Attorneys

MICHAEL W. SIMON

 

michael_w_simon

msimon@simonsigalos.com
 

Michael William Simon is a partner in Simon & Sigalos, LLP, practicing in the areas of real estate and business litigation and transactions. Mr. Simon has years of experience in handling commercial and residential real estate matters, including contract drafting and negotiation, land acquisition and title resolutions. Experience in development includes multi-use properties, land covenants, hazardous materials, construction, major loan financing and commercial operations such as hospitality, leasing, premises liability, security, community association governance, and licensing.

Mr. Simon’s litigation and dispute resolution practice includes appearances in all divisions of state courts, federal court, bankruptcy court, state administrative hearings, state condominium hearings, appellate courts and arbitration. He has been lead attorney in nearly all aspects of civil litigation such as contract disputes, lien and title questions, intellectual property, creditor’s rights, construction claims, and prosecution and defense of tort liability. He has been qualified as an expert witness in real estate title matters and in attorney fee disputes. Mr. Simon has testified as a witness in courts in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County, Florida. As an investigator, Mr. Simon also testified in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and Superior Court for the District of Columbia.

A large element of his practice is devoted to the specialized and confidential representation of professional athletes and sports and entertainment, and  “influencer” personalities. Several of his clients are now in the Basketball, Football or Baseball Hall of Fame. Many have been voted MVP in both men’s and women’s professional sports leagues and finals championships, and most of his clients have played in the All Star games or the Pro-Bowl of their respective team sports.  Many clients have had their team numbers retired.  His frequent lectures, articles and court appearances involving real estate issues have earned him the respect of attorneys and the judiciary in the area of property law. Mr. Simon is dedicated to the highest ethics in the modern day practice of law and has been appointed to the Florida Bar’s Standing Committee on Professionalism since 2022. Mr. Simon’s past leadership on a Florida Bar Grievance committee that investigates lawyer’s alleged misconduct emphasizes that his practice is maintained at the highest ethical standards.

Mr. Simon is admitted to the Florida and Ohio Bars, and the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida. He obtained his undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University and his J.D. from Case Western Reserve University. Mr. Simon currently serves on the Florida Bar Standing Committee on Professionalism and  served in 2008, as Chairman of the Florida Bar Grievance Committee for the 15th Judicial Circuit. Mr Simon is an agent of  Old Republic National Title Insurance Company, through the The Fund, Westcor Title and Commonwealth Title. He is a current member of the Palm Beach County Bar Association and its Real Estate CLE committee; The Florida Bar Real Property Probate and Trust Law and Entertainment, Art and Sports Law Sections and has been a past member and served on committees of the South Palm Beach County Bar Association.

He was awarded the 2008 Palm Beach County Legal Aid Community Service Award for his pro-bono services. He is AV rated in Martindale Hubbell. He is rated a Super Lawyer. He served as an Adjunct Professor in Real Estate Law, Barry University, 1999. He is a frequent Author/Lecturer on the topics of lending, real estate, ethics and litigation.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS, SELECT CIVIC, CHARITABLE AND

2022- 2024 Member of the Florida Bar Standing Committee on Professionalism

2021-2022 President, Boca Raton Central Rotary Club. 

2022 Vice President and 2023 President, The Boca Raton Bicycle Club, Inc.

2008 Pro Bono Community Service Award Winner, Palm Beach County Legal Aid Society
2001 to the Present-Member, Boca Raton Central Rotary Club. President 2005-2006-Created the Silver Surfers Seniors internet access and training program and Authored the Business Plan for the City of Boca Raton/Boca Central Rotary Senior Lifesavers Project. 2004 Boca Central Rotarian of the Year.
January, 2003 to 2022-Member, Board of Directors of the Boca Raton Central Rotary Senior Lifesavers Foundation, Inc.
2007-08 Boca Hoops basketball youth coach.

PUBLICATIONS AND LECTURES

Palm Beach County Bar Association – February, 2002 – Author-Purchase Options in Commercial and Residential Leases and Post Occupancy Agreements in the Sale of Real Estate.
June, 2002 – Author and Lecturer- PERFORMING THE CONTRACT, INCLUDING DEPOSITS, INSPECTIONS, SURVEYS, TITLE EVIDENCE AND MORTGAGE FINANCING
June, 2003 – Author and Lecturer-Real Estate Contract Litigation.
January 30, 2004, Author and Lecturer-Real Estate Brokers and Agents, contracts and the interaction between attorneys and brokers.
June, 2005, Author and Lecturer, Required Statutory and other Disclosures and Disclaimers in Land Sales Contracts, Including Ethical Considerations.
February, 2006, Author and Lecturer, Attorney and Client Business Relationships with the Real Estate Broker and Sales Associate, including ethical considerations and real estate litigation.
January, 2009, Author and Lecturer, Ethical Considerations and Defenses to a Mortgage Foreclosure Action.
National Business Institute – January, 2008 – ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR ATTORNEYS IN TITLE TRANSFERS AND CONVEYANCES
March, 2005 – Author and Lecturer-CONFIDENTLY HANDLING TITLE INSURANCE CLAIMS AND LITIGATION.
April 2001, June 2002, and September 2003 – Author and Lecturer-COMMON LENDER ISSUES FOR FINANCING OFFICE OR RETAIL PROPERTY IN FLORIDA.
Lecturer only-THE ESSENTIALS OF OFFICE AND RETAIL LEASES IN FLORIDA

SAMPLE OF REPORTED DECISIONS

Hochstadt v. Sanctuary Homeowners Ass’n, Inc., 882 So.2d 1094, (Fla. 4th Dist. 2004), and 936 So.2d 652, (Fla. 4th Dist. 2006).
W. G. Technologies, Inc., v. PC Franchise, Inc., 814 So.2d 458, (Fla 4th DCA. 2001).
Woods v. Woods, 643 So. 2d 20 (Fla. 4th DCA. 1994), rev. denied 651 So. 2d 1197 (Fla. 1995).
Sharon Gardens Associates, L.P v. Florescue, 629 So. 2d. 1002 (Fla. 4th DCA 1993).
Cibula v. Ross, 597 So. 2d 915 (Fla. 4th DCA 1992).

PEER REVIEW RATED AND SUPER LAWYER

AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5 Rated by Martindale-Hubbell. AV Preeminent® is a registered certification mark of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used under in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.

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