Michelle Nichols DeLong is the Owner and Managing Partner of Michelle N. DeLong, PLLC, doing business as MD Law Florida, a law firm dedicated to representing plaintiffs in medical malpractice and nursing home negligence cases. Michelle has a proven track record of successfully litigating complex cases to resolution, advocating for victims of catastrophic injuries and families facing the wrongful death of a loved one. Her clients often describe her as both a compassionate lawyer and a fierce advocate.
In 2024, Michelle founded her own firm to focus exclusively on plaintiffs’ healthcare law, driven by her commitment to deliver high-quality, client-focused legal services rooted in excellence and empathy. She understands her clients are often enduring the most difficult moments of their lives, and she strives to guide them with care and clarity every step of the way.
Before launching her firm, Michelle built and led the medical malpractice and nursing home negligence division of a startup law firm, developing the practice area from the ground up. She also honed her skills at a boutique firm in South Florida, handling complex medical malpractice and nursing home cases, and has additional experience litigating complex commercial disputes in Florida state courts and federal courts nationwide. Michelle is licensed to practice law in Florida and admitted to the U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Middle, and Northern Districts of Florida.
Michelle earned her J.D. magna cum laude from Nova Southeastern University, where she received multiple merit-based scholarships, served as a junior and senior editor for the Nova Law Review, and won first place in the ABA Mendes Hershman Student Writing Contest, a prestigious national competition. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Marketing from the University of Florida, graduating cum laude and was a member of Chi Omega Sorority.
Before practicing law, Michelle gained valuable business experience working in sales, marketing, and management for several prominent retail and wholesale companies—a background that continues to inform her practical approach to managing her firm and communicating effectively with clients, opposing counsel, and the broader legal community.
Michelle is an active member in the Florida Justice Association (FJA), having served on its Board of Directors (2019–2024) and as a past Chair of the FJA Women’s Caucus (2019–2020). She remains deeply involved in the Women’s Caucus, helping to plan its annual Leadership Retreat. Michelle is passionate about advocating for meaningful reforms that advance gender equity within the legal profession and lobbying to protect the constitutional rights of Florida’s citizens.
EDUCATION
Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law
- Honors:
- Magna Cum Laude
- Dean’s Certificate of Professionalism
- Nova Law Review:
- Assistant Managing Technical Editor (2014)
- Alumni Relations Editor (2013–2014)
- Junior Associate (2012–2013): Red Pen Award Recipient (4x)
- Scholarships:
- Shepard Broad Law Center Merit Scholar (2012–2014)
- Carolyn Rubin Law Endowment Scholar (2012–2014)
- Law Alumni Association Scholarship Recipient (2013)
- Kaye Bender Rembaum Scholarship Recipient (2013)
- Fellowships:
- Florida Bar Foundation Public Service Fellow (2012)
- Rebecca Knox Public Interest Law Summer Fellow (2012)
- High Grade Award:
- Civil Procedure (Winter 2012)
- Pro Bono Award:
- Silver Pro Bono Award (2014)
University of Florida
- Honors:
- Cum Laude
- Scholarship
- Florida Bright Futures Scholar
- Fraternity:
- Chi Omega Sorority
PROFESSIONAL AND BAR ORGANIZATIONS
The Florida Bar, Tallahassee, FL
- Committee Member (Appointment), Code and Rules of Evidence Committee, June 2021–June 2024
- Committee Member Liaison (Appointment), Rules of Judicial Administration Committee, June 2021–June 2022
FJA Research and Education Foundation (FJA REF), Tallahassee, FL
- Board Member (Appointed), March 2024–Present
Florida Justice Association (FJA), Tallahassee, FL
- Board Member (Elected), June 2020–June 2024
- Vice Chair of the Medical Malpractice Legislative Committee, June 2019–2022
Women’s Caucus Section, Florida Justice Association, Tallahassee, FL
- Chair, Women’s Caucus Leadership Retreat Subcommittee, 2023, 2024, 2025
- Chair, Women’s Caucus Awards Subcommittee, 2024
- Immediate Past Chair (Elected), June 2020–June 2021
- Chair (Elected), June 2019–June 2020
- Secretary (Elected), June 2018–June 2019
Palm Beach County Bar Association (PBCBA), Palm Beach County, Florida
- Committee Member, Civil Practice Committee, 2023–2025
- Committee Member, Professionalism Committee, 2018–2019
- Subcommittee Chair, Editorial Board, 2018–2019
Florida Association for Women Lawyers (FAWL), North Palm Beach County Chapter, Florida
- Sponsorship Director, 2019–2020
- Membership Chair, 2018–2019
Florida Association for Women Lawyers (State FAWL), Florida
- Co-Chair of the FAWL Journal and Board Member of State FAWL, 2016–2017
Executive Women of the Palm Beaches (EWPB), West Palm Beach, FL
- 2017 Co-Chair of the Women In Leadership Awards (WILA) Committee, 2016–2017
Craig S. Barnard American Inns of Court, West Palm Beach, FL
- Associate Member, 2016–2017
- Student Member, 2012–2013
LECTURES/PRESENTATIONS
- Panelist Speaker, “Strategies for Career Growth, Promotions, and Breaking the Glass Ceiling,” FJA Women’s Caucus Leadership Retreat (2025)
- Speaker, “Medicare Basics for Trial Lawyers: How to Prevent Problems at the End of Your Case,” FJA Collateral Sources Webinar (2025)
- Co-Speaker, “Best Practices in Taking & Defending Corporate representative Depositions,” The Florida Bar Trial Lawyers Section Membership Retreat (2024)
- Moderator, Law School Outreach at Nova, Panel Discussion and Lunch, FJA REF Law School Outreach (2024)
- Speaker, “Prioritizing Your Mental Health,” Civil Litigation for Paralegal Seminar, FJA Annual Convention (2024)
- Co-Speaker, “Beating Burnout: Six Energy Management Strategies for Sustaining Your Career Success,” Society of Women Trial Lawyers Conference (2024)
- Program Co-Chair, Medical Malpractice Seminar, FJA Masters of Justice (2023)
- Speaker, “Discovery,” FJA Bootcamp Series (2022; 2023)
- Co-Speaker, “Firm Branding, Managing and Promoting Your Firm Image,” FJA Annual Convention (2021)
- Speaker, “Navigating NICA: What to Do When you Want to Get Out,” FJA Winter Ski Seminar (2020)
- Program Co-Chair, Advanced Trial Skills Seminar, FJA Annual Convention (2019)
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
- Cluck Cluck Award, Women’s Caucus of the Florida Justice Association, 2023
- Rising Star Award, Florida Justice Association, 2019
- Shoe Leather Award, Florida Justice Association, 2019
- Mendes Hershman Award, (First Place), American Bar Association, Business Law Section, 2014
PEER-REVIEWED AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
- Top Lawyer: Palm Beach Illustrated, Medical Malpractice, 2021, 2022, 2023
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Medical Malpractice, Products Liability, Personal Injury Litigation, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024,
- 2025Florida Super Lawyers, Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, 2025
- Florida Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
- The National Trial Lawyers
- Top 25 Medical Malpractice Lawyers (FL), 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
- 40 Under 40 (Civil Plaintiff), 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
- Top 100 (Civil Plaintiff), 2023
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV Rated, 2018–Present
PUBLICATIONS
- Michelle Nichols DeLong and Emily Hirsekorn, Finding Joy After Burning Out, 50 ABA Litig. J. no. 3, Spring 2024 at 53.
- Michelle Nichols DeLong, Inadvertent Disclosures: The Professional and Ethical Way to Handle Them, Palm Beach County Bar Bulletin (Jan. 2018).
- Michelle Nichols DeLong, A Member Perspective: Parental Leave: A Call to Action, FAWL J. 12–13 (Spr./Sum. 2016).
- Michelle Nichols DeLong, Abstract: A Closer Look at the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act and Whether the Costs of a Corporation’s Independent Internal Investigations Should Be Included in a Criminal Defendant’s Mandatory Restitution Order, 70 BUS. LAW. 465, (Spring 2015).