Michael T. Moore | Maritime Lawyer
Jan 29, 2026
"Moore's understanding and connections within the yachting community will enable The International SeaKeepers Society to continue its mission." A statement from SeaKeepers — and a reflection of what Michael brings to every role he holds.
Michael T. Moore is a maritime lawyer trusted by yacht owners, operators, and institutions across the global superyacht industry.
In every corner of the superyacht world, there are a few lawyers owners call before anyone else. They do not chase attention and they are rarely the names quoted in trade coverage. They are trusted because the stakes are real, and their judgment holds under pressure.
For the global maritime community, that lawyer is often Michael T. Moore.
While many focus purely on transactions, Michael works at the intersection of maritime law and ocean stewardship. From complex litigation to conservation leadership, his practice sits where legal expertise meets long-term responsibility.
For him, the work is not about hours logged. It is about helping build outcomes that last.
Michael's path to maritime law began, improbably, while waiting tables in Cape Cod before law school. He mentioned his goal of becoming a maritime lawyer to a man named Herbert Mayhew Lord. As it happened, Lord's father was a partner at Burlingham, Underwood & Lord — a legendary New York admiralty firm whose past clients included the owners of the RMS Titanic.
That conversation opened a door that would define his career.
After graduating from the University of Florida with a BA in Finance (1970) and earning his JD from the University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law (1974), Michael served as a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Army Medical Services Corps before receiving an honorable discharge.
His first legal position took him to Burlingham, Underwood & Lord — in both New York and their Jeddah, Saudi Arabia offices. During his years in the Kingdom, Michael and his wife Leslie Lott worked on foreign investment-related matters, developing the international perspective that would prove invaluable. He is trilingual, speaking English, Arabic, and Spanish fluently.
In 1980, Michael joined Holland & Knight in Miami, eventually rising to chair the firm's Marine and Aviation Practice while serving multiple terms on the firm's Board of Directors. But the call of independence proved irresistible. In 2004, he founded Moore & Company, P.A. from his Coral Gables base — a boutique structure allowing personal attention to the world's most discerning maritime clients.
The Practice
Moore & Company handles the full spectrum of maritime and aviation matters:
New construction contracts and disputes
Purchases, sales, and registration
Regulatory compliance and tax structures
Complex litigation and appellate work
International arbitration
Art law
The client roster has included names that appear in headlines: Donald Trump, Tiger Woods, Faisel Al Matrook, and hundreds of yacht owners whose privacy demands discretion. Recognition has followed consistently for over two decades.
A Historic Cuba Achievement
In August 2015, Michael made legal history by obtaining all requirements and permits for the first commercial vessel charter to Cuba in over five decades. His client, Paul Madden Associates, completed the historic journey — opening a pathway that Moore & Company would subsequently facilitate for over 240 yachts travelling to Cuba.
"This is a tough one," Michael told The Triton when regulations later shifted, "but three agencies have said no one is going to Cuba under the current situation. We will make sure Commerce, Treasury, and Homeland Security agree that the client can go."
The Conservation Chairman
Beyond his practice, Michael has devoted extraordinary energy to ocean conservation through his leadership of The International SeaKeepers Society.
Founded in 1998 in Monaco by yacht owners concerned with deteriorating ocean conditions, SeaKeepers has transformed how the yachting community engages with marine science. The organisation mounts sophisticated water and atmospheric monitoring systems on members' yachts, collecting data that would otherwise be prohibitively expensive to gather. Over 100 DISCOVERY Yachts now contribute to this global research network.
Michael has served as Chairman of the Board for multiple terms, guiding the organisation's growth and leveraging his connections within the yachting community to expand its reach globally.
In 2010, he personally presented the SeaKeepers Award to HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco — a moment that captured his unique position bridging maritime commerce and conservation. Past SeaKeepers Award recipients include an extraordinary roster: James Cameron, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Fabien Cousteau, Kelly Slater (ten-time world champion surfer), and Wendy Schmidt.
"The fantastic wealth created by this elite group has occurred, in many cases, over the last 20 years and has led to a boom in yacht ownership. This community of people, all among the world's one percent, has the resources to travel the world by sea and observe oceanic degradation firsthand. Imbued with the spirit to heal our oceans, these yacht owners are in a unique position to contribute by doing what they love."
Industry Service
Michael's leadership extends across multiple organisations that shape the maritime world:
Chairman of the Board, The International SeaKeepers Society
Chairman of the Board, United States Coast Guard Foundation
President, Admirals of the Fleet of Florida
Director, International Superyacht Society
Trustee, United Way of Greater Miami
Former Chairman, Alexis de Tocqueville Society
Director, Southeast Admiralty Law Institute (1989-1991)
President, Marine Council of Florida (1980-1990)
Member, Orange Bowl Committee
Arbitrator, International Yacht Arbitration Council (IYAC)
In 2015, he was named International Superyacht Society Business Man of the Year — recognition from peers who understand what building a practice and a legacy requires.
Awards & Recognition
Florida Super Lawyers — 20 consecutive years (2006-2025)
Best Lawyers in America — over two decades
Florida Legal Elite — Florida Trend Magazine
Top Lawyers in South Florida — South Florida Legal Guide
Who's Who in American Law
AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating — Martindale-Hubbell (highest rating)
Fellow, American Bar Association
Hall of Fame — Florida Daily Business Review (for multi-million dollar verdicts)
ISS Business Man of the Year — International Superyacht Society 2015
Colleagues and clients describe Michael as: "A lawyer's lawyer." "The one you call when it actually matters.""Bridging law and conservation at the highest level." "As a journalist writing about specialist subjects, it is vital to get informed opinion from experts in the field. Michael is one person I will always turn to when seeking advice and sound comment. He understands his subject matter and is an expert in his field." — Michael Howorth, maritime journalist
From Cape Cod to Monaco
Michael T. Moore's career began with a conversation at a summer job — a moment of chance that connected him to a legendary maritime law firm with roots stretching back to the Titanic. Five decades later, he has built something that honours that lineage while creating something entirely his own.
The law practice spans mega-yachts to private jets, construction disputes to international arbitration. The conservation work puts scientific equipment on the world's finest vessels. The industry service shapes how maritime professionals arbitrate disputes and how the Coast Guard Foundation supports those who serve.
But perhaps what distinguishes Michael most is the integration of these roles. He doesn't compartmentalise law and conservation, commerce and stewardship. He sees them as parts of the same commitment — to the oceans, to the yachting community, and to the clients who trust him with what matters most.
"If it floats, should I lend against it?" he once titled a seminar on maritime finance. The question captures his practical approach. The answer — developed over forty years of practice — is why the world's most sophisticated yacht owners still call Coral Gables first.
Learn more here: moore-and-co.com
You can also go and listen to his podcast here: The Yacht Law Podcast
