Michael F. Lazcano

Michael Lazcano is a commercial litigator who helps businesses and high-net-worth individuals navigate complex disputes in state and federal courts. Michael represents real estate developers, commercial property owners, high-net-worth individuals, financial institutions, and businesses in a wide array of civil matters involving contract disputes, business torts, land disputes, and regulatory actions.

A former Assistant Attorney General in the Complex Litigation Bureau of the Florida Attorney General’s Office, Michael represented the State of Florida, its agencies, and public officials in civil matters involving constitutional challenges, regulatory actions, submerged land disputes, and charitable trusts. Michael was one of two attorneys in the Bureau’s charitable trust litigation practice, where he evaluated petitions to amend charitable trusts, determined whether to approve or oppose the petitions to amend, and litigated breach-of-fiduciary-duty claims. In that role, Michael served as lead and co-counsel handling cases from initial filing through trial and appeal in state, federal, and administrative tribunals.

Michael also brings bank regulatory experience as a law clerk in the Enforcement Division of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in Washington, D.C., where he investigated a bank whose anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing procedures raised compliance concerns. The bank was ultimately assessed a $20.4 million civil penalty for repeated Bank Secrecy Act violations. He also drafted legal opinions on legislation, regulations, and policy statements concerning insured depository institutions.

Concentrations

• Commercial litigation and business disputes
• Real estate litigation and land disputes
• Government litigation
• Trusts and estates litigation