Michael J. Corso

Overview

Michael J. Corso is a highly regarded Florida Bar Board Certified attorney with certifications in Civil Trial Law (since 1983) and Business Litigation (since 1988). He also holds Board Certification in Civil Trial Law from the National Board of Trial Advocacy (since 1985). These longstanding certifications demonstrate his deep commitment to excellence and leadership in the legal field.

Michael concentrates his practice in tort and insurance litigation, with a particular focus on defending non-medical professionals such as lawyers, accountants, architects, engineers, and surveyors. His litigation practice also includes copyright and trademark infringement, product liability, and a variety of tort defense cases.

Beyond his practice, Michael is a respected voice in the legal community. He regularly publishes and speaks on emerging issues, with articles including “An Architect’s Guide to Using Drones” (AIA Trust) and “Florida Drone Laws: Overview” (Thomson Reuters Practical Law™). His presentations reach audiences nationwide, from bar associations and professional organizations to attorneys, accountants, architects, and engineers.

Michael’s achievements have earned him numerous prestigious awards. In 2022, he was named “Professional Engineer of the Year” by the Florida Engineering Society, Calusa Chapter, and received the 2022 Justice Harry Lee Anstead Award as the Florida Bar Board Certified Lawyer of the Year. His contributions to the aerospace field were recognized by Purdue University’s Outstanding Aerospace Engineer Award (2011), and he received the Defense Research Institute’s Exceptional Performance Citation (2007-2008). Additionally, the Florida Defense Lawyers Association awarded him the President’s Award (2005) and the Chubby Damsel Lifetime Achievement Award (2024).

Michael has been consistently recognized for his work in professional malpractice defense at the local, state, and national levels. Naples Illustrated has named him a “Top Lawyer” from 2018 to 2025, and he has been included in Florida Super Lawyers® every year since 2007, earning a place on its “Top 100 Lawyers in Florida” list from 2019 to 2022. He has also been featured in Florida Trend’s Legal Elite® (2009–2012, 2016–2017, 2022) and listed in The Best Lawyers in America® from 2012 to 2026.

Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Michael holds a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Purdue University and served as an officer in the United States Air Force, where he worked as a pilot and aerospace engineer. He earned his Juris Doctor from Villanova University before relocating to Florida in 1974. During his Air Force service, he contributed to the USAF JAG program as a special prosecutor, achieving the rank of Captain. Michael and his wife, Sandra, have made Fort Myers their home since 1978, raising their four daughters there.

Professional and Civic Affiliations

Michael is deeply involved in various professional associations, reflecting his commitment to the legal community. His leadership extends to serving as the president of the Lee County Bar Association in 1985. He is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Collier County Bar Association, American Bar Association (where he is a member of the Tort and Insurance Law Practice Committee), Federal Bar Association, Defense Research Institute, and the Florida Defense Lawyers Association, where he served as president from 2007 to 2008. In addition, Michael participates in the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, is an allied member of the American Institute of Architects, and an associate member of the Florida Engineering Society.

Michael’s commitment to community service is also evident through his membership in The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution since 1973, participation in the Boosters Club of the City of Palms Annual High School Basketball Tournament, and his role on the Purdue University AAE Department Industrial Advisory Council since 2003. Michael also belongs to the American Legion, Florida Post 400.