Michael D. Leader

Michael D. Leader started his career as an attorney in the Courtroom as an Assistant State Attorney in Broward County, Florida where he was responsible for thousands of files including TRAFFIC CRIMINAL OFFENSES, DUI's, MISDEMEANORS and FELONY charges. He supervised and trained other lawyers and often provided instruction to police officers on various legal issues. While working in the Felony Trial Unit, he was recruited from the State Attorney's Office by the law firm of Essen & Essen, et al where he successfully defended most of the firm's clients in Dade and Monroe Counties. He has prosecuted and defended thousands of DUI and other criminal matters, has been involved in well over one hundred jury trials and has personally tried over sixty to verdict. Mr. Leader believes in aggressively attacking the government's case against his clients. Although he is a skilled trial attorney, he works to have his client's cases thrown out of court before trial, whenever possible, in order to avoid subjecting his client's to the risks and costs associated with the trial process. He successfully utilizes his background and experience to identify and attack various issues such as destruction of evidence, police error and/or misconduct, unlawful search, seizures and stops, invalid or unreliable breath, blood or urine samples and various other reasons they may apply in a given case. In addition to his success in the courtroom, Mr. Leader has obtained great results in the administrative arena effectively having many of his client's driver license(s) promptly returned to them by having their suspensions invalidated. He has lectured and participated in numerous DUI seminars over his career. Mr. Leader has dedicated himself to the art of winning in the detailed and technical arena of DUI defense but his experience is in no way limited to the area of DUI. He routinely handles most criminal charges including serious felonies. Mr. Leader handles non-jury trials, evidentiary hearings, violations of probation, administrative hearings and represents individuals during criminal investigations before an arrest has been made or charges have been filed in an effort to avoid an arrest/charge all together. Mr. Leader is regularly in Court in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County but is also available to represent clients in and out of the Florida in State and Federal Court. Also notable, Mr. Leader was recognized in 2006 and 2007 as a "Up & Coming Legal Elite" by Florida Trend magazine. The list only includes the top up and coming lawyers who have earned the trust and confidence of other lawyers, those who know their work the best. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees Michael D. Leader included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors "Up & Coming Legal Elite" by Florida Trend Magazine, 2006 "Up & Coming Legal Elite" by Florida Trend Magazine, 2007 Other Sources of Feedback About Michael D. Leader Included on the 2026Florida Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2025 Florida Super Lawyers list 2009 Florida Super Lawyers list

• Managing Partner

• Partner, Fann, Petruccelli & Genovese, 2005 - 2007
• Associate, McIntosh, Sawran, Peltz, Cartaya & Petruccelli, PA, 2002 - 2005
• Essen, Essen Susaneck, Canet & Goodis, P.A., Associate Attorney, 2002
• State Attorney's Office, Broward County, Assistant State Attorney, 1998 - 2002
• McIntosh, Sawran, Peltz & Cartaya P.A., Law Clerk, 1998 - 2000
• Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center, Research Assistant, 1998 - 1999
• Greynolds Park Manor Rehabilitation Center, Inc., Vice President/Director, 1988 - Present

• Lecturer at Nuts & Bolts of DUI Defense, Essen & Essen; Fla Bar, 2002

• Hope for Vision, 1997 - Present
• Community Service Projects with B'nai B'rith Justice Unit, 1998 - Present
• Ancillary Businesses
• Small Business Consulting

• Florida, 2000
• U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, 2006
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida, 2006
• Specialties and Certifications
• Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, National Association of Board of Examiners ..., 2003

• B'nai B'rith Justice Unit, 1998 - Present (Member; Board of Directors; President 07)
• The Stephen R. Booher, American Inns of Court, 1999 - Present (Member; Past Board Member)
• Broward County Bar Association, 2000 - Present (Member)
• American Bar association, 1997 - Present (Member)
• Defense Research Institute, 2000 - Present
• Florida Defense Lawyers Association, 2000 - Present
• Nova S.E. University Shepard Broad Fellowship Program, 2004 - Present (Board Member)
• Fraternities and Sororities
• Tau Epsilon Phi