Michael O. Massey

Executive Biography

Michael O. Massey is a founding partner at Massey & Duffy, PLLC, bringing over two decades of experience in general civil litigation, wage and hour disputes, workplace discrimination, whistleblower protection, and complex business matters. Based in Gainesville, Florida, Mr. Massey represents employees and businesses across the state in both Florida state courts and federal jurisdictions.

Mr. Massey holds a rare combination of advanced financial, tax, and legal credentials. After graduating summa cum laude from Auburn University with a degree in Finance, he earned his Juris Doctor with High Honors from the University of Florida College of Law, graduating in the top 10% of his class. He subsequently completed a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation at the University of Florida.

His legal career includes judicial internships with Chief Judge Maurice M. Paul of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida and Circuit Court Judge Murray Goldman in Florida's Eleventh Judicial Circuit. Prior to founding Massey & Duffy, PLLC in 2003, Mr. Massey practiced construction litigation in South Florida and Orlando and served as an International Tax Senior Consultant for Deloitte & Touche in Boston and Atlanta.

Core Practice Areas

• Employment & Labor Law: Wrongful termination, retaliation, workplace discrimination (race, gender, age, disability, religion), FLSA unpaid wages and overtime, EEOC charge representation, and non-compete enforcement.

• Civil Rights & Constitutional Claims: First Amendment retaliation, due process claims, Section 1983 litigation, and governmental misconduct.

• Business & Civil Litigation: Partnership disputes, breach of contract, equity claims, and general civil dispute resolution.

Education & Academic Honors

Graduate Legal Education

• University of Florida College of Law — LL.M. in Taxation (July 2001)

  • Editor, Florida Tax Review

Juris Doctor

• University of Florida College of Law — J.D., High Honors (May 1998)

  • Class Rank: Top 10% (Cumulative GPA: 3.51)

  • Senior Research Editor: Florida Journal of International Law

  • Appellate Advocacy Teaching Fellowship: Spring 1997 – Fall 1997

  • High Honors: Fall 1996, Spring 1997, Fall 1997, Spring 1998

  • Book Awards (Highest Grade): Family Law, Evidence, Civil Procedure

  • Honors: Appellate Advocacy (Spring 1996), Legal Research & Writing (Fall 1995)

Undergraduate Education

• Auburn University — B.S. in Finance, summa cum laude (May 1995)

  • Cumulative GPA: 3.83

Professional & Judicial Experience

• Massey & Duffy, PLLC | Gainesville, FL

Partner (October 2003 – Present)

Focusing on general civil litigation with a heavy emphasis on state and federal employment law.

• Deloitte & Touche | Boston, MA & Atlanta, GA

International Tax Senior Consultant (September 2001 – October 2003)

Advised corporate clients on international tax structuring, financial regulations, and compliance.

• Moye, O’Brien, O’Rourke, Hogan & Pickert, P.A. | Orlando, FL

Construction Litigation Attorney (April 2000 – August 2000)

• Vezina, Lawrence, & Piscitelli, P.A. | Fort Lauderdale, FL

Construction Litigation Attorney (May 1998 – April 2000)

• United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida | Gainesville, FL

Judicial Intern to Chief Judge Maurice M. Paul (August 1997 – December 1997)

• Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida | Miami, FL

Judicial Clerk to Circuit Court Judge Murray Goldman (May 1997 – August 1997)

Scholarly Publications

• "When the Tenancy by the Entirety Doctrine Meets the Bankruptcy Code: Clash of the Titans"

Published in:

• The Florida Bar, Business Law Section Quarterly, Vol. XI, No. 2 (May 1999)

• The Florida Bar Journal (August 1999)