In October 2022, Michael Vater became the fourth ever Managing Partner at The Ticktin Law Group, Michael has significant experience as an attorney at The Ticktin Law Group conducting over 200 Bench Trials and over 10 Jury Trials since starting at The Ticktin Law Group in April 2010. Michael has argued cases in over twenty Florida counties and has argued in Courts across the United States including in California, Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and South Carolina among others. Michael has traveled on behalf of clients for his cases in over 35 states. For each of the past four years, Michael has been recognized by SuperLawyers for his legal excellence as a Rising Star in which only 2.5% of lawyers in the State of Florida are named.
Michael has also handled cases internationally as well, including one in Iceland that created case precedent regarding consumer rights in aviation disputes in the European Union. Michael has handled over 1,500 matters since joining The Ticktin Law Group not just litigation related, but also transactional work.
Looking to expand his knowledge in the field of business administration, Michael earned his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Florida following a two year, sixteen course program in August 2022. Michael excelled in the classroom earning one of the top GPAs in the program.
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Michael attended one of the largest High Schools in Pennsylvania, North Allegheny High School in Wexford, Pennsylvania. While in High School Michael won numerous awards including being a State Champion and National Finalist in the National Forensics League and Future Business Leaders of America in categories such as extemporaneous and impromptu speaking.
Michael’s legal background started at a young age when In High School, Michael clerked at the law offices of Houston-Harbaugh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania under the direction of Michael Turzai, the former Pennsylvania Speaker of the House.
Michael continued his education attending the University of Notre Dame and took full advantage of the opportunities provided to students at the University. In the summer of 2004, Michael was one of fifteen students across the country selected to participate in the prestigious Summer Communications Leadership Development Program at General Electric. In 2005, Michael was selected to attend the exclusive study abroad program hosted by the University of Notre Dame – Australia, located in Fremantle, Western Australia. Michael received the David T. Link Prize for highest GPA while studying abroad at the University of Notre Dame.
In 2006, Michael graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor’s degree from the College of Arts & Letters. Michael majored in Political Science and received a minor in the world-renown Kroc International Institute of Peace Studies Program. Michael graduated with Cum Laude distinction. Michael was a Dean’s List Scholar multiple times and was invited into Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honors Fraternity.
Michael attended the University of Florida Levin College of Law. While attending law school, Michael participated in a multi-year clerkship with Terrence Kann, P.A. in Gainesville, Florida. Michael received the Certificate of Excellence for his Pro Bono work with Community Legal Services, a legal clinic located in Ocala, Florida. Michael also received a Certificate of Distinction for his Community Service Participation in Law School. Michael was a member of the University of Florida Entertainment Law Review and Student Honor Committee. Michael was also a member of the International Law Society, the Association for Law & Business, and Sports & Entertainment Law Association. Additionally, Michael served as a two-time Representative to the John Marshall Bar Association.
In the summer of 2008, Michael completed coursework in International Business Law in Paris and Montpellier, France through the Universite Montpellier II. After graduating law school in 2009, Michael participated in a post-graduate fellowship at the University of Florida General Counsel’s office.
Michael is also active in the local community serving as a past executive board member of Emerge Broward, and Petset, part of the Humane Society of Broward County. Michael also has been active through his past participation in the BNI Business Exchange Chapter in Boca Raton, the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches and as the past Coordinator for The Ticktin Law Group’s participation in the American Heart Association Heartwalk.
Michael is admitted to practice in State Court in Florida and has been admitted pro hac vice to appear in numerous other states. Michael is also admitted to practice in Federal Court as a member of the United States District Court, Northern District of Florida, the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida and the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.