Biography

Michael M. Ledyard Jr., Esq., is an Senior Associate in the firm’s Tallahassee office. He focuses his practice on complex civil litigation, insurance defense, regulatory compliance, appellate support, governmental liability and commercial litigation matters.  Michasel also handles automobile negligence, product liability, premises liability and workers' compensation cases.  He is conversational in French.

Prior to joining the firm, Michael served as Associate Insurance Regulatory Counsel, where he advised on complex insurance regulatory matters, corporate compliance, risk management, and business operations. This role strengthened his understanding of insurance regulation, fiduciary responsibilities, corporate governance, and regulatory strategy within highly regulated industries.

With experience spanning both public service and private practice, Michael has litigated matters involving insurance defense, premises liability, product liability, healthcare-related claims, administrative litigation, governmental matters, and insurance coverage disputes. His background includes handling complex civil and criminal trials, as well as high-exposure disputes requiring strategic litigation management.

Michael also has experience working with expert witnesses and litigation consultants in complex matters involving medical claims, product liability disputes, and technical evidentiary issues. His practice includes analyzing expert reports, preparing litigation strategy related to expert testimony, and assisting in matters involving evidentiary and Daubert-related challenges.

Before entering private practice, Michael served as Deputy Court Administrator and as Staff Attorney for multiple Chief Judges across several states and judicial circuits. These positions provided extensive experience in judicial procedure, appellate review, litigation support, and courtroom operations. Additionally, while attending law school and business school, Michael clerked for a large regional insurance defense firm in Wilmington, Delaware, where he gained experience in insurance coverage disputes, commercial litigation, and civil defense strategy.

Michael has successfully represented clients before the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings and in numerous informal administrative proceedings. His legal background also includes family law litigation involving high-asset divorces, adoptions, legitimations, and name changes.

Michael earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of South Carolina (2017). While working part-time, he simultaneously completed a Juris Doctor from Widener Delaware Law School and a Master of Business Administration with a regulatory focus from Widener University School of Business Administration, becoming the first student in Widener’s history to earn both degrees in only three years graduating cum laude (2020). Most recently, he earned a Master’s in Applied American Politics and Policy from Florida State University in December 2025, graduating summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA in the top 10% of his class.

Practice Areas

Practice Areas

• Appeals | Litigation Support
• Auto & Fleet Liability
• Commercial Litigation
• General and Retail Liability
• Government Liability
• Insurance Coverage
• Medical | Heathcare
• Premises Liability
• Product Liability
• Workers' Compensation

Experience

Awards & Honors

• Graduated cum laude, Widener Delaware Law School
• Graduated cum laude, Widener University School of Business Administration
• Graduated summa cum laude, Florida State University, Master's in American Politics and Policy 

Bar/Court Admission

• 2022, Alabama
• 2023, Florida

Education

• University of South Carolina, B.A., 2017
• Widener Delaware Law School, J.D., cum laude, 2020
• Widener University School of Business Administration, M.B.A., cum laude, 2020
• Florida State University, M.S., summa cum laude, 2025

Professional/Civil Memberships

• Florida Bar Association
• Alabama State Bar Association
• Tallahassee Young Lawyers Section of The Florida Bar , Treasurer

Industries Represented

Languages

• French, Conversational

Verdicts

Verdicts

Presentations

Presentations and Speaking Engagements

Publications

Articles