Michael C. Kelley is a shareholder of Lawson Huck Gonzalez, PLLC and leads the firm’s Orlando office. He is the shareholder who anchors the firm’s construction litigation practice, and he also represents clients in complex commercial litigation, mass tort and class action matters, and real estate disputes. Michael pairs courtroom advocacy with something most construction lawyers do not have — decades of hands-on experience building and financing projects from the owner’s side of the table.

His practice centers on construction and development disputes, commercial litigation, and mass tort and class action work, including his current role helping lead a major product liability class action. Michael counsels municipal and private clients on deal structuring, risk management, and dispute avoidance, and he tries cases when a favorable resolution cannot be reached. Because he has sat in the owner’s chair, he frames litigation strategy around the client’s business objectives — protecting valuable relationships and economic value, not simply winning a motion.

Industry background

Michael grew up in his family’s statewide construction businesses in Florida, working on job sites from a young age. Before practicing law, he built a career as an operator: he served as Chief Development Officer and General Counsel for a private-equity development company, where he personally developed commercial projects across twelve states exceeding $500 million in market value. His industry experience spans major roadway construction and design; hospitality, medical, and seniors-housing developments; large development and material-supply contracts for multinational corporations; and general-counsel and in-house roles for construction-related companies. Earlier in his career he worked in business ownership and regional leadership, international material sales and supply, project management, and construction financing.

Writing and thought leadership

Beyond his practice, Michael writes on the ethics of conflict and the work lawyers actually do. He is the author of Turris Fortis, a collection of essays on faith, justice, and the practice of law, and he publishes regularly on Substack and LinkedIn. The through-line of his writing, as in his practice, is a conviction that the best lawyers are builders and peacemakers — not merely scorekeepers.

Clerkship

Michael served as a law clerk to the Honorable Michael G. Williamson, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Middle District of Florida.