Michael P. Spellman
Shareholder
Tallahassee, FL
Michael Spellman is a civil litigator who focuses on representing employers in discrimination and retaliation actions and representing state and local governmental entities, officials and employees in civil rights matters, including cases alleging constitutional violations and police misconduct. He also practices in the areas of commercial litigation, insurance defense, professional liability, voting rights and election law, as well as in collective bargaining negotiations, grievances and arbitrations. Mr. Spellman has also served as local counsel in a variety of civil cases in Federal Court. Mr. Spellman has been active in several sections and committees and sections of the Florida Bar as well as the Northwest Florida and Suwanee River League of cities and regularly publishes and lectures on employment law and civil rights topics.
PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
- Florida Bar Labor and Employment Law Section, member and former chair
- Florida Bar City, County, and Local Government Law Section, member
- Florida Bar Civil Procedure Rules Committee, member
- Florida Bar Federal Court Practice Committee, member and Chair from 2011-2012
- Second Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee, formerly served a three-year term as Chair
- The William H. Stafford American Inn of Court, alumnus and past president
- Florida Association of Self-Insureds, Member of the Board of Directors
- Florida State University Center for Human Resources Management
- The Florida Police Chiefs Association, and the Florida Association of Police Advisors
HONORS & DISTINCTIONS
- “AV” rating from Martindale Hubbell
- One of Florida Trend Magazine’s “Legal Elite” (top 2% of Lawyers Practicing in Florida)
- Florida Super Lawyers Magazine in the area of Labor and Employment Law (peer rated selection of top 5% of lawyers in the State)
- Best Lawyers in America in the area of Labor and Employment law
- University of Florida Hall of Fame, member
- University of Florida Order of Barristers, member
- America’s Top 100 Civil Defense Litigators (2022-2023)
COURT ADMISSIONS
- All Florida State Courts (1992)
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- United States District Courts Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts
EDUCATION
- Florida State University, College of Law, (J.D. 1991)
- University of Florida (B.A. 1987)
Tallahassee
123 North Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301
850.205.1996
West palm beach
605 North Olive Street, 2nd Floor
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
561.721.4000
Pensacola
700 South Palafox Street, Suite 200
Pensacola, FL 32502
850.741.2510