Small Firm. Big Results.

Who we are

Practice Areas

Our Team

• 

  Michael B. Feiler

  Co-Managing Partner
  Board-Certified Trial Attorney

  Michael Feiler is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer with over 100 civil jury trials to verdict in state and federal courts. He is also a Certified Circuit Civil Mediator.

  Mr. Feiler received his undergraduate degree from Florida State University and his J.D. cum laude from the University of Florida Levin College of Law.

  Mr. Feiler began his career at High, Stack, Lazenby & Palahach, where he became a name partner in 1998. He left the firm in 2000, and after a year of solo practice, he founded Feiler & Leach, P.L. in 2001.

  Mr. Feiler is admitted to the Florida Bar; the United States District Courts in all Florida districts; the United States Court of Federal Claims; the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fourth and Eleventh Circuits; and the United States Supreme Court.

  Mr. Feiler served six years on the Florida Bar's Civil Trial Certification Committee, which he chaired for two years; he is a past Chair of the Florida Bar’s Eleventh Circuit Grievance Committee H; has served on the Board of Directors for the Florida Justice Association; is a past President of the Miami-Dade Trial Lawyers Association; and is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, holding the rank of Advocate; and the Spellman-Hoeveler Inns of Court. He currently serves on the Executive Council for the Florida Bar's Trial Lawyers Section.

  Mr. Feiler has been repeatedly named as one of Florida Trend Magazine’s Legal Elite, and as a Florida Super Lawyer by American Law Media. He is "AV" rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has a perfect 10.0 rating by Avvo.

• 

  Martin E. Leach

  Attorney at Law

  Martin E. Leach received his B.A. in 1991 and his J.D. with honors in 1994 from the University of Florida, where he was the Senior Research Editor for the Journal of Law and Public Policy.

  Mr. Leach began his career with Merritt, Sikes & Wright, where he became a name partner. He then went to the nationally known firm of Hicks and Anderson, where he was responsible for several appeals that defined Florida law in important areas.

  In 2001, Mr. Leach joined Mr. Feiler to found Feiler & Leach, P.L.

  Mr. Leach has extensive trial and appellate experience and heads the firm’s appellate and employment practice. Leach is admitted to the Florida Bar; all Florida federal courts; and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

  Mr. Leach has served as appellate counsel in several cases that are benchmark cases in Florida law. Leach has appeared before the Florida Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh and Federal Circuits.

  He is past president of the Coral Gables Bar Association and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Mr. Leach also serves on the Alumni Council for the University of Florida Levin College of Law.

  Mr. Leach also frequently lectures on employment discrimination and appellate topics.

• 

  J. Lindsey Chong

  Co-Managing Partner
  Attorney At Law

  J. Lindsey Chong joined Feiler & Leach to form Feiler Leach & Chong in 2023.   She currently acts as the firm’s Managing Partner focusing primarily on client development and business expansion for the firm.   She has extensive experience in handling residential and commercial property damage claims for both insurance companies and property owners and heads the firm’s property damage practice.  Lindsey prides herself on being approachable to, responsive, and honest with all her clients. She understands the legal jargon contained in property insurance policies because she’s reviewed and analyzed thousands of them. She evaluates whether your property damage is covered under your policy if so, will walk you through the process of putting in a property insurance claim. 

  Lindsey has also litigated complex commercial litigation disputes arising from contracts for the sale of businesses, independent contractor agreements, and real estate contracts. She has further handled South Florida real estate transactions, both commercial and residential, for over a decade. Lindsey has a multi-faceted approach to resolving title issues because in her past experience at a large litigation firm, she was tasked with representing numerous title insurance carriers.

  Prior to joining Feiler Leach & Chong, Lindsey acted as a founding partner of Grosser Chong, PLLC for eight years.   

  Lindsey is a tenacious negotiator and genuinely cares for her clients. She combines work ethic, responsiveness, and diligence to better serve her clients.   She has served as an adjunct professor of legal writing and research at Florida International University College of Law.

  When she’s not helping her clients, she can be found spending time with her husband, Andre, her two young sons, and her goldendoodles.  She also enjoys traveling, running, and reading fiction.

  Practice Areas

  • Residential and Commercial Property Insurance Litigation
  • Real Estate Transactions
  • Commercial Litigation

  Talk to Lindsey About

  • A Song of Ice and Fire
  • Running
  • Traveling
  • Bigger, Better Things
  • Florida’s Insurance Crisis

  Bar Admissions

  • State of Florida
  • Southern District of Florida
  • Middle District of Florida
  • State of Texas

  Education

  • Florida International University College of Law — JD, 2009
  • Tufts University – BA, Quantitative Economics, 2006
• 

  Mila Lopata

  Attorney At Law

  Mila Lopata was born in Ukraine, and immigrated to the United States as a child. She started her career working as a commercial litigator and a foreclosure defense attorney. As such, she has extensive experience regarding what can go wrong with the loan documents and what problems it could cause the lender.

  Mila has closed thousands of commercial and real estate transactions ranging from a small time first homeowner deals to multimillion dollar commercial deals. Mila also works with private lenders by preparing appropriate loan documents.

  Due to being an immigrant herself, she is well versed with the challenges of foreign national Buyers and Sellers as well as any possible FIRPTA issues.

  Practice Areas

  • Residential &Commercial Property Insurance Litigation
  • Real Estate Transactions
  • Commercial Litigation

  Bar Admissions

  • State of Florida
  • Southern District of Florida
  • Middle District of Florida
  • State of Texas

  Education

  • Florida International University Bachelors of Arts – BA of Psychology 2003
  • Florida International University College of Law — JD, 2008
• 

  Bryant Paris

  Attorney At Law

  Mr. Paris is a native of Montreal, Quebec, but spent most of his life in Miami, Florida. Mr. Paris earned his J.D. at the University of Akron School of Law in May 2009, after receiving B.S. from the Florida State University in December 2004 with a focus on philosophy and political science. After receiving his J.D. from the University of Akron, Mr. Paris returned to South Florida to serve the members of his community as an Assistant State Attorney in Miami-Dade County. There he prosecuted both juvenile and adult defendants for felony and misdemeanor offenses. During his time at the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, Mr. Paris tried numerous jury and bench trials to verdict, and served as a training attorney for new incoming Assistant State Attorneys.

  Following his time at the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, Mr. Paris was an associate at a Miami civil litigation firm where he focused his practice on commercial insurance litigation, business disputes, and general civil litigation. There, Mr. Paris participated in the preparation and trial of a variety of civil matters for both plaintiffs and defendants. Mr. Paris then spent time at a small to mid-sized civil defense firm in Miami, focusing his practice on toxic torts and products liability defense.

  Mr. Paris is admitted to practice law in the State of Florida and the District of Columbia, as well as the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

  Mr. Paris is a member of the League of Prosecutors and the Young Lawyers Division of the Florida Bar. Mr. Paris is also on the Board of Directors for the Camen Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on assisting those in need in receiving resources and counseling. Mr. Paris enjoys spending time with his wife and daughters, playing ice hockey, and traveling to new places in his spare time.

  Practice Areas

  • Commercial Insurance Litigation
  • Business Disputes
  • General Civil Litigation

  Talk to Bryant About:

  • The Camen Foundation
  • Ice Hockey
  • Traveling

  Bar Admissions

  • State of Florida
  • Southern District of Florida
  • District of Columbia
  • State of Colorado

  Education

  • University of Akron School of Law – JD, 2009
  • Florida State University – B.s., Philosophy and Political Science, 2004
• 

  Jonathan Lawrence

  Attorney At Law

  A Miami native, Mr. Lawrence began his legal career working on behalf of insurance companies, spending over 10 years defending both insurers and their insureds in a wide variety of matters including wrongful death claims, product liability claims, and property insurance claims. He has handled thousands of insurance claims of all types, including those involving residential and commercial property, aircraft, marine vessels, and motor vehicles. He has extensive experience handling complex claims with valuations well into the seven figures. 

  With his multifaceted skill set and experience, Mr. Lawrence now dedicates his practice to representing individuals and businesses harmed by others to ensure they receive the compensation they deserve. His experience in working as a defense lawyer and understanding how insurance companies operate in handling and defending claims allows him to be an exceptionally effective advocate for his clients.  

  When he is not advocating for his clients, Mr. Lawrence enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and golfing. He is also actively involved in a number of charitable endeavors, and serves as a Member of the Board of Directors of the National Tay Sachs & Allied Diseases Association.

  Practice Areas

  • Insurance Litigation
  • Personal Injury Litigation
  • General Civil Litigation

  Admissions

  • The Florida Bar
  • State Bar of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
  • United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida

  Professional

  • AV Preeminent rated by Martindale Hubbell
  • American Bar Association
  • Dade County Bar Association
  • The Florida Bar, Eleventh Circuit Grievance Committee K (2012-2014, Vice Chair 2013-2014)
  • Member of the Board of Directors, National Tay Sachs & Allied Diseases Association

  Education

  • Florida State University, J.D., 2005
  • Florida State University, B.S., 2002
• 

  Teresa J. Urda

  Of Counsel

  Teresa J. Urda is of counsel to Feiler Leach & Chong. She has represented clients in all types of litigation, including complex litigation, for 20 years. Her litigation practice has included the representation of a wide variety of institutional and individual clients in complex business and commercial litigation, commercial real estate litigation, construction litigation, lender liability, and professional liability. She has practiced in the area of insurance law, both in representing insurance companies and representing policyholders who are engaged in a dispute with their insurance companies, in a mix of residential single family, multi-unit dwellings and commercial enterprises. As a litigator and trial lawyer with 29 years of experience, Ms. Urda has spent substantial time litigating cases in the courtroom, and she has gained the respect as a trial lawyer responsible for many victories.  

  Ms. Urda is fluent in Spanish. She is licensed in Florida, and is admitted to practice in the State of Florida, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, the United States Court of Appeal for the Eleventh Circuit, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. She is a member of the Florida Bar.

  • Phone (Santona Office): 786-505-5257

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