Michael P Sampson
Orlando Collaborative Family Law Attorney
For clients, collaborative family law attorney Michael P Sampson works exclusively collaboratively with fellow lawyers, neutral mental health professionals, financial experts, and allied experts. Michael helps couples identify and achieve their interests and resolve issues for themselves and their children.
Michael’s Florida collaborative practice includes drafting premarital and postnuptial agreements, often involving closely-held family businesses and trusts.
Your collaborative practice team can help you resolve Florida divorce and other family law cases privately, confidentially, peacefully, and respectfully. Successful collaborating couples spare themselves pain and exorbitant costs that litigation often escalates. Consider if the collaborative option might fit you and your family. Read more here about the collaborative process.
Might you be a collaborating mom or dad who can emerge from a traumatic life event – your breakup or divorce – emotionally intact and prepared to model for your kids how adults can work with each other to solve problems?
background
- Sampson Collaborative Law (2017-present)
- Carlton Fields (2002-2016) Shareholder
- Holland & Knight (1986-2002)
Partner (1994-2002)
Associate (1986-1994)
professional and civic activities
- Collaborative Family Law Group of Central Florida, Board Member (January 2017-present)
- Collaborative Family Law Group of Central Florida (2014-present)
- Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals (FACP)
- Outreach and Research Subcommittees (2019, 2020)
- Bronze Sponsor of Statewide Annual Conference (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
- International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP) (2014-present)
- American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section – Collaborative Law Subcommittee (2018-present)
- Orange County Bar Association – ADR Subcommittee (2019)
- Rules of Judicial Administration Committee of the Florida Bar (2006-2012)
- Rules Committee of the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar (2000-2006)
- Central Florida Family Law American Inn of Court (2006-2014)
- Leadership Orlando Class 66
education
- Duke University School of Law (J.D., 1986)
- Duke University (M.A., 1986 – Economics)
- Cornell University (A.B., 1983), with distinction
collaborative practice training
| Subject | Year |
| Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals 2020 Statewide Conference – Peacemaking Lessons from the War Room | 2020 |
| Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals 2019 Statewide Conference – Make Cases, Make a Living, Have a Life | 2019 |
| International Academy of Collaborative Professionals – Masterclass: An Exploration of the Evolution, Power & Potential of the Paradigm Shift | 2019 |
| Collaborative Law: Changing the Landscape of Divorce Litigation in Florida | 2018 |
| Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals 2018 Statewide Conference – Flourishing Through Diversity and Access | 2018 |
| Navigating Confirmation Bias | 2018 |
| Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals 2017 Statewide Conference – Get In On the Act | 2017 |
| When Clients & the Collaborative Team Collide | 2017 |
| Attorney Initial Consultation | 2017 |
| The New Premise of 50/50: Should You Really Split | 2016 |
| Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals 2016 Statewide Conference – Stronger Together – Synergy of the Team | 2016 |
| Collaborative Practice and Evolving Ethical Standards (IACP) | 2016 |
| Debunking the Myths About Collaborative Law | 2016 |
| Collaborative Family Law Council 3rd Annual Conference | 2015 |
| Basic Collaborative Training in the Interdisciplinary Team Model | 2014 |
representative experience
- In the Matter of the Adoption of D.P.P., 158 So. 3d 633 (Fla. 5th DCA 2014). Reinstating a judgment of adoption and reversing the order that vacated that judgment of adoption on the basis that the circuit court lacked jurisdiction to consider a petition for adoption filed by unmarried women.
- Osterberger v. Osterberger, 88 So. 3d 955 (Fla. 4th DCA 2011) (Successful defense of appeal of order denying Former Wife’s motion for contempt and attorney fees).
- Odak v. Vitrano, 45 So. 3d 487 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010) (Dispute over valuation date for stock options and enhancement in value of stock following separation and over husband’s severance pay – affirmed in part and reversed in part).
- Grasso v. Mulholland, 835 So. 2d 361 (Fla. 5th DCA 2003) (Trial court may interpret in children’s best interest ambiguities in marital settlement agreements regarding visitation).
- O’Neill v. O’Neill, 823 So. 2d 837 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002) (Denying petition for certiorari to protect mom’s psychotherapist-patient records because her statements, with supporting behavior, constituted a “calamitous event” and an implicit waiver of the statutory psychotherapist-patient privilege).
publications
- Why Jeff Bezos should have gotten a prenup & why you should too
- Calculator: Marital Appreciation Nonmarital Real Property
- Calculator: Premarital Accounts – Calculate Marital and Nonmarital Shares
- Introduction – Florida Parenting Plans – Consent to Child’s Mental Health Treatment (Multipart series)
- Collaborative Marital Agreements – Beneficiary Designations After Divorce
- Automatic Revocation of Will Provisions that Affect an Ex-Spouse on Divorce
- Collaborative Marital Settlement Agreements: Insurance Policies and Accounts – Beneficiary Designations – Section 732.703
- Beneficiary Designations: Checklist for Collaborative Practice Teams
- Florida’s Collaborative Law Process Act
- “Collaborative Family Practice: Dividing Retirement Accounts”
- “Remind Employees to Update Beneficiary Designations”
- “Family Law: Corporate and Trust Challenges to Service of Process and Jurisdiction”
- “Update Beneficiary Designations After Divorce or Annulment”
- “Domestic Partnership Agreements: FAQs”
- “Domestic Partnership Agreements: Financial Disclosures and Privacy”
- “Domestic Partnership Agreements: Survivor’s Rights on Death”
- “Domestic Partnership Agreements: Support upon Termination of the Relationship”
- “Domestic Partnership Agreements: Separate Property and Jointly Acquired Property”
- “Domestic Partnership Agreements: The Home and Joint Expenses”
- “Domestic Partnership Agreements: Overview”
- “Six Defenses to International Child Abduction”
- “Divorce and Beneficiary Designations—Florida Law Changes”
- “Fifth District Reinstates Judgment of Adoption”
- Chapter Author, “Home Court Advantage: Jurisdictional Disputes in Time-Sharing Cases,” Inside the Minds: Strategies for Family Law in Florida, 2011 ed., Aspatore Books (2010).
