Attorney Sean M. Cleary - Owner & President

"I started my legal career in 1998 and have been fighting for my clients for over 25 years.

Because the law is not just about trials and courts, but primarily concerns human beings and their pain and suffering, we focus on integrity and professionalism while doing our best to achieve significant recoveries for our clients. 

Being people-oriented has always been the foundation of our law firm, and our team of legal assistants was trained to handle each case with integrity, honesty, and a high level of compassion."

Legal Assistance Practice Areas

Having handled hundreds of jury trials and bench trials in Florida State Courts and Federal Courts, as well as in other states, personal injury attorney Sean Cleary is a highly skilled trial lawyer. He works directly to help victims in cases involving serious personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and product liability (also known as defective products).

Sean M. Cleary's legal skill and acumen have always brought him success in winning many cases in court and establishing connections with key leaders and experts from different engineering, medical, and other scientific backgrounds.  His demeanor and ambition have enabled him to build a law firm with a reputation for upholding the highest standards for success. 

Over the past 25 years, Sean has personally been involved in the recovery of substantially more than $100 Million Dollars. He has won verdicts of more than $10 million, and $1 million, many times, and has settled many more cases.

University of Miami School of Law, Miami, FL 1995-1998

  • Juris Doctor, cum laude, 1998
  • Cum Laude Graduate
  • Member and Officer of Moot Court Board
  • Member of International Moot Court Board
  • Member of National Moot Court Team
  • Member of Phi Delta Phi Honor Society
  • Business Law Journal

University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 1989-1993

  • Bachelor of Science (Pre-Professional Studies/Biology), 1993
  • Dean’s List

Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Rutland, VT 1985-1989

  • Highest GPA
  • Valedictorian

Sean M. Cleary began his legal career handling complex commercial litigation cases at the Miami office of the New York firm Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, LLP, then went on to work for Colson Hicks Eidson, where he tried numerous cases and obtained numerous multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for clients.

  • Supreme Court of Florida
  • United States Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
  • Chicasaw Bar, Chicasaw Indian Nation, Oklahoma
  • PADI Licensed Scuba Diving Instructor
  • PADI Licensed M.S.D.T. (Master Scuba Diver Trainer)
  • St. Agnes Church - Lector, Usher, Acolyte
  • St. Agnes School - Consultative Board
  • Miami-Dade County ABOTA Wheel for Probate Court
  • Miami-Dade County Guardian Ad Litem Program – trial and appellate advocate

Sean is active in the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and currently serves as the Miami, Florida ABOTA Chapter Membership Chair. Sean has been recognized as one of The Best Lawyers in America every year since 2017 and is a distinguished member of Best Lawyers’ Medical Malpractice Lawyer and Personal Injury Lawyer categories.

The Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary, P.A. has been recognized as one of the Best Law Firms in America since 2018 and has the highest Best Lawyers’ ranking: Tier 1. 

Sean has also been recognized as one of America’s Top 100 Medical Malpractice Litigators and America’s Top 100 Personal Injury Lawyers. Based on numerous cases he has tried and settled, with multiple results of $10 million or more, and $1 million or more, Sean is a distinguished member of both the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

As proof of his trial skills and professionalism, Sean has been admitted into the prestigious International Academy of Trial Lawyers and is a Pending Fellow.  The Academy limits Fellowship to 500 active trial lawyers from the United States and includes over 150 Fellows from nearly 40 countries across the globe.  Fellowship is by invitation only.  Trial lawyers are invited to become Fellows only after an extremely rigorous vetting process, which includes both peer and judicial review.  The Academy seeks out Fellows who have achieved a career of excellence as shown by their skills in trial, and as demonstrated by their integrity and professionalism. 

Trial lawyers are admitted to fellowship in the Academy only if they possess, in an exceptional degree, the following qualifications: superior skill and recognized ability in trial and appellate practice; services rendered in promoting the best interests of the legal profession and the highest standards and techniques of advocacy; and excellent character, professionalism, and absolute integrity.

  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Pending Fellow
  • American Board of Trial Advocates, Membership Chair
  • The Best Lawyers in America – Personal Injury Plaintiff
  • The Best Lawyers in America – Medical Malpractice Plaintiff
  • The Best Law Firms in America, Tier 1
  • Florida Super Lawyers
  • Florida’s Legal Elite
  • Wall Street Journal Best Lawyers in South Florida
  • Florida’s Legal Elite, Top Young Lawyers in Florida
  • Florida’s Legal Elite Rising Star
  • Wall Street Journal Top Young Attorneys in Florida
  • The National Trial Lawyers, Top 40 Under 40 Lawyers
  • Top Verdicts in the United States
  • Top Verdicts in the Southeast United States 2021
  • America’s Top 100 Medical Malpractice Litigator
  • America’s Top 100 Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
  • Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Attorneys are often honored and recognized for their contributions to law and society that have made significant positive impacts. The focus at The Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary is first and foremost, providing nothing short of excellent legal representation and services to our clients in Miami, Florida, national and international clients as well.

  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers
  • The American Board of Trial Advocates
  • The American Association for Justice
  • Florida Justice Association
  • Dade County Trial Lawyer Association, Treasurer and Director
  • Dade County Bar Association
  • Dade County Bar Association Young Lawyer’s Section, Director
  • Southern District of Florida Bench and Bar Conference Co-Chairperson
  • Southern District of Florida Local Rules Committee
  • American Association for Justice, Membership Oversight Committee
  • Eleventh Circuit Federal Judicial Conference, honorary invitee
  • Attorneys Information Exchange Group