Michael Perry

I was born in Philadelphia and moved to Sarasota with my family when I was 13 years old.  I went to Cardinal Mooney High School and graduated with honors earning an academic scholorshiip to Manatee Community College (now named State College of Florida). After earning my Associates Degree, I moved to Gainesville to attend the University of Florida.  Therafter I graduated from UF's College of Engineering with honors.  I then accepted a job as an engineer with Unisys Corporation in Southern California.  After several years working as an egineer I decided to enter law school at Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles, California.  During law school, I worked as a law clerk for Justice Norman Epstein, at the California Court of Appeals, Second District, learning much about criminal law and appellate issues.  After working for Justice Epstein, and while still in law school, I began working at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Las Vegas, Nevada, prosecuting federal crimes.

After graduating law school with honors and passing the California Bar Exam, I moved to San Diego where I worked for Miller, Milove & Kob practicing securities law.  While working at that firm, I realized I missed doing criminal law and wanted to spend more time in the courtroom.  Having family and friends in Florida, an opportunity arose in Pinellas County to work for the Public Defender's Office, so I decided to take the Florida Bar Exam.  After passing the exam, I moved back to Florida and began working at the Public Defender's Office.  Shortly thereafter, I moved to Sarasota and worked as a prosecutor for the City of Sarasota.  At the City Attorney's office, I not only prosecuted city crimes, I also prosecuted forfeiture cases and defended the Sarasota Police Department in civil rights lawsuits.  In addition I argued several cases in front of the Second District Court of Appeals.  After leaving the City Attorney's Office, I began working for a local firm, Walters, Levine, Klingsmith & Thomison.  While there I practiced civil construction law and defended many criminal clients.  Realizing criminal defense was my real pasion, I opened my own firm to practice exclusively criminal law.

Over the years I have worked tirelessly to protect the rights of the accused.  All my life I have tried to improve on my passion to practice law, and have gone so far as to recently attend the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyer's College in Wyoming.  There I worked with attorneys from all over the country to sharpen my trial skills and discover new ways to defend my clients.   You can be assured that should you hire my firm I will use all my experience and skills to aggressively fight for you.  With the relationships I have built with the prosecutors and judges in Sarasota and Manatee Counties, the experience my firm offers, and the attention we give to each of our clients, I truly believe you will get the best result in your case with my firm.

I am currently licensed to practice law in Florida, California and Arizona.  I maintain offices in both Sarasota and Manatee.