About LGP

We leverage diversity of expertise and depth of experience to relentlessly advocate on behalf of our clients’ business, transactional and litigation needs. Client Partnerships Defined by Access, Communication, and Trust We at Liebler, more...

Real Estate & Real Estate Finance

Liebler, Gonzalez & Portuondo’s Real Estate practice group provides a broad spectrum of legal services across virtually all real estate sectors and serves its investor and institutional clients in the core real estate more...

Premises Liability

From Fortune 500 companies to municipal institutions, Liebler, Gonzalez & Portuondo represents clients in premises liability actions arising out of business operations. The successful defense of these claims often turns on early identification more...

Corporate & Business Litigation

Our corporate and business practice provides a broad range of legal services for every legal need that arises during the life cycle of a business. From selecting the appropriate type of entity to more...

Michael D. Starks

Michael D. Starks is a Senior Attorney of the Firm and a member of the Litigation Department. Mr. Starks joined the Firm in 2019. Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Starks represented mortgage loan servicers and investors in consumer finance litigation and complex commercial matters in both federal and state courts, much of this litigation relating to claims arising out of federal consumer protection statutes such as the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, Florida Consumer Collections Practices Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Telephone Consumer Protection Act, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, and Truth in Lending Act. Mr. Starks also focused in the past on products liability matters, especially those concerning the automotive industry (such as actions relating to alleged issues with both tires and brakes). He has written two book chapters on the law of spoliation of evidence in Florida and two book chapters on Florida foreclosure law, and now co-edits a treatise called Florida Foreclosure Law published by Full Court Press. He has been representing clients for more than 25 years in a wide array of legal areas, including foreclosure, consumer finance, professional malpractice claims, general commercial litigation, products liability, construction, spoliation of evidence, and section 1983 actions defending law enforcement agencies.

Practice Areas:
Commercial Litigation, Consumer Finance Litigation, Consumer Protection Statute Defense, Consumer Retail Banking & Financial Services Litigation, Corporate & Business, Corporate & Business Litigation, Director Officer Liability, Insurance Litigation, Mortgage Loan Litigation, Premises Liability, Third Party Logistics (3PL) / Transportation
Education:
• J.D., magna cum laude, Florida State University College of Law, 1996
o Order of the Coif
o Legislative Editor, Florida State University Law Review, 1995-1996
o Associate Editor, Florida State University Law Review, 1994
• B.S., Advertising, cum laude, University of Florida, 1990
Bar and Court Admissions:
• Florida, 1996
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, 1997
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, 1997
• U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, 1997
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, 1997
Professional Memberships and Community Involvement:
• Member, The Florida Bar
o Member, The Florida Bar Business Law Section
o Member, The Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
o Member, Real Property Litigation Committee of the Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar, 2019-2022
o Member, Legislation and Government Regulation of Lending Sub-Committee of the Real Property Finance and Lending Committee of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of The Florida Bar, 2014-2022
o Member, Foreclosure and Debtor/Creditor Rights Sub-Committee of the Real Property Finance and Lending Committee of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of The Florida Bar, 2012-2022
o Member, Real Property Finance and Lending Committee of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of The Florida Bar, 2014-2022
• Member, Federal Bar Association, 2017
• Orange County Bar Association 2012-2022
• Member, Christian Legal Society, 2018
• The Florida Bar Journal/News Editorial Board, 2006-2012
Distinctions/Honors/Recognition:
• 2006 Florida Bar Journal Excellence in Writing Award
• Martindale-Hubbell® AV rating, June 2012 to present
• Florida Trend Magazine, Legal Elite, 2016 Honoree
• Florida Trend Magazine, Legal Elite, 2019-2022 Honoree
• Super Lawyers,” Construction, 2023 Issued by Super Lawyers Magazine – Jan 2023