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Michael L. Duncan

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Michael L. Duncan

also known as Mike Duncan

4.8
119 reviews
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.
Rating: 9.9

Licensed for 30 years

Litigation Lawyer at Jacksonville, FL
Practice Areas: Litigation, Family, Divorce & Separation ... +6 more

301 West Bay Street, Suite 1446, Jacksonville, FL

Call for a consultation (904) 647-4174

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Michael L. Duncan's Website
Overview Reviews Experience
Overview Reviews Experience
Call for a consultation (904) 647-4174

About Michael

Biography

Practice Areas

9

Practice Areas

Litigation 30%

30%
Divorce and Separation 15%

15%
Family 15%

15%
Mediation 15%

15%
Alimony 5%

5%
Appeals 5%

5%
Business 5%

5%
Child Custody 5%

5%
Child Support 5%

5%

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer

Contact for Details

Awards

Client's Choice
Client's Choice
2025 2024 2023
...
+ 5
Platinum Client Champion
AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating

Avvo Client's Choice Awards

Client's Choice

The Avvo Client's Choice Award Badge is granted to attorneys with a significant number of 4+ star reviews in a given year.

Client's Choice
Client's Choice 2025
Client's Choice
Client's Choice 2024
Client's Choice
Client's Choice 2023
Client's Choice
Client's Choice 2022
Client's Choice
Client's Choice 2021
Client's Choice
Client's Choice 2020
Client's Choice
Client's Choice 2019
Client's Choice
Client's Choice 2017

Platinum Client Champion

Platinum Client Champion

Client Champion awards recognize those attorneys who excel at service as affirmed by their clients. The awards, based on the quantity and quality of an attorney’s Martindale-Hubbell client reviews, demonstrate an ongoing commitment to delivering excellent client service.

This attorney has received at least 10 client reviews, and has an average review score of 4.5 or higher.

AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating

AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating

An elite group of attorneys who have been rated highly by their peers as having Very High Ethical Standards and an A grade (4.5 or higher).

This is the highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.

Licenses

Licensed in Florida for 30 years

State: Florida

Acquired: 1995

Member in Good Standing

No misconduct found

Location

Duncan Trial & Mediation

(904) 647-4174

Mobile

301 West Bay Street, Suite 1446, Jacksonville, FL, 32202

www.mikeduncanlaw.com
Message Get Directions

Online Presence

Other places you can find Michael online.

Michael L. Duncan's Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (73) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.
Star rating
5 stars 68
4 stars 0
3 stars 0
2 stars 0
1 star 5
Practice Areas
Family (16) Lawsuits & Disputes (16) Divorce & Separation (15) Litigation (7) Child Custody (6) Appeals (4) Child Support (3) Business (2) Alimony (1) Consumer Protection (1) Criminal Defense (1) Domestic Violence (1) Mediation (1) Privacy (1) Real Estate (1) Residential (1) Speeding & Traffic Ticket (1)
What Clients Mention
Case Results (34) Professionalism (27) Recommendation (26) Responsiveness (21) Advocacy (20) Communication Style (18) Practice Area Knowledge (18) Character & Conduct (14) Cost of Services (11) General Knowledge (11) Trustworthiness (10) Compassion (9) Staff & Support (3) Punctuality (2)

Showing 1 - 1 of 1 review | Consumer Protection

Posted by anonymous | December 04, 2023 | Consumer Protection

"Why do you care?"

On or around 25 May 2023, I consulted with Mr. Michael Duncan regarding a family law case in Duval County. There were valid concerns that the social investigator was not acting in good faith. I shared with him the failure of the investigator to provide any valid informed consent documents and their a...ttempts to conduct psychological testing on an individual in a state the investigator was not licensed in. At first, he was very receptive to my concerns, but the moment I mentioned the investigator's name, he did an about-face. Mr. Duncan's exact words in response to me were then "Why do you care?" He said anything the investigator does that is potentially illegal was not my concern, that it was between the investigator and the state of Florida. The only reason there would even be a problem is if I reported her, and it wouldn't be in my best interest to do so. I was honestly so shocked by what he said, that I could barely answer him. I asked if he was joking, but he was very serious. He advised me to continue to allow the investigator to act without question. He said if I wanted his retainer information, he would send it. I said I did, but he never sent it. It was for the best because Mr. Duncan clearly has neither the courage nor the ethics required to take on something like this. Based on his response to me, it also seems reasonable to assume that he has cases involving this particular investigator himself. Since that consult, it was discovered that the investigator had at least two illegal clauses in her paperwork, one of which violated the Consumer Review Fairness Act of 2016 and another that violated the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure. The investigator also attempted to obtain PHI with an invalid and altered authorization form...twice. And ultimately, the investigator never obtained a valid and legally effective informed consent agreement from any party in the case. It doesn't end there, either. It's quite a shame that Mr. Duncan was so quick to disregard my concerns about that investigator, because a truly integrous attorney would have greater concern over a situation like this, especially since it could potentially impact a lot of cases in the Jacksonville area. I would suggest that you try to find someone who isn't afraid to stand up for what's right.

See All Client Reviews

Michael L. Duncan's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Michael
Diane Lynn Paull headshot
Diane Paull

Family lawyer | Apr 15

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have worked with Michael for many years, both as opposing counsel and co-counsel. I have trust his judgment; he brings solid insight and experience to every case. I refer overflow work to him and have no concerns about his ability to handle a client's case with compassion, competency, and professionalism. I can also call Michael to bounce a case around and he provides his opinion to help me think something through. Michael is a valued colleague in the difficult area of law in which we practice."

Ross Douglas Vaughn headshot
Ross Vaughn

Business lawyer | Sep 13

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have known Mike since he first started out in his practice over 20 years ago. He is very smart and is a hard worker. He has my highest recommendation and even better, since moving away from Jacksonville, I recommend my clients to him when they need representation in Northeast Florida."

View All Endorsements
Cindy L. Lasky headshot
Cindy Lasky

Family lawyer

Experience

Rating:  9.9 (Superb)

Honors

2025

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2024

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2023

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2022

Legal Elite, Florida Trend Magazine

2022

Client Champion Award, Martindale-Hubbell

2022

AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®

2021

Legal Elite, Florida Trend Magazine

2021

AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®

2020

AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®

2020

Legal Elite, Florida Trend Magazine

2019

AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®

2018

AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®

2017

AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2016

AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2015

AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2014

AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2013

Florida Legal Elite, Florida Trend Magazine

2012

Florida Legal Elite, Florida Trend Magazine

2011

Florida Legal Elite, Florida Trend Magazine

2010

Legal Elite, Florida Trend Magazine

2009

AV-rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2009

Legal Elite, Florida Trend Magazine

2008

AV-rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2007

AV-rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2006

AV-rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2005

AV-rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2003

Top 40 Under 40, Jacksonville Business Journal

Work Experience

2015 - Present

Owner, Duncan Trial & Mediation

2013 - 2015

Owner/Shareholder, Gillis Way & Duncan LLP

2008 - 2013

Owner/Shareholder, Volpe, Bajalia, Wickes, Rogerson & Wachs

2000 - 2008

Owner/Shareholder, Akerman Senterfitt

1996 - 2000

Litigation Associate Attorney, LeBoeuf Lamb Greene & MacRae

1994 - 1996

Law Clerk - Hon. Howard T. Snyder, United States District Court - M.D. Florida

Associations

Florida Bar, Family Law and Trial Lawyers Sections

Member

American Bar Association, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section

Member

American Bar Association, Litigation Section

Member

Federal Bar Association

Member

Jacksonville Bar Association

Member

American Inns of Court - Chester Bedell Chapter

Master

United States Supreme Court Bar

Member

United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Admitted

United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

Admitted

United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida

Admitted

Florida Bar

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

McHugh vs. McHugh, 397 So. 3d 1179 (Fla. 5th DCA 2024)

Successful appeal on all issues - reversed and remanded for entry of judgment in client's favor.

Kincaid v. Kincaid, 397 So. 3d 1169 (Fla. 5th DCA 2024)

Successful appeal on most issues - reversed and remanded for further proceedings.

Regency Mall Realty, LLC v. JAAMM Incorporated, 302 So. 3d 828 (Fla. 1st DCA 2020)

Client's trial court result affirmed on appeal

Harris v. Sheriff, Jefferson County Florida, 460 Fed.Appx. 896 (11th Cir. 2012)

Successful jury verdict and successful appeal

Mammen et al vs. Bronson & Migliaccio, LLP et al (case litigated by Mr. Duncan with prior law firm)

Summary judgment for defendants on all counts

Sutton vs. Countrywide Home Loans. et al (case litigated by Mr. Duncan with prior law firm)

Successfully argued for summary judgment on federal RESPA claim.

Southeast Florida Cable, Inc. v. Martin County, Fla., 173 F.3d 1332 (11th Cir. 1999)

Successful appeal on all issues - reversed and remanded.

See More Legal Cases

Education

1994

Rutgers University School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

1989

Drexel University

BS - Bachelor of Science

Speaking Engagements

2019

Northeast Florida Paralegal Association Monthly Meeting

Jury Selection - A Basic Guide for Paralegals

2016

Renaissance Symposium XI, Harvard Club of New York City, New York, NY

Will Rogers and the American Jury Trial

2011

Chester Bedell American Inn of Court - monthly meeting

Federal Rule of Evidence 412 and Social Media

2010

National Business Institute CLE Seminar

Using Accounting Records as Evidence

2009

PIAA Corporate Counsel Workshop

New Developments in Bad Faith and Extra Contractual Obligations

2003

Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates (SGNA) Annual Course

Documentation, Depositions & Litigation--A Primer for Nurses

Publications

2011

The Bencher (American Inns of Court) Bridging the "Mentoring Gap"

Languages

English

Avvo Rating

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