Thomas Feiter (pronounced “Fighter”) has lived in Central Florida since 1989. He was named The Florida Bar’s Board Certified Lawyer of the Year in 2015 and is one of very few attorneys in the area who is both Board Certified in Criminal Trial Law by the Florida Bar and an AV Rated Preeminent Lawyer.
He is experienced in being lead counsel in more than 100 jury trials to verdict, and has extensive experience as a trial lawyer in Orlando; fighting many types of cases in personal injury (car accidents, slip and fall, negligent security) and criminal defense (from simple DUIs to capital felonies, including sexual battery (physically helpless), lewd and lascivious molestation, traveling to meet a minor, and unlawful sex with a minor). Thomas Feiter is one of the top-rated Orlando Criminal Defense Attorneys. Mr. Feiter is also a Major in the US Army JAG Corps Reserve, and has a prior combat zone deployment to Kuwait, with time in Afghanistan, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
He is a member of The Florida Bar, the Florida Associations of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He is a senior defense counsel and frequent lecturer at the Criminal Justice Institute, where he teaches new law enforcement officers constitutional law, court process, and criminal justice. Mr. Feiter has been published in a variety of periodicals on a variety of topics, including criminal procedure and injunctions. Mr. Feiter also speaks Spanish and German and assists clients with criminal cases and investigations as well as with personal injury and family law matters.
Background
Mr. Feiter is admitted to practice law in all of the state courts of Florida and the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida. He graduated from Dr. Phillips High School here in Orlando, Florida in 1996, the University of Miami in 2000 and from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2006.
While in law school, Thomas focused on the art of courtroom advocacy as a member of the National Trial Team and Moot Court Honors Program. Before his third year of law school, he was selected to serve with the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) as a member of the Commission’s Summer Honors Program. During that time, Mr. Feiter worked in the Enforcement Division of the Los Angeles Regional Office on federal crimes involving insider trading and accounting fraud. He uses that experience now as a federal criminal defense attorney.
After law school, Thomas followed his passion for trial work by joining the State Attorney’s Office and served the State of Florida as a traffic, misdemeanor and felony prosecutor in both Orange & Osceola Counties. After a few years as a prosecutor, he was offered a position at Payas, Payas and Payas – a well-respected and established law firm in downtown Orlando. He worked there for three (3) years as as associate attorney in the areas of criminal defense and personal injury.
In 2011, Mr. Feiter started his own practice – Fighter Law. He is a past chair of the Orange County Bar Association‘s Solo & Small Firm Committee, has been published through the OCBA, and previously served on the Executive Board of the Orange County Bar Association and the Legal Aid Society’s Board of Trustees.
Mr. Feiter lives with his wife and their three children on the Dr. Phillips – Windermere side of Orlando.
Areas of Practice
Education
University of San Diego School of Law, San Diego, California
- Juris Doctor – May, 2006
- Honors: With High Distinction
- Order of Barristers
- Major: Trial Law
- Major: Oral Advocacy
University of Miami
- Bachelor’s Degree – 2000
- Honors: Dean’s List
- Major: Business Administration
- Minor: Foreign Languages
Awards & Recognition
- SuperLawyers 2019-2021
- SuperLawyers Rising Stars 2015-2018
- 2015 Florida Bar Board Certified Lawyer of the Year
- AV Peer Review Rating / Martindale-Hubbell / 2012 – Present
- 10/10 Avvo Preeminent Lawyer
- Orlando’s Top Lawyers 2012 / Orlando Home & Leisure / 2012
- Client Distinction Award / Martindale-Hubbell / 2012
- Board Certified – Criminal Trial Law / 2012
- Order of Barristers / University of San Diego School of Law / 2006
- U.S. Army Meritorious Service Medal
- University of Miami: Exchange Program Participant: Universität Trier (Germany)
- University of San Diego: Order of Barristers, National Trial Team, Moot Court Honors
- University of San Diego: Exchange Program Participant: La Escuela Libre de Derecho (Mexico City, Mexico)
Past Employment
- United States Army Reserve (2012 – Present), Judge Advocate General’s Corp (Federal and Military)
- Payas, Payas & Payas, LLP (2008-2011), Associate Attorney (Criminal, Family & Personal Injury)
- State of Florida State Attorney’s Office (2006-2008), Traffic, Misdemeanor & Felony Prosecutor (Orange and Osceola Counties)
- United States Securities and Exchange Commission (2005), Research Specialist – Legal Enforcement Division (Los Angeles, California)
- A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. (2000-2004), Financial Consultant – Series 7 & 63 (Orlando, Florida & San Diego, California)
Professional Associations
- Orange County Bar Association
- Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Civic and Social Associations: State Certified Legal Instructor, Orlando Police Academy; Central Florida Triathlon Club; Orlando Sport and Social Club; University of Central Florida, Greek Housing Association (Sigma Chi); Federal Republic of Germany, Consulate Referral Attorney
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV Rated Preeminent
- United States Army JAG Corps Reserve, Major, Judge Advocate