|

Attorney

MICHAEL BERRY
|

Attorney

Michael Berry, Sr., J.D.  

Practice Areas:

Based in Clearwater, Florida since 1991. Practice areas limited to International Law - International Fraud, International Contracts, International Construction, International War Zone Issues, International Missing and Exploited Children (Hague Convention & PKPA)


Country Involvement Examples: 

Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belize, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Canary Islands, China, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, England, Fiji, France, Guam, Guyana Germany, Greece, Haiti, Holland, Hungary, India, Iraq, Ireland, Isle of Jersey, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Marshall Islands, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Somalia, South Africa, Republic of the Marshal Islands, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Sudan, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam…U.S. Protectorates: Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands.


Brief History/Professional Roles:

Mr. Berry received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan after serving in the U.S. Army from 1970-72. Before practicing law, Mr. Berry was employed by multinational corporations, later becoming CEO of a mid-size construction and fabrication company constructing low-rise through monumental structures in the U.S. and offshore. As a practicing lawyer, Mr. Berry has worked closely with foreign governments, NGOs, and various U.S. government agencies.


In support of the community and the legal profession, Mr. Berry has served, and in some instances chaired various committees of Clearwater Bar Association; participated in Florida and National Bar Associations, and served as the Executive Director of the Barney Masterson Inns of Court, and held many quasi-judicial positions including Hearing Officer, Special Master, and Magistrate…In 2008 Mr. Berry was selected by the Judicial Qualifications Committee as a candidate for appointment by the Governor of Florida for a Circuit Court Judgeship.

Schedule A Consultation >

Notable Case Examples:

  • (Afghanistan) Contract, Litigation, Arbitration, US Bankruptcy Court Special Rep. 
  • (Bahamas) – Child Abduction, Foreign Estates, Anna Nicole Smith Matters
  • (Cuba) Colombini - Reverse Elian Gonzalez Case (See Articles) 
  • (Czech Republic) Olejnicek v Olejnicek, 2008 WL 4059592 (Fla. 2 nd D.C.A. 2008)
  • (England) – Contract, Child Abduction, “Internet Crime” 
  • (Germany) Dorrity v Dorrity, 695 So2d. 411 (Fla. 5 th D.C.A. 1997), Boehm v. Boehm 2011 WL 863066 (U.S. M.D. Florida 2011) Germany/Austria/ /U.S. Child Abduction
  • (India) - Katare v Katare, 175 Wash. 2d 23, 283 P.3d 546 (2012), Affirm. 133 S. Ct. 889 (2013)
  • (Iraq) - Contract, Litigation, Arbitration
  • (Kazakhstan) – Contracting, Criminal Pursuit
  • (N. Ireland) – Child Abduction (See Video)
  • (Republic of Marshall Islands) - In the Adoption of A.F.S., 793 So.2d 91 (Fla. 2nd D.C.A. 2001)
  • UAE – Seven $ Figure Embezzlement Recovery
  • (Uzbekistan) – Contracting

Admitted to Practice:

  • State of Florida
  • U.S. Middle District Court
  • 11th Circuit Court Of Appeals 
  • US Supreme Court
  • Florida Circuit Court Certified Arbitrator  

Notable Commercial Civil Litigation Cases

  •  International Arbitrations etc. – Six and seven-figure awards.

Florida Bar v. Forrester, 818 So2d. 477 (Fla. 2nd D.C.A. 2002) Breach of Construction contract discovery and unethical manipulation. 

Involvement in Local, Interstate and International Cases:

  • Anna Nicole Smith - Larry Birkhead, (2007) Jurisdictional - International Law Consultant.
  • Dorrity v Dorrity, 695 So2d. 411 (Fla. 5th D.C.A. 1997) Child Abduction Germany/U.S. issues.
  • In the Adoption of A.F.S., 793 So.2d 91 (Fla. 2nd D.C.A. 2001) Republic of Marshall Islands Black Market Adoption.
  • Katare v Katare, 175 Wash. 2d 23, 283 P.3d 546 (2012), Affirmed 133 S. Ct. 889 (2013), Child Abduction Prevention Expert. 
  • In the matter of Infant Garrard - Korea/U.S./Philippines Child Abduction.
  • Olejnicek v Olejnicek, 2008 WL 4059592 (Fla. 2nd D.C.A. 2008) Czech Republic/U.S. child abduction.
  • Boehm v. Boehm 2011 WL 863066 (U.S. M.D. Florida 2011) Germany/Austria/ /U.S. Child Abduction.
  • In the Matter of the Denial of the Passport Applications of Minor KY and EY, March 15, 201 U.S. Dept. of State, Turkey/U.S.
  • In the Matter of C.V., U.K. Child Abduction Foster Care. U.K./U.S.
  • In the Matter of John Doe 1, inbound Australian/New Zealand Pedophile Child Abduction.
  • In the Matter of John Doe 2, Child Abduction U.S./Israel Judiciary/Rabbinical Court conflicts.
  • In the matter of John Doe 3, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Interstate Child Abduction/ Fla. DCFS.
  • In the matter of John Doe 4, Munchausen’s Syndrome Child Abduction N.Y. Social Services.


5 stars

International Child Custody

"I worked with Michael Berry for 2 years in a child custody case involving, among other things, my young daughters passport being wrongfully taken by my ex-husband in India (we are both US Citizens). Mr. Berry traveled to India 2 times to witness the Indian court system, met my attorney there, collected evidence pertaining to my case and spoke at trial there. Upon returning Stateside, he worked alongside my (other) Counsel in giving her a much broader scope of what I was up against overseas, generously offering his unique insight to use in my case in the US. Along with possessing the legal and cultural knowledge and nuances necessary for practicing international law, Mr. Berry is very sensitive to the psychological impact of these cases on his client, too. It was a pleasure working with him and his staff and I would highly recommend him."

Share by: