About Mike Panella

For Mike Panella, the concept of zealous advocacy developed at an early age – fueled by what he perceived to be an unjust resolution in a personal family legal matter. Mr. Panella would later attribute his passion to defend the rights of those who stand accused to those inequities in the legal system he observed, and considered unjust.

Mr. Panella went on to graduate at the top of his class at UCF and spent several years working for the United States Senate, where he assisted Senators in rectifying constituent concerns involving state and federal agencies.

At the University of Florida College of Law, Mr. Panella earned the highest possible grade in several courses, including Criminal Law and Family Law. He was unanimously elected the President of Phi Alpha Delta, a legal fraternity. Mr. Panella also worked closely with a respected criminal defense firm while in law school and earned certificates in Criminal Justice, pro-bono work, and community service. He graduated from the University of Florida College of Law with honors.

From there, Mr. Panella joined the small defense team in the State v. George Zimmerman case and became a critical member, contributing to two successful appellate writs, overall strategy, and self-defense issues. After seeing that case through to a successful resolution, Mr. Panella spent time as a partner in a criminal appellate firm, where he worked on both capital and non-capital appeals. Mr. Panella also helped initiate a class-action lawsuit focused on prison abuse.

Mr. Panella has been a guest law school lecturer on Florida’s Justifiable Use of Force laws.

Before opening Panella Law Firm, Mr. Panella served as an Assistant Public Defender for Florida’s 18th Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s Office and worked hundreds of cases in both Brevard and Seminole Counties. Mr. Panella was undefeated at trial.