680 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1993) 
  •  In re Weinhardt, 156 B.R. 677 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1993) 
  •  Colonial Daytona Ltd. Partnership v. American Sav. of Florida, F.S.B., 152 B.R. 996 (M.D. Fla. 1993) 
  •  In re AT Engineering, Inc., 142 B.R. 990 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1992) 
  •  In re Weinhardt, 142 B.R. 984 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1992) 
  •  Campbell v. Smith, 571 So.2d 91 (Fla. 2nd DCA 1990) 
  •  Cove Cay Village IV Condominium Ass’n, Inc. v. Plymouth Development Corp., 561 So.2d 307 (Fla. 2nd DCA 1990) 
  •  In re Guardianship of Browning, 543 So.2d 258 (Fla. 2nd DCA 1989) 

News

26 Johnson Pope Attorneys Named to 2025 Florida Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists

By JP Firm — June 2025

Johnson Pope Bokor Ruppel & Burns LLP is proud to announce that 26 of our attorneys have been recognized in the 2025 Florida Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists. This prestigious honor highlights attorneys who have demonstrated exceptional legal skill, peer recognition, and professional achievement across a wide range of practice areas. Super Lawyers is a trusted […]

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