Michael D. Piccolo

Michael Piccolo handles civil litigation matters for businesses and individuals, focusing on real estate disputes and commercial litigation across Florida and beyond. He represents clients in both state and federal courts and has experience litigating complex cases from pre-suit investigation through trial and appeal.

In the real estate arena, he routinely represents clients in landlord-tenant disputes. He assists both landlords and tenants in disputes over payments and assessments of rent and additional rent, and also in disputes involving nonmonetary defaults. He also represents clients in title insurance defense, construction litigation, boundary disputes, quiet-title actions, and disputes arising from real estate contracts.

Known for his strategic and practical approach, Michael works closely with his commercial litigation clients to develop efficient litigation strategies that align with their business goals. His practice includes contract disputes, business torts, class action defense, employment matters, and corporate governance issues.

Experience

Representative Landlord-Tenant Results

• Represented a landlord client in over 20 simultaneous eviction matters at a single location. Secured repossession of all leased premises in question and recovered rental arrearage, future rent, late fees, interest, and attorneys’ fees from various tenants and guarantors. g., Seminole Mall Realty Holding, LLC v. Gueits, No. 2024-CC-005419 (Fla. 18th Cir. Ct. Dec. 28, 2024).
• Represented a publicly traded REIT and national grocer in dozens of eviction actions across Florida, securing repossession of leased premises either prior to or following adjudication in the clients' favor.
• Represented numerous commercial landlords in dozens of disputes involving monetary and nonmonetary tenant defaults, obtaining successful resolutions through negotiation or litigation, including repossession of leased premises and recovery of rental arrearage, future rent, late fees, interest, and attorneys’ fees from tenants or guarantors.

Representative Commercial Litigation Results

• Defended a business in a multi-year brokerage dispute concerning commercial real estate. Ultimately briefed, argued, and prevailed on a dispositive motion for summary judgment, securing an adjudication in favor of the client on all claims brought. Payas Commercial Real Estate, Inc. v. Hostdime.com, Inc., et al., No. 2017-CA-004884-O (Fla. 9th Cir. Ct. Nov. 22, 2024).
• Defended a hotel owner in a brokerage dispute concerning commercial real estate. Served as second chair in a jury trial that resulted in a complete defense verdict on all claims brought and secured entitlement to recover the client’s attorneys’ fees and costs. Greene Canfield de George, LLC, et al. v. Sun Vista Hotel II, LLC, No. 2017-00779-CI (Fla. 6th Cir. Ct. Oct. 17, 2022).
• Briefed, argued, and prevailed on a motion for partial summary judgment on a former employee’s private whistleblower claim against the client, securing entitlement to recover the client’s attorneys’ fees and costs. Fouts v. Wendover Housing Partners, LLC, et al., No. 2020-CA-1559 (Fla. 2d Cir. Ct. Sept. 27, 2022).
• Defended an employer and employees in a trade secret misappropriation action, ultimately briefing, arguing, and prevailing on dispositive motions for summary judgment to secure adjudications in favor of the clients on all claims brought. Air Distributors, Inc. v. Royce Company, et al., No. 2021-CA-000069-A (Fla. 5th Cir. Ct. Dec. 6, 2022).

Representative Real Estate Disputes Results

• Served as lead appellate counsel for a landowner in a partition action, and ultimately briefed and prevailed on appeal of an adverse trial-court ruling to secure an adjudication in favor of the client on its ownership rights of the subject real property. Hi-Land Properties, LLC v. Gantt, 429 So. 3d 1014 (Fla. 4th DCA 2026).
• Defended a title insurance company in a coverage dispute, ultimately briefing, arguing, and prevailing on a dispositive motion for summary judgment to secure an adjudication in favor of the client on all claims brought. Davis v. Title Resources Guaranty Company, No. 2023-CA-012508-H (Fla. 13th Cir. Ct. May 23, 2024).

News

Speaking Engagements

Publications

Recognition

• The Best Lawyers in America guide, Ones to Watch, Commercial Litigation, 2023-2026
• Florida State University College of Law
  • Florida State University Law Review: Senior Member
  • Book Awards: Legal Writing & Research I; Criminal Law; and White Collar Crime
  • Dean’s List 2014-2017
  • Florida State University Merit-Based Scholarship Award Recipient
  • William J. Bosso Sr. Memorial Scholarship Recipient
• Florida State University
  • Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
  • Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society

Community Activities

• Leadership Orlando, Class 104
• Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, Board of Directors

Professional Certifications & Memberships

• Orange County Bar Association
  • Business Law Committee, Chair, 2022-2023
  • Young Lawyers Section, Committee Chair, 2019-2024